The FAFSA Isn’t Over Yet: Help Your Students Navigate What’s Next
For many students and families, submitting the FAFSA feels like checking a box. The new year is a chance to reset that expectation and help them understand that the FAFSA is a process, not a single step.
January offers important opportunities for students to review, respond, and stay engaged so their financial aid is not delayed or incomplete.
What Happens After FAFSA Submission
After submitting the FAFSA, students may need to:
- Correct errors or missing information.
- Add or remove colleges.
- Ensure required parents or guardians have completed their section of the FAFSA.
These updates are common and part of the normal process. Making corrections now helps ensure colleges receive accurate information.
Why this matters: Errors or missing information can delay financial aid processing and, in some cases, affect the amount of aid a student is offered.
Verification Requests
Some students will be selected for verification, meaning colleges request additional documentation (such as tax forms or proof of household information) before finalizing aid.
Key points to reinforce:
- Verification is routine.
- Responding promptly helps avoid delays.
- Requests typically come directly from colleges, not Federal Student Aid.
Helping families understand this early can turn a stressful moment into a manageable next step.
Why this matters: Verification is often time-sensitive, and delays in submitting documents can push back aid offers or prevent them from being finalized.
Monitoring College Communications
Once FAFSA data is sent, colleges may follow up through:
- Student portals
- Emails
- Financial aid dashboards
Encouraging students to check these regularly helps them stay on track and address issues quickly.
Why this matters: Missing a request or deadline in a college portal can result in delayed or incomplete financial aid information.
Common Misunderstandings
- “We submitted the FAFSA, so we’re done.”
- “We’ll hear back right away.”
- “If something is wrong, the school will fix it.”
These present good opportunities to reset assumptions and emphasize that student follow up and follow through play key roles in the process.
Counselor Tips
1. To reduce repeat questions, consider sharing one clear message with students and families that explains:
- FAFSA submission does not equal finalized aid.
- Follow up is expected.
- College portals and emails are the first place to look for updates.
2. Encourage students to set a weekly reminder to check portals and email.
3. Share examples of common verification documents so families know what to expect.
4. Direct students and families to trusted resources, such as Federal Student Aid or appily.com/fafsa, for additional guidance and support.
Setting these expectations early can save time and help students stay engaged.
