Completion of the FAFSA (or renewal of the FAFSA):
The FAFSA should be submitted as early as possible, but no earlier than the
first week of January for the upcoming academic year. Students are encouraged
to complete the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. Otherwise, paper copies of
the FAFSA may be available from high schools, post-secondary schools and local
libraries across the U.S.The GSAS Title IV federal school code is E00113 and must be
included on the form. Students should submit any paper responses from FAFSA to
the GSAS Financial Aid Office.
Deadline: All financial aid forms must be submitted to the
GSAS Financial Aid office by August 31 prior to the start of the academic year
for which aid is desired.
Documents to be Submitted for a Loan: Students who are
applying for federal funds should submit the following documents to the GSAS
Financial Aid Office:
- Federal Stafford Loan Master
Promissory Note (MPN)
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas/pdf-files/GEN0207StaffordMPN.pdf
All new students and/or first-time borrowers must complete a Federal
Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the Stafford Loans to
borrow Federal Stafford Loans (see Section
b.1. below). Application for Stafford Loans are made through a
participating lender, but must be certified by the GSAS Financial Aid
Office. Students must enter a lender’s name on line eight of the Federal
Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). Incomplete MPNs will delay the
loan processing. Columbia
University has a
selected list of preferred lenders who have a proven track record of
quality services. Information on lenders may be obtained from the GSAS
Financial Aid Office.
- Entrance Interview Form: The
GSAS Financial Aid Office is required to inform students receiving federal
funds about the rights and responsibilities of students prior to
disbursement of federal aid. Students are informed of this information at
the time that they complete an Entrance Interview. The Entrance Interview
can be completed during the week of orientation or online at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/sfs/.
Verification: After completing the FAFSA, some students who
apply for federal loans or work study may be selected by the United States
Department of Education for verification of their financial status. Students
who are selected for verification will be sent additional information about the
process. They will be required to submit copies of completed federal tax
returns (including W-2s) for the tax year prior to the academic year and the
Verification Worksheet. This form is available at the GSAS Financial Aid Office
at 107 Low Library or online: http://ifap.ed.gov/vgworksheets/attachments/0506VerWkshtInd.pdf
Student Aid Reports: Approximately two to four weeks after filing a
FAFSA, students should receive from the U.S. Department of Education a student
aid report (SAR), which summarizes the information reported on the FAFSA.
Students should review the SAR and make any necessary corrections per the
instructions on the SAR. The GSAS Financial Aid Office also receives an
electronic student aid report (ESAR) from the federal processor approximately
two to four weeks after student application.
Exit Interviews: Federal regulations require that students
with loans complete an Exit Interview prior to graduation or if their
registration drops below half-time (see Section
VII in GSAS Rules and Regulations ). The Exit Interview can also be
completed online.
Renewal
FAFSA: Continuing financial aid applicants will be
sent a Renewal FAFSA or PIN between late November and January each year.
Students who may wish to receive federal aid are advised to maintain a current
mailing address with the federal processor since Renewal FAFSAs or PINs are
mailed to the address on file as of September. Students who do not receive Renewal
FAFSAs or PINs by the end of January should visit the PIN Web site at http://www.pin.ed.gov to request a PIN. A PIN
is necessary to submit a Renewal FAFSA online.
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