Now is a good time to register for your Federal Student Aid PIN number(s) at http://www.pin.ed.gov/. For dependent students both the student and at least one parent each need to obtain PIN numbers in order to electronically sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. Applicants usually receive their PIN numbers within 3-5 days. Keep them in a secure place and do not share them with anyone.
Don't overlook scholarship opportunities. Work with your high school guidance office and organizations within your community for the best information on local and regional scholarships.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) electronically at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. Download the Pre-Application Worksheet to make your electronic filing easier. Families can estimate income data on the FAFSA and then submit corrections once actual income information becomes available. Keep a copy of your application. Be advised that your financial aid package is subject to change if using estimated income. Alfred State's FAFSA school code is 002854.
The online FAFSA allows students who are New York State residents an option to also complete the NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application online. This link is offered on the FAFSA Confirmation Page once the FAFSA has been correctly submitted. TAP can also be applied for directly at http://www.tapweb.org/. Alfred State's TAP school codes are 3005 for associate degree programs and 6005 for bachelor degree programs.
Approximately five business days after submitting the FAFSA students who provided an e-mail address will receive an e-mail from the U.S. Department of Education with a link to their Student Aid Report (SAR) on the Web. Review all of your answers and make sure your SAR has the right information. If you used estimated income on the FAFSA and now have actual income data, correct any answers that need updated. Contact the Financial Aid Office if you have questions.
Financial aid packaging is underway and accepted students with a valid FAFSA on file will receive post card notification that their electronic Financial Aid Award Letters are available online. E-mail notifications are also sent to students' Alfred State College e-mail accounts. Complete instructions are available at www.alfredstate.edu/my-finaid on how to accept and decline aid, check for outstanding processing requirements, and apply for loans.
Students selected for income verification will be asked to provide copies of parent/student income tax returns and/or related income information to the Financial Aid Office. Respond promptly to any requests for information.
The NYS Higher Education Services Corporation will begin sending out award notifications to students determined eligible for TAP. Students can check the status of their TAP application or award at http://www.hesc.com/. Students who still need to apply for TAP can go to http://www.tapweb.org/.
In some instances an initial offer of financial aid may change due to income verification, changes in enrollment or housing status, or receipt of additional college or outside funding and scholarships. You will be notified of any changes to your financial aid package via your campus e-mail account.
If after filing your FAFSA your family experiences a change in income or other hardship situation due to illness, loss of employment, etc. contact the Financial Aid Office. In many cases adjustments can be made to a student's aid package.
Return your College Work Study Application as directed if you were offered College Work Study in your Financial Aid award package.
Be on the lookout for your fall semester bill in your Alfred State College e-mail account. Contact the Student Accounts Office if you have questions regarding your bill or how to process your bill online.
If financial aid is not showing as credit on your billing statement, you may have not completed all of your financial aid requirements or applications. Go to www.alfredstate.edu/my-finaid to look up any missing processing requirements and check the status of your aid.
By now students planning to borrow a Federal Stafford Loan for the first time should have completed their online Student Loan Counseling and Master Promissory Note (MPN). If you still need to complete your Student Loan Counseling and Stafford Loan MPN go to www.alfredstate.edu/my-finaid and click on Applying for Loans.
Your fall semester bill is due. Be aware of the due date to avoid late fees and dropped classes. Contact the Student Accounts Office if you have questions regarding your bill or how to process your bill online.
If you were offered College Work Study as part of your financial aid package and you returned your College Work Study Application as instructed, your job assignment will be placed in your campus mailbox around your time of arrival on campus. Assignments for commuter students will be mailed accordingly.
Classes start. Remember your grades can affect your eligibility for federal and state financial aid.
To avoid any delays in the processing of your financial aid make sure you have responded to all requests for information from the Financial Aid Office. You can check the status of your financial aid requirements and awards anytime by following the easy instructions at www.alfredstate.edu/my-finaid. If you have questions make an appointment to see your financial aid counselor.
Your aid may start to arrive on campus. The Student Accounts Office will issue refunds to eligible students once the bill has been satisfied.
Spring semester bills are sent to your Alfred State College e-mail account. Be aware of the due date to avoid late fees and dropped classes.
Continuing students will begin receiving information and reminders to file the FAFSA again for the upcoming fall and spring semesters.