<p>So initially I had submitted my FAFSA using estimated data to meet the college deadline.</p>
<p>Once my parents/my taxes were done, I went back online and made the corrections. This resulted in a higher EFC.</p>
<p>I then noticed an * next to my EFC. I looked into it and saw that I was selected for "verification".</p>
<p>I'm a little nervous. I used the actual data on my/parents 2009 tax returns, so I know I am not lying. I had inputted incorrect data (since it was an estimate) the first time, so obviously I had to change it. Also, my corrections resulted in a higher EFC (from ~800 to ~2200). If I was trying to game the system...well I would be doing a bad job of it lol</p>
<p>Sorry, it's the first time I have been asked to verify stuff. My college hasn't said anything yet, so I don't know what I am suppose to do.</p>
<p>No you are not in any sort of trouble. Schools are required to verify 30% of FAFSAs submitted to them. Some verify more than that (my son’s school verifies 100%). If the school contacts you requiring verification data then send it to them. It is not big deal, especially if your data is all accurate. We have been verified 6 out of 7 FAFSAs. Some of the times we were verified there was no * by the EFC. The one time we weren’t verified there was a * by it. We did once have an error and the school then corrected the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Ah I see. Well that takes a load of my shoulders I get really paranoid sometimes, so I just wanted to make sure the government thought I was trying to squeeze more aid out of them.</p>
<p>Swimcatsmom: So just because the FAFSA people say you have been selected doesn’t always mean the school will actually do the verification? Weird…</p>
<p>No it does not necessarily mean they will select you. They only have to verify 30% so once they reach the 30% they can stop. Just be ready if they do select you to send everything ASAP. Our daughter’s school does not even start on financial aid awards until all documentation, including verification when requested, is received complete.</p>
<p>I see. So in the end it’s the schools responsibility to randomly verify 30% (or 100%). I guess the FAFSA folks make Financial aid can be confusing sometimes.</p>
<p>P.S I should correct my previous post lol:</p>
<p>I get really paranoid sometimes, so I just wanted to make sure the government DID NOT think I was trying to squeeze more aid out of them.</p>
<p>I just always assume we will be verified and have it all ready to go if requested. We also check my daughter’s school FA webpage regularly as it will say they are waiting for verification documents long before they let us know by snail mail. Her school has the verification forms online so I just do it and have it ready. Last year we had it all ready to go she was not verified. My son’s school we just have to wait till they send the forms as their web page is a little less accessible (well it is useless actually).</p>
<p>You aren’t in trouble at all. It’s just a requirement … aid officers will compare the info you provide with what you reported on your FAFSA. They will make adjustments if necessary. Even if you made mistakes, you won’t be in any kind of trouble. Honest mistakes are made all the time. The aid officer just fixes it, and if necessary will adjust your aid package.</p>
<p>It just showed up on my D’s student page that we were chosen for verification. I knew it would happen. We were verified last year too and it wasn’t a big deal. Nothing was changed.</p>
<p>I don’t think we were ever asked for verification, although our EFC was ridiculously high and they would have no reason to check us out. Do you think they verify EFC randomly, or only if you have a low EFC?</p>
<p>I suspect it is a combination - some because of low EFC, some because of conflicting info, some random. We have a low EFC and the EFC always has a * next to it (though once the school did not actually require us to submit data). I believe conflicting info on FAFSA and making certain changes, such as to items you are not supposed to change, will generally trigger verification. But a couple of people have posted on CC that they have never qualified for any need based aid but have still been selected for verification. And some schools verify 100% of their FAFSAs.</p>
<p>D’s school did not ask for verification when my EFC was high. The following year when my business tanked and the EFC did too, they verified. This year, back up a bit but still no where near the first year, so they are verifying.</p>
<p>^^lkf, most people that are paying full price probably aren’t filling out the FAFSA at all. The only reason would be if they wanted their student to take out a Stafford. If the student is taking out a Stafford and since a Stafford is a federal benefit they would definitely be in the pool for being selected for verification. The verification process is connected to FAFSA I do believe…no Fafsa, pay full price, no need to verify.</p>
<p>I filled out the FAFSA the first year even though I knew I would get no aid because a couple of the schools required the FAFSA for merit aid. I had been told that it was a good idea to file it in case the financial situation changed later. Boy, did I find out how much it can change.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity, how long does a school have to verify 30% of the students? Like I know my school has to get out award letters to incoming freshman by April 1st so I would assume most of verification takes place in March…</p>
<p>Like, I would hope schools wouldn’t wait till the summer to ask lol.</p>
I get really paranoid sometimes, so I just wanted to make sure the government thought I was trying to squeeze more aid out of them.</p>