Education
What happens between applying and receiving an offer
Several steps occur that the applicant does not see, and knowing them explains most of the waiting.
After submission the application is processed and a summary is produced, which is sent to the applicant and to each school listed. Checking that summary for errors is worthwhile, because it is what every school will work from.
Each school then builds a package from the funds it has, in the order described elsewhere on this site. Schools work to their own timetables, so offers from different schools frequently arrive weeks apart.
A proportion of applications are selected for verification, where the school confirms information against documents. Being selected is routine, often random, and not an accusation, but no aid is disbursed until it is complete.
Offers normally carry a response date. Accepting, declining or reducing individual elements is usually possible, and declining a loan you do not need is a normal step rather than a refusal of the offer.
What to do next. Check the processed summary for errors as soon as it arrives, and respond to any verification request immediately.
studentaid.gov outranks this page. Rules, figures and dates change
between academic years. This is written to help you read the official sources, not to
stand in front of them. Start there.
Nothing here is a determination. We cannot tell you what you qualify
for, and no website can. The programme and the office that runs it decide that, after
you apply.
Still have a question?
Describe what you are trying to work out and a member of the team will answer, or direct you to the office that makes the decision.