Financial Aid

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Pell Grant and Student Loans are available for Practical Nursing students who qualify for assistance.

What is Financial Aid?

Financial Aid is money to help you and your family cover educational expenses. It is intended to supplement (not replace) the amount you and your family can afford. Keep in mind that it is ultimately the responsibility of you and your family to finance your education. Financial assistance comes from a variety of sources, including federal, state, and local funds. Grants, scholarships, and work-study programs are the main types of assistance available to you.

The Federal Direct Loan program offers many benefits to student and parent borrowers, including:

Consistent access to loan funds directly from the U.S. Department of Education
Competitive rates and repayment options available to all borrowers
Simple application process
Quick receipt of funds
Excellent customer service

Application Procedures for Completing Federal Direct Loan Process

All students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at http://www.fafsa.gov.our school code is 030686.

You will need your Federal PIN (sent by the U.S. Department of Education) when you complete the FAFSA online. You will use this PIN as your electronic signature and it represents the same legal obligation as your written signature. Students who do not have a PIN should go to http://www.pin.ed.gov and choose either "Apply for a PIN" or "Request for a Duplicate PIN".

Every Federal Direct Loan first time borrower must complete loan entrance counseling at https://studentloans.gov. This tutorial outlines your rights and responsibilities as a federal loan borrower and is followed by a brief quiz. The counseling takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.

New Federal Direct Loan borrowers must sign a Federal Direct Stafford Loan electronic master promissory note (MPN). Students may sign their MPN electronically at https://studentloans.gov.

Please read the following important information before beginning an electronic MPN session:

You will use your Federal FAFSA PIN to sign the MPN.
You need two references. Please provide the complete name, address, and telephone number for two people who have known you for at least one year and who live at different addresses.
You must use your full legal name as it appears on your social security card.
Please note that you must complete the entire process in a single session. If you leave the site before signing the MPN, you must start over from the beginning.

You do not have to complete a new MPN if you have already signed a Federal Direct MPN for Applied Technology Services or another Federal Direct Loan institution. For information about your current Federal Direct Loans, please visit the Federal Direct Loan servicing site if you already have a loan: https://studentloans.gov.

What is Next?

Upon receipt of the Student Aid Report (a form sent to you from the financial aid processing center), you should submit the Student Aid Report to the Financial Aid Office at the South Tech Campus. Once the form is received, you may be required to provide other information to verify what you have reported on the forms. You may be asked to bring in your tax returns, non-taxable income documentation, financial aid transcript from previously attended institutions and possibly other information.

Conduct a Federal Stafford Loan Entrance Interview

If you are awarded a Federal Stafford loan or a Federal Perkins loan, you must complete a Loan Entrance interview.

Conduct a Direct Loan Entrance Interview

Conduct a Federal Stafford Loan Exit Interview

Students who have received a Federal Direct, Federal Stafford or Federal Perkins loan during their attendance at Applied Technology Services are required to attend a Federal loan exit counseling interview or complete an on-line exit counseling session using the link below at the time of graduation or dropping below half-time.

Conduct a FFELP Stafford or Perkins Loan Exit Interview

Conduct a Direct Loan Exit Interview

Drug Policy for Federal Aid

A student who has been convicted of any offense under any Federal or State law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance for conduct that occurred during a period of enrollment in which federal student aid was received shall not be eligible to receive federal student aid (including any grant, loan, or work assistance) during the period beginning on the date of such conviction and ending after the interval specified in the following table:

The possession of a controlled substance:
Ineligibility period is 1 year for the first offense, 2 years for the second offense, and indefinite for the third offense.

The sale of a controlled substance:
Ineligibility period is 1 year for the first offense and indefinite for the second offense.

Rehabilitation:
A student whose eligibility has been suspended may resume eligibility before the end of the ineligibility period if the student satisfactorily completes a drug rehabilitation program that is approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

For assistance, contact our Student Aid Office at (314) 989-7583.

Useful Scholarship and Financial Aid Websites:

Federal Direct Loan Program
www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan/index.html

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Fast WEB Scholarship Search
www.fastweb.com

Calculate loan repayment
www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan/calc.html

College Guides and Aid Home Page
www.collegeaid.com

Fast WEB Scholarship Search
www.fastweb.com

Student Loan Marketing Association
www.salliemae.com/

Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning
www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/PPI/HOPE/index.html

U.S. Department of Education
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp

Missouri Saving for Tuition Program (MO$T)
https://missourimost.s.upromise.com/

Financial Aid
www.finaid.org
www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/Public

Scholarships
www.college-scholarships.com/100college.htm
www.scholarships.com/

Yahoo Links
http://dir.yahoo.com/Education/financial_aid