I Submitted the FAFSA. What’s Next?
So your FAFSA has been submitted? You draw in a few breaths of relief, then your brain kicks into overdrive. Suddenly, you realize you don’t know what to do next, who to talk to or how you can use your financial aid. Not to worry! The following cheat sheet is designed to guide you down the path to success — and if you get stuck, we have specialists here at EFSC who are happy to help you get un-stuck.
1. Get Accepted to Eastern Florida State College
In order to receive financial aid at EFSC, you have to apply and be accepted. This is important, because EFSC will not offer you any aid if you aren’t an accepted or current student. If you haven’t applied to become an EFSC Titan, you can do so online.
2. Get your EFSC Student B#
EFSC will send you several communications using your assigned student ID number (also called your B#). This is an eight-digit number that begins with a capital “B,” and you will use it many times while you’re at EFSC. In fact, it’s the first thing the Office of Financial Aid is going to ask you about. Keep this number in a safe place; it is as important as your Social Security Number!
If you have questions about your Student ID B#, contact the Office of Admissions.
3. Check Your myEFSC Message Center for Additional Info
Once you have your B#, you should log in to your myEFSC Message Center right away. Start to get familiar with the types of things you might see there, and make it a habit to check the Message Center on a regular basis. It will even alert you when you have tasks to complete or paperwork to turn in.
This helpful video provides an overview of the Message Center statuses you will see. For example, if you see that the FAFSA has the word “satisfied” next to it, then you know that EFSC has a copy of your FAFSA. If you see anything that says “required” in bold red letters, make sure to get that paperwork to the Office of Financial Aid by the deadline!
If you see a status of Incomplete, More Information Needed or Hold in your Message Center, be sure to check your Titan student email for details, as we are very likely trying to contact you about something really important.
4. Submit Your Documents by the Priority Deadline
It probably doesn’t come as surprise to you that the Office of Financial Aid has deadlines for submitting documents each term. We post them on the EFSC website, on posters, on flyers and even at the top of our forms. It is so important to meet financial aid deadlines! Let me say that one more time. IT 👏 IS 👏 SO 👏 IMPORTANT 👏 TO 👏 MEET 👏 FINANCIAL 👏 AID 👏 DEADLINES!
Missing a deadline could keep you from receiving aid on time, like by the fee due date, so don’t chance it. You can submit your documents in person (during business hours, and only when it’s safe for everyone to return to campus), by mail or online by uploading them to the Student Document Dropbox. Most documents take 7 to 10 business days to be reviewed by the Office of Financial Aid.
5. Check Your Titan Student Email
We will send you an email to let you know you have a financial aid offer. It provides details about your aid, as well as instructions on how to log in to your account. Read this email carefully, and contact a financial aid specialist if you don’t understand something.
6. Register for Classes
Make sure to take classes that are necessary for your degree. This is important, because financial aid is only eligible to be used for classes that are part of your declared program of study. Contact your Academic Advisor with any questions about which classes to take.
7. Set Up Your BankMobile Refund Option
EFSC works with a company called BankMobile to send you any excess funds or refunds each term. Be on the lookout for communication from BankMobile so you can set up your refund preference. If you have questions about the process, contact the Cashier’s Office for more information.
8. Check Your Account Summary
Your Account Summary provides a snapshot of your bill. When you register for classes, your charges are assessed immediately, but your financial aid disbursement will take more time to be processed and displayed.
If you have enough financial aid in the payments/credits column to cover your bill by the fee due date, you don’t need to worry about submitting a payment. If you don’t have enough financial aid to pay all of the charges, you will need to pay the balance by the fee due date. If you need help understanding your Account Summary, contact the Cashier’s Office for assistance.
9. Monitor myEFSC for Your Book Voucher
If your total authorized aid for the term exceeds the charges on your account, you may be offered a book voucher. Check myEFSC to see if you are eligible; if you are, the amount and the dates you can use the voucher will be listed.
10. Go to Class (Virtually for Now)
Students on financial aid earn their aid by attending class and getting good grades, so be sure to keep up!
11. Get Your Financial Aid Disbursement
The Office of Financial Aid typically disburses funds around the third or fourth week of classes. Following the disbursement process, if you have any leftover money, it will be sent to BankMobile and refunded to you through your selected refund option (see #7 above).
12. Breathe and Enjoy
Phew! That was a ton of information, but now you know a little more about what happens once you’ve submitted the FAFSA. Breathe that sigh of relief again, enjoy your college experience and remember — the Office of Financial Aid is always there to help Titans Rise!
- Your StudentAid.gov Dashboard - October 20, 2021
- Yes, You Can Use Your Financial Aid To Buy Books! - June 2, 2021
- Thinking About Borrowing a Federal Student Loan? - March 31, 2021
