HOW TO APPLY
Financial Aid Application Checklist for 2008-09 | FYI |
You may wish to print out this checklist for your files. The University of Iowa Federal School Code (required when completing the FAFSA) is 001892. |
| Related Links |
View a flowchart of the financial aid process. |
Financial Aid Application Checklist for 2008-2009
| 1. As soon after January 1, 2008 as possible: |
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Complete the 2008-09 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the U.S. Department of Education web site at fafsa.ed.gov. This is the fastest, surest, and most accurate way to apply. You will need to use a PIN number when completing the FAFSA on the web. You can obtain a PIN at the U.S. Department of Education PIN web site at www.pin.ed.gov. If this is the first time you are completing the FAFSA on the web, after you complete the FAFSA on the web, you will be required to print the certification page, provide all required signatures, and mail it to the federal processor. OR
If you are unable to complete the FAFSA on the web, you can obtain a paper 2008-09 FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center toll-free at 1-800-433-3243. After completing the paper FAFSA, sign and mail it to the federal processor in the envelope provided with the FAFSA.
You must reapply for financial aid each year by completing a new FAFSA.
******************** The University of Iowa Federal School Code is 001892.
Date FAFSA was completed on the web or paper FAFSA was mailed: _____/_____/_____ |
| 2. Three to four weeks after submitting the FAFSA: |
The federal processor will notify you when they have processed your FAFSA information by mailing you a paper Student Aid Report (SAR) or e-mailing you. (If you do not receive a SAR or e-mail three to four weeks after filing the FAFSA, call the federal processor at 1-800-433-3243.) Date SAR/e-mail was received: _____/_____/_____ Review items on the SAR/e-mail. If there are numbers for the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the University of Iowa is listed, and your social security number is correct, the federal processor will send your information electronically to the University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid (UI OSFA). Keep the SAR/e-mail for your records. If the EFC is blank (no number listed), the University of Iowa is not listed, and/or your social security number is not correct, follow the instructions on Part 2 of the SAR/e-mail for making corrections. After submitting your corrections, you will be sent a corrected SAR/e-mail. Date corrected SAR was submitted to federal processor: _____/_____/_____ Date corrected SAR received from federal processor: _____/_____/_____ |
| 3. University of Iowa Verification Form (IVF) |
If you have been admitted to a degree program at The University of Iowa and the University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid (UI OSFA) has received your FAFSA results from the federal processor, UI OSFA will send you the IVF or a postcard directing you to ISIS to print the IVF. You will need to complete the IVF and return it to the UI Office of Student Financial Aid as soon as possible. This form allows you to report any updated information, unusual circumstances, or changes in income. It will not be necessary to contact the office in any other manner regarding these issues. If you do not receive the IVF form or postcard within four weeks after you submit the FAFSA (and you are admitted to a degree program), check ISIS to see if it is available (find heading Student Records, click on Financial Aid, then on Verification Form--make sure you select the IVF for 2008-2009). You will not be able to access the IVF on ISIS until the UI Office of Student Financial Aid has received the results from your FAFSA and you must be currently enrolled or admitted to a degree program. The IVF will be available mid-February, 2008. If you are not able to obtain the IVF from ISIS and it has been four weeks since you submitted the FAFSA, contact the UI Office of Student Financial Aid. Date completed IVF sent to the University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid: _____/_____/_____ |
| 4. 2007 U.S. Income Tax Returns |
Submit to the University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid (UI OSFA) a signed and dated photocopy of your own 2007 federal income tax return, and Schedules A and B, if filed. If your parents' income information was provided on the FAFSA, you must also submit to the UI OSFA a signed and dated photocopy of your parents' 2007 federal income tax return and Schedules A and B, if filed. Print the student's name and social security number in the upper right corner of each tax return. If you and/or your parents will not file 2007 federal income tax returns, you will be asked to verify this on the University of Iowa Verification Form. Date student's signed and dated federal tax return was sent to UI OSFA: _____/_____/_____ Date parents' signed and dated federal tax return was sent to UI OSFA (if applicable): _____/_____/_____ |
| 5. University of Iowa Award Notification |
After all required documents have been reviewed, the University of Iowa Office of Student Financial Aid (UI OSFA) will send an award notification to you at the residing address you have listed with the University. You will either receive a postcard instructing you to access your award notification on ISIS or you will receive a paper award notification packet. If you have not been notified of your award within four weeks of submitting your IVF and all required tax returns, contact the UI Office of Student Financial Aid by e-mail at financial-aid@uiowa.edu or phone, 1-800-553-4692 or 319-335-1450. Students can check the status of their application process on ISIS (see #6 below). If loan promissory notes are included with your paper award notification packet and you want to accept the loan(s), complete and return to UI OSFA one copy of each promissory note(s) that is/are included with your award notification. Keep the other copy(ies) for your records. If a Rights and Responsibilities form is enclosed, complete and return one copy to the UI OSFA. If you are reducing or declining financial aid listed on your award notification, receiving a private scholarship or grant, or are changing items in Section A of your award notification, complete and return the award notification to the UI OSFA. Date promissory note(s)/award notification was sent to UI OSFA: _____/_____/_____ If you will borrow the Federal Direct subsidized or unsubsidized loan and you are a first-time borrower, you are required to have entrance loan counseling, which is available on the web. Access the Federal Student Aid Direct Loan Servicing web site at: www.ed.gov/DirectLoan. After you have successfully completed the interactive session on the web, the UI OSFA will receive the results. Date on-line entrance loan counseling was completed: _____/_____/_____ If your parent plans to borrow the PLUS Loan, your parent must request the PLUS Loan each year after the student receives their award notification. Your parent will need to complete the Parent (PLUS) Loan Request form (available after you have received your 2008-2009 award notification). The PLUS promissory notes will not be enclosed with your award notification. After your parents send the PLUS request to the UI OSFA, the PLUS loan information will be mailed to you. Date parent requested PLUS Loan: _____/_____/_____ |
| 6. Check the Status of Your Financial Aid |
You (the student) can check the status of your 2008-2009 financial aid on the web mid-March 2008. Go to the University of Iowa Student Information Service (ISIS) at http://isis.uiowa.edu. If you are not able to log on, click "Help" and follow the instructions on how to set up your student account. |