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Your official offer of student aid from a college or university, community college, or vocational or career school will be in the form of an award letter or notice. Some schools also use the web to provide notices after your freshman year in college. Even though you can apply for financial aid before you complete admission applications, schools may not make an official offer of aid until you are accepted for enrollment.
The award notification will most likely contain different financial aid programs combined to make your financial aid package.
Your package may contain scholarships, grants, work study, and student loans.
You may have to sign and return your award notice to accept the aid.
Many schools do not require a special acceptance for scholarships and grants because they are gift aid that hardly anyone turns down.
For offers of work-study and student or parent loans (self-help aid), you may have to actually accept them.
A promissory note—your promise to repay—is required for student and parent loans.
Immediately read the award notice carefully to see what you may have to do to accept the aid.
The award notice is for a specific period of enrollment and enrollment status (full time or half time, for example).
If you change your enrollment plans, the financial aid package will most likely have to be revised.
Not all schools package PLUS loans for parents of dependent students or Stafford Loans on the award notice.
If you do not see them on your award notice, it does not necessarily mean that you are ineligible for them.
You may have to apply separately for a determination of eligibility.
Check the school's website or financial aid materials for more information.
The award notification usually identifies the cost of attendance and the expected family contribution used to determine your eligibility.
Remember these are required figures and are estimates themselves.
You do not necessarily have to pay either the cost of attendance or expected family contribution amounts.
The cost of attendance not only includes your school charges (tuition and fees and room and board if you live on campus in a residence hall) but also has estimates for books and supplies, and related living expenses while you attend school.
Your expected family contribution is an estimate of your and your family's own funds for paying your own charges and estimated expenses.
Wait for a bill from the school for school charges, which usually indicates what financial aid has or will pay and requires that you pay only the difference, if any.
Contact the school if you do not receive a bill and school is about to start.
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Applying for Financial Aid 
