APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID IN 7 EASY STEPS

STEP 1: Get the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from the Guidance Office.

If you took the SAT’s in the spring of your junior year, you should automatically receive your FAFSA form by the middle of December of your senior year.
If you haven’t received your FAFSA by the time you return after Christmas vacation, pick one up in the Guidance Office.
Do NOT complete and mail in your FAFSA form before January 1. It will not be processed.
Even if you think you won’t qualify for any kind of financial aid, fill your FAFSA out anyway. You will not be able to take advantage of some scholarships offered by your college if you haven’t filled out a FAFSA form.
Also, a family tragedy could occur in the fall of the new calendar year when the student is a college freshman, such as the death of the main income-earner. In such a case, tragic as it is, you would not be eligible for financial aid because you hadn’t filled out a FAFSA form and the deadline to do so will have passed.
Usually, there is a financial aid night, hosted by a represented from PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) in late January or early February. The PHEAA representative provides many tips and pointers to help you fill out your FAFSA form. Check the Guidance Pages of this website, and the local newspaper and/or radio stations for the exact date. Your student will also bring home a paper notice containing the time and date of this meeting.

STEP 2: Check with the Financial Aid Office to make sure you have all the necessary forms. Your school may require additional financial aid forms to award institutional money.

STEP 3: Mail your completed FAFSA directly to the processor at the address shown on the form. You should try to submit the form as early as possible AFTER January 1 of the year you plan to attend school.

STEP 4: After about 4 to 6 weeks, you should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). The SAR will report your Pell Grant eligibility and your Expected Family Contribution.

STEP 5: Submit the SAR to all the schools you’re considering. First-year students should contact the school(s) about how to send in the SAR.

STEP 6: After reviewing this information, your school will send you a financial aid package that details your eligibility for grants, scholarships, and loans, along with an "award letter". This award letter will provide the following information:

Total cost of attendance
Type and amount of financial aid
Grants/scholarships
Work opportunity
Loans
Your family contribution

Read the entire financial aid package carefully and be sure to talk to the school’s Financial Aid Office if you have any questions.

STEP 7: Respond to your award letter immediately. It’s important that you quickly notify your school that you accept all, part, or none of the financial aid package offered.