APPLICATION GUIDELINES
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| Following these financial aid guidelines will help ensure that you receive priority consideration. Meeting the deadlines for filing and submitting the FAFSA and University applications, as well as your tax returns, is critical to receiving consideration for all available sources of aid.
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General Information
Financial aid forms are now available for the 2008-2009 academic year. You should complete the appropriate forms as soon as possible if you wish to be considered for every type of assistance available. Please follow the instructions below carefully. The 2008-2009 Federal Student Guide, which describes the Federal Student Aid programs available, may be viewed online at www.studentaid.ed.gov/guide. A printed version will be available in January 2008.
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Instructions
1. Please complete the Mercer University Application for Financial Aid online at www.mercer.edu/finaid/forms. If you need a paper version of this form, please contact our office.
2. In order to sign FAFSA on the Web electronically, you must have a PIN. If you do not already have a PIN (Personal Identification Number), you must apply for a PIN online at www.pin.ed.gov. Parents of dependent students must also have a PIN to sign electronically. If you have forgotten your PIN, you may request a duplicate online. After you apply for your PIN, you will receive an email notification instructing you how to retrieve your PIN within three days. If you and your parent do not sign electronically with a PIN, you MUST print and mail a signature page to the Federal processor, which will delay the process by one to two weeks.
3. Complete the 2008-2009 FAFSA on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov as soon as possible after January 1, 2008. If you completed a FAFSA last year, you may have received a notice from the Federal Student Aid Programs that you will be able to complete a Renewal FAFSA on the web. You must make sure to include Mercer University's 001580 school code on your 2008-2009 FAFSA in order for Mercer to receive your results. If you cannot access FAFSA on the web, please contact our office and we will send you a paper FAFSA to complete instead.
4. Approximately two weeks after you submit a FAFSA online, you will be sent a Student Aid Report (SAR) through a secure link on the internet to the email address you provided on your application. If you do not receive your SAR, you may check the status of your application online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID. Please review the SAR for accuracy, make sure that Mercer University is listed as a college you plan to attend and print a copy for your records. If you need to make corrections to any information on the SAR, follow instructions and submit your corrections online immediately. NOTE: Both student and parent MUST sign the SAR with a PIN if corrections are submitted online.
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The Financial Aid Award Letter
- New students admitted to Mercer University for 08-09 who submit an accurate FAFSA to the Federal Processor by Feb. 15, 2008 should receive an award letter by the first week in April.
- Returning and transfer students with complete applications (FAFSA and University Application for Financial Aid) will receive awards between late May and early August. Transfer students must also submit final academic transcripts from each institution previously attended.
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Deadlines
Mercer University's priority deadline for the 2008-2009 academic year is April 1, 2008. All required forms must be RECEIVED in our office by April 1, 2008 for you to receive priority consideration. We recommend that you submit your FAFSA to the federal processor no later than February 15, 2008 in order for Mercer to receive your information by our priority deadline. Remember, it can take up to four weeks from the time you submit your FAFSA until your information is received by the University. No Federal awards can be made until this information is received by our office.
The most important documents for the 2008-2009 academic year are as follows:
- 2/15/08 Submit completed FAFSA to the federal processor, listing Mercer to receive a copy of the results.
- 2/15/08 Submit University Application for Financial Aid to the Office of Student Financial Planning.
- 4/1/08 Mercer's Office of Student Financial Planning must receive the processed copy of the FAFSA and the UAPP for student to receive priority consideration.
- 4/1/08 Mercer's Office of Student Financial Planning must receive the Georgia Grant Application for each new student who is a qualified Georgia resident.
The information you provide on these forms determines your eligibility for financial aid, so complete each one promptly and accurately!
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Helpful Hints in completing these forms
- Include student's and parent's full name and social security numbers. Make sure that your social security numbers, name and birth date are accurate on all documents.
- Keep photocopies of everything.
- Current students, if you don't receive a Renewal FAFSA, use an original FAFSA or complete the application online. Either is OK.
- Don't wait for deadlines. On-time awards can only be assured if deadlines are met.
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Questions?
If you have any questions regarding the financial aid process, please contact our office as soon as possible. You may also visit us on the web at www.mercer.edu/finaid or stop by our office on campus in Ryals Hall. If you have any questions that are not addressed via our web site, please call, e-mail, or come by to see your Financial Planning Counselor. When you contact the Office of Student Financial Planning, you will be referred to your individual Financial Planning Counselor, according to the first letter of your last name. We look forward to assisting you with your financial plans in the coming months!
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