After You Apply

You've filed your FAFSA—now what?

After you file, you’ll be prompted to review your application and make any necessary corrections. Here are some of the most common mistakes you’ll want to avoid:

  • Switching two numbers (for example, “$1,200” instead of “$2,100”)
  • Adding too many or too few zeroes to a number
  • Listing your parents’ income as yours (and the other way around)
  • Forgetting to have your parent electronically sign the application with his or her FSA ID

Your FAFSA will be processed with the information you provide, so make sure everything is correct. We’ll notify you if we get your FAFSA but it can’t be processed.

Please note: that you do not need to update your FAFSA based on changes to the amount of money in your bank account. We know that updating your FAFSA every time you write a check or make a deposit would be nearly impossible.

We’ll let you know what happens next

You’ll get a financial aid notification letter from us as soon as we’ve put together an award package for you. If you receive more funding after your award package has been put together, and that funding causes your aid total to exceed your cost of attendance (COA), your award package may change. Remember, you can never be awarded more than your COA—and your aid can change even if it doesn’t exceed your COA.

If you're an incoming freshman

We’ll send you a paper award letter beginning in mid-March. It will include an estimate of your financial aid award, your estimated cost of attendance, and other information you’ll want to know.

If you're a current student

We’ll email you in late June or early July to let you know that your financial aid summary is available in the Student Center in One.IU.

Verifying your information

You may be asked to verify the information you provided on your FAFSA before you can be declared eligible to receive financial aid. We’ll contact you by mail if you’re selected for verification. And check your One.IU To Do List—we’ll notify you there, too.

Make sure your financial aid is applied

Authorize IU to use your aid

Make sure you sign a Title IV authorization so your aid gets applied correctly.

Sign the paperwork

You'll need to go through entrance counseling and sign a promissory note if you're borrowing a federal loan.