Do I need to accept financial aid package online or just accept college admission?

You definitely need to accept the financial aid package separately from accepting admission. Most schools have a separate financial aid portal or section within their student portal where you need to review and accept each component of your aid package individually. Some aid types (like grants) might auto-accept, but loans almost always require explicit acceptance and additional steps.

You ABSOLUTELY must accept the financial aid package separately from admission acceptance!!! This is one of the biggest mistakes first-time college students make. Each component of your package (especially the Parent Plus loan) requires separate acceptance and sometimes additional paperwork. If you don't accept by their deadline, they can and WILL reallocate those funds to other students. Don't wait!!!

my kid lost half his aid package last yr bc we didnt know we had to accept each thing separately. terrible system tbh. check your student portal for something like "financial aid status" or "award letter" then there should be checkboxes or accept buttons for each item

When I was having trouble reaching my daughter's financial aid office to confirm we'd properly accepted everything, I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it worked so well! They connected me to a real person at the financial aid office in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Totally worth it to make sure all her aid was properly accepted before deadlines!

My FAFSA situation was different from yours (I had mostly direct loans and pell grant) but I definitely had to log in to the school's financial aid portal and click accept for each part of my package. Also had to complete entrance counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note for the loans. The grants were the only things that auto-accepted.

Just to add some important info: For the Parent Plus loan, your parent will need to complete a separate application including a credit check and sign a separate Master Promissory Note. That loan doesn't just automatically activate when you click accept - your parent must complete those steps. Many families miss this and end up with a funding gap when the semester bill comes due.

also dont forget that the SAI score from ur FAFSA affects what grants u get so if anything changes w/ ur family income u might need to update that too. made that mistake and missed out on like $2000 extra aid

Since your family situation has changed (father's job loss), you should immediately submit a Professional Judgment (PJ) request to the financial aid office. This is sometimes called a Special Circumstances review or Appeal. This allows the financial aid office to recalculate your SAI based on current income rather than the tax return year used on your FAFSA. This could significantly increase your grant eligibility and reduce the need for loans. Most schools have a specific form for this process.

dude just accept everything they offer u and figure out the details later!!! free $$$

Hey Dylan! Just wanted to add that you should also pay attention to any work-study requirements in your package. Work-study funds aren't automatically deposited like grants - you actually have to find and apply for work-study jobs on campus, then work those hours to earn the money. The amount they offer is the maximum you can earn, not guaranteed income. Many students accept work-study thinking it's free money and then never follow through with actually getting the job. Make sure you understand what each component of your aid package requires from you!

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through this process last year! Make sure you take screenshots or print out your aid package acceptance confirmations - I had a technical glitch where the system didn't save my acceptances properly and I had to prove I'd submitted everything on time. Also, don't forget that federal loan limits increase each year you're in school, so if your family's financial situation stays difficult, you might be eligible for more aid next year. The Professional Judgment request that StarSailor mentioned is definitely worth pursuing given your dad's job loss - it made a huge difference for my friend's family when they went through something similar. Good luck!

Also wanted to mention - don't stress too much about the work-study component right now! While Grace is absolutely right that you need to actively find and apply for work-study jobs, most schools are pretty good about helping new students navigate this process during orientation or the first few weeks of classes. The financial aid office usually has resources or workshops specifically for work-study students. Just make sure you don't wait until mid-semester to start looking - the best positions (ones with flexible hours that work around your class schedule) tend to get filled quickly at the beginning of each semester. And remember, work-study earnings are generally exempt from federal taxes, which is a nice bonus compared to regular part-time jobs off campus!

One more tip that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to check if your school has any institutional deadlines that are earlier than the federal deadlines! Some schools require you to accept certain types of aid (especially institutional grants or scholarships) by specific dates that might be sooner than you think. Also, if you're planning to live on campus, coordinate with the housing office about when your financial aid will be applied to your account - sometimes there's a timing mismatch that can cause temporary holds on your housing assignment. You're doing great by asking these questions early rather than waiting until the last minute like so many students do!

As someone who works in financial aid, I want to emphasize a few critical points that haven't been fully covered: 1) For Parent Plus loans, make sure your parent understands they are personally liable for the full amount - it's not forgiven if something happens to the student. 2) If you're considering declining work-study now but might want it later, you usually CAN'T add it back mid-year once you decline it. 3) Keep copies of ALL financial aid communications - not just acceptance confirmations but also the original award letter and any correspondence about deadlines. Schools sometimes have system glitches or policy changes, and having your own records can be crucial for resolving disputes. Also, since you mentioned being first-gen, definitely attend any "financial literacy" or "managing college costs" workshops your school offers - they're incredibly valuable for understanding the long-term impact of your borrowing decisions.