Verification Policies

Have you received notification that you were selected for verification? If so, there may be additional documentation that is needed in order to complete your financial aid application. Verification occurs when your FAFSA is selected by the Department of Education for additional review by the Sweet Briar financial aid office. In simple terms, the financial aid office now verifies that the information that was reported on your 2023-2024 FAFSA is correct. About 30% of FAFSAs are selected for verification. If you have not received specific word that there are additional documents needed, please do not send in any verification documents or forms.

Once you are selected for verification, the amount and type of additional documentation needed can vary greatly depending on the student. Please do not send in documents unless they are specifically requested. You can always keep track of your documents in the mySBC portal.

Always Required

  • 2023-2024 Federal Verification worksheet is required for all students who are selected for verification. Please either select the dependent or independent 2023-2024 Federal Verification Worksheet based on your current student status.

Sometimes Required

  • The 2021 IRS Tax Return Transcript may be requested if you were not able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on your 2023-2024 FAFSA. Click here for a guide to requesting the 2021 IRS Tax Return Transcript. Please do not send a 2020 IRS Tax Return Transcript unless it is requested.
  • Other documents may be requested, and can include but are not limited to, 2021 untaxed income worksheets, 2021 W-2s, statements from the parents or the students, and other supporting 2021 tax schedules. Please remember that verification is highly individualized, and documents are requested on a case-by-case basis.

Please continue to check your mySBC portal as well as your Sweet Briar email for additional requests and updates. Once all requested documents are received, please give the financial aid office five business days to complete the verification process.