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How to apply for Financial Aid
Financial Aid is funding that will help you and your family meet college expenses such
as tuition, fees, books, supplies, etc. The basic sources of aid are grants, scholarships, employment, and
loans. Grants and scholarships are gift aid and do not have to be repaid.
You and your parents (if you are considered a dependent student on the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA)
are considered the primary source of funding for these costs. Financial aid is intended to fill the gaps
where you and your parents might fall short in paying for your education.
Steps to apply for financial aid at CVCC:
- Submit the FAFSA
All students who wish to be considered for federal and state financial aid and
need-based scholarships must complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal
Student Aid). We strongly encourage you to apply online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov - - it is easier and quicker than mailing your application
in to the federal processor. However, if you want the paper form, you may download it from the web at www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov and mail to the address provided.
Students who submitted a FAFSA for the current year should receive a Renewal FAFSA directly from the federal government to be used to
reapply for aid for the upcoming year. The FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA should be
completed (on paper or via the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov) as soon as your taxes are done after January 1 for the
upcoming academic year.
CVCC's priority filing date for the federal processing center to RECEIVE your FAFSA is MARCH 15. Students whose FAFSA's are received
by the priority filing date are given first consideration for some federal and state financial aid programs that have limited funds. (The priority date is
a suggested filing date, not a deadline.)
CVCC's school code for the FAFSA is 005318.
Priority Date to file the FAFSA: March 15.
- Retain the printout of your confirmation page after submitting your FAFSA online.
This printout is your proof that you applied. Remember to mail your signature page immediately after submitting
your FAFSA online (if you don't have a PIN). SAVE to your computer a copy of the FAFSA submitted online or RETAIN a copy of the paper FAFSA or Renewal
FAFSA for your file. Also, be sure to retain copies of your/your parents' tax returns and W2's, and 1099's, in case they are requested later.
(Do not send tax returns or other documentation with your FAFSA.)
- Watch the mail
Approximately two weeks after submitting your FAFSA online (or four weeks after
mailing the paper FAFSA), you should receive a SAR (Student Aid Report)
indicating that your FAFSA has been processed and sent to the institutions you
designated. Check the SAR for accuracy, and make sure that CVCC is listed as a
recipient of your information. If CVCC is listed as a recipient of your data,
that information should be transmitted electronically to the institution for
review.
- Submit all requested paperwork.
Upon receipt of your electronic FAFSA data from the federal
processing center, we will mail you a letter requesting documents needed to
complete your file. SUBMIT all requested documentation promptly. You may be
asked to submit copies of tax returns or other documentation to complete your
financial aid application. Respond promptly to these requests (and any
follow-up requests) to assure timely processing of your application.
- Award Notifications
Financial aid award packages are mailed to those students whose
files are complete and who are eligible for federal and /or state grants. We
will not mail an award letter until a student has met all of the admission
requirements and provided all documentation that we have requested. We begin
awarding for the following fall semester by early May.
AWARD CONDITIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Be sure
to read the materials accompanying your award letter for conditions attached to your award.
LOANS: Applying for loans requires an extra step in the process - - you must
request a loan at the Financial Aid Office. We will not automatically award a
loan to you. You can apply for federal Stafford/PLUS loans AFTER all follow-up
paperwork has been submitted to the Financial Aid Office. New Stafford loan
applicants need to complete entrance loan counseling by going to
http://www.mapping-your-future.org and clicking on "student loan counseling
interview" and following the steps for the Stafford Loan.
- Financial Aid Disbursement
Financial aid is awarded by the Financial
Aid Office, but is disbursed by the CVCC Business Office. Aid awards made for
the academic year are usually disbursed in two installments, one each semester,
assuming you are registered for the number of hours on which your financial
aid award was based. If your award is made after the semester has begun,
you will be sent an award letter by mail, which will indicate when funds will be
mailed to you. If your award package includes Federal Stafford Loan funds,
those funds will be disbursed as soon as they are sent to CVCC by College
Foundation, but no earlier than the first day of class.
The CVCC Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid is located in the Student
Services Building on the CVCC main campus. If you have questions, please give us a call at (828) 327-7000 (Extension 4244, 4450, 4214 or 4220.)
or stop by to see us.
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