I recently received a question from a family asking what happens after the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, otherwise known as the FAFSA. This is not surprising, as many families wonder this after finishing up their financial aid checklists and admissions paperwork. After all the activity involved with writing essays, submitting applications, and finishing senior projects, this portion of the year can be a "dead time" that seems a little out of place. So, what's the next step?