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Financial Aid

How to Apply

If you wish to apply for financial aid, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Here are your options for applying:

A paper version of the 2007-2008 FAFSA may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office, most high school guidance offices, and most public libraries.

No additional Virginia Western financial aid form is needed for the fall and spring semesters. A supplemental form is required for the summer semester. This form will be mailed to all current financial aid recipients in early March. New students will be mailed this form when their financial aid file is complete.

Important Priority Deadlines

Since most grant programs have limited funding, except the Pell Grant, the date of application is a critical factor. An application can be submitted as early as January 1 (e.g., January 1, 2008, for the 2008-2009 academic year). Primary consideration is given to those students whose applications are received and processed by the below dates. Please submit your financial aid application materials as early as possible.

Students should complete and mail the application as early as possible. Students mailing the application before the Application Priority Date below may be considered for maximum grant aid.


Semester Attending VWCC Application Priority Date

Spring 2008

(not attending Fall 07)

Nov. 16, 2007

Summer 2008

(must complete 07-08 FAFSA)

April 4, 2008

Fall 2008 (& Spring 2009)

(08-09 FAFSA)

May 31, 2008

Grant support will continue to be offered after these dates, on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, even if you are able to receive support, it likely will be provided on a retroactive basis after you already have enrolled in and paid for your courses.

Step by Step Financial Aid Process

  1. Apply for admission, if new to Virginia Western Community College, as a degree/ certificate candidate. This includes:

    • Having all official high school and/or college transcripts on file,
    • Taking placement tests (or using a transferable English Composition and College Math),
    • Meeting with a counselor and completing a Curriculum Change Form. Please note that curricula that require fewer than 16 credits for completion are NOT eligible for financial aid

    Please complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) immediately, even before you are informed of your admissions decision. The application should be completed each year and is available at VWCC, high schools, colleges, and most public libraries. An internet version is available at the fafsa.ed.gov website. Filing the FAFSA form online is highly recommended. It typically is processed in less time than a paper application, and there are typically fewer errors.
  2. Check the accuracy on the Student Aid Report sent to you by the federal government processor in response to your application. If you filed the FAFSA online, you will receive your Student Aid Report electronically. If you need to make corrections, you may do so using your Student Aid Report or online at fafsa.ed.gov.
  3. Respond promptly to any financial aid or admissions inquiries you may receive from VWCC. Be sure to complete and return any financial aid materials that are requested, such as verification documents and permanent residency documents.
  4. Report all scholarships and financial aid received to the Financial Aid Office. Receipt of additional scholarships and awards requires recalculation of your financial aid eligibility, which may result in a reduction of previously-awarded financial aid.
  5. Register for classes.
  6. Balances due are payable each semester at the time of registration. Awarded aid should be subtracted from the balance due and any difference needs to be paid immediately in order to avoid being dropped from classes.

Helpful Hints!

Releases

VWCC's Title IV Code is 003760. For the processing center this is as important as your social security number. If you do not list VWCC's code to receive your FAFSA information, we cannot process any financial aid for you.

Verification Worksheets

If you were selected for verification and have misplaced the Verification Worksheet that we mailed to you, you may print another copy at the following web address: www.virginiawestern.edu/finaid/forms/html

Please complete the worksheet and return to us with the appropriate tax forms.

IRS phone number: If you have misplaced your tax return and would like to request a transcript summary from the IRS, you may do so by calling 1-800-829-1040.

Common Application Errors

Most mistakes are made because students and/or parents either don't follow or don't understand the application instructions. While few errors will cause you to have to start all over, most errors will significantly delay the processing of either your FAFSA at the federal level, your award at the college level, or both.

There are also additional FAFSA instructions provided by the Department of Education.

(This choice will take you out of the VWCC Website, so you may want to bookmark this page.)

If you are not clear on a question, take the time to call either your school or the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED AID (1-800-433-3243). The few extra minutes it takes could save you weeks of delays!

Applying for Summer Semester Financial Aid

 

IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION FOR SUMMER SEMESTER
Financial aid is very limited for Summer Semester.

It is extremely important that you apply early if you plan to enroll. Since Summer Semester is regarded as the final semester of the academic year, you must have on file a financial aid application for the academic year currently in progress (for example, for Summer Semester, 2008, you need to have on file a financial aid application for the 2007-2008 academic year).

Program-specific Information

A student who does not utilize all of his or her Pell Grant award during Fall and Spring Semesters has funds available for use during Summer Semester. For example, a student with an annual Pell Grant award of $2400, who enrolls half-time during Fall Semester and full-time during Spring Semester, typically receives $1800 ($600 Fall + $1200 Spring) during the regular academic year. This leaves an additional $600 available for use during Summer Semester.

Other grant funds (SEOG, COMA, CSAP, PTAP) come from fixed annual allocations to the institution, and typically are very limited as we move into Summer Semester. It is possible that some of these funds will be available for use at that time, though we can provide no guarantee. Assuming that some funds do remain, it certainly will be to your advantage to return your Financial Aid Request as soon as possible.

Your award(s) will be based on the number of credits for which you register. If you decide upon a different enrollment status from the one you initially indicate, please inform the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible so that your award(s) may be revised in an expedient manner. If you do not inform us of a change in your enrollment status, your award(s) still will be adjusted accordingly at the end of the add/drop period, but additional complications could arise.

Please be reminded that all awards are contingent upon your continuing compliance with the institution's satisfactory academic progress standards. If you are not in compliance at the end of Spring Semester, your Summer Semester financial aid awards will be canceled. You will then be notified of the need to pay the balance due on your student account to ensure that your course(s) will not be dropped.

Sequential Steps that are Followed

VWCC - The Community's College