March is the time for admission decisions and, subsequently, financial aid award letters. The Office of Financial Aid knows that undergraduate admission letters went out late last week because our phone call volume has tripled the first three days this week! The phone calls we receive are falling into three categories:
- I missed the priority financial aid application deadline, is there anything I can do?
- When will I receive my financial aid award letter?
- What else do I need to complete to ensure I receive a financial aid award letter?
If you have missed our priority deadlines, don’t despair; just act. Complete the FAFSA or CSS PROFILE now. You can still use estimated information to complete both applications if your 2011 taxes are not complete – though you will need completed taxes very soon if you would like an award letter prior to the deposit decision deadlines.
Our first run of financial aid award letters will be emailed to students next week. This email will have instructions on how to access your financial aid award letter, a 15- to 17-page guide on Financial Aid, a budget worksheet to help you estimate costs, and a document on the next steps you need to take regarding your financial aid award. If you don’t receive a financial aid award letter next week, there can be several reasons for this. You haven’t been admitted to the University of Denver, you didn’t meet all of the priority deadlines, or you still have outstanding items that DU needs to receive to complete your applications for financial aid. We continue to package students on a weekly basis, so if you have been admitted and have all of the financial aid requirements completed, an award letter will be on its way very soon.
To check to see what items are still needed to complete your financial aid application, you may access this information on webCentral at http://webcentral.du.edu (please allow 2-3 business days for webCentral to reflect documents received). Once logged in, go to the Admitted Students (new undergraduates), Incoming Grad Student (new graduates) or Student (continuing students) tab and review your “Financial Aid Requirements” on the right side of the page (be sure the Aid Year is set to 2012-13). Documents we have received will have a green check mark. The Verification Process requirement will remain unsatisfied, and have a red flag, until your file has been reviewed by a staff member. Know that our office communicates these requirements to students on a weekly basis. We do not continue to remind students after 5 communications, but the information will still be available on webCentral.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
Chris George, Director of Financial Aid
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