<p>Still being new to this entire process, I have a question about the purpose of financial aid verification.</p>
<p>Two of the schools that accepted my S produced a financial aid offer, without requesting additional documents. One of the schools requestedthe 2010 tax return and W2 forms, and has yet to make an offer.</p>
<p>Is this verification done randomly? Is there a reason why some schools do the verification and some don't? Is it just that our number came up for the one school, or is there typically something they are looking for when requesting the additional documents?</p>
<p>Some schools require tax returns as part of their financial application process. Some schools will verify a certain %age of all applicants who apply. In both cases, the reason is so the school can verify that what you put on your FAFSA/Profile accurately reflects the information from your tax return. </p>
<p>It’s not because a school plans to give you more/less or any amount of aid…or not. It’s to be sure that the numbers are accurate.</p>
<p>Schools are required to verify a certain %age of students selected for verification on the FAFSA. Since no one knows if they will be selected for verification by FAFSA OR if the school with then ask for the documents, this random verification is assumed to keep everyone’s numbers accurate.</p>
<p>We were chosen for Verfication by 2 schools. It was very simple: I just had to fax or email copies of our tax return with all schedules and W-2 forms, and fill out a Household Statement. Do it right away when they request it, so you don’t lose out on your FA package!</p>
<p>Does verification request ever come from a school that a student has been accepted to, but will not attend? (After all, kids apply to more than one school, but can only attend…and accept fin aid…from one.) When/how are these requests received?</p>
<p>Yes. If you are selected for verification you will have to send in the information they want before they will make a finaid offer. If you have already decided for sure not to attend then there is no need to verify but if you want to see thier offer you will need to. They will either send you a letter in the mail or may put it on the student portal of their website, or both.</p>
<p>We were selected for verification at Pitt last year. S had already decided not to attend, so we didn’t bother. I thought it was pretty humorous that they would select us. We were not selected by the feds, and we are OOS for Pitt. Our EFC is way too high for any federal grants, and Pitt wasn’t going to meet need (we were looking for merit) … it seemed pretty ridiculous, to be honest. Whatever. We just ignored the requests for information.</p>
<p>Verification is a funny thing. DS was verified for four years and we never qualified for a penny of need based aid. I wondered what they were bothering to verify!</p>
<p>We provided the extra info right away, so are just waiting for it to get processed. Unfortunately, it means that the financial aid offer is delayed, which puts us still in the waiting game!</p>
<p>My son studies in an Ivy. He told me there are many students receive huge Financial Aid, but drive a huge Lexus, spending $200+ on a meal etc. I guess their families did a good job to hide their money. Can the schools at least check what kind of cars the students park on the campus? These students spend another $1800 for the parking permit. Therefore, it is easy to track it down. Please take a look into it. Do not waste the money this way.</p>
<p>We were verified every year my son was at school, but it never came to any changes. I heard many are, I wouldn’t worry about it. I just didn’t get the notice the second year and my son hadn’t checked his email, so keep up on those things, we just made the submit date.</p>