Applying For Aid
Applying for financial aid is a simple, easy process.
Eligibility
Who is eligible for financial aid? To be eligible you must:
- be enrolled for at least six credit hours, seeking a degree or certificate;
- be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen;
- show a need as determined by your Student Aid Report;
- make satisfactory progress in your course of study;
- not be in default on a state or federal education loan; and
- not owe a repayment of a state or federal grant.
To apply for financial aid, students should file both of the financial aid applications
listed below. The forms may be obtained either as printed documents through our office or
as electronic documents online. Complete the forms and mail them as directed. The required
applications are:
- the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as a FAFSA
— an electronic document to print, complete and mail is online at
fafsa.ed.gov, or file a
FAFSA online as described below
FAFSA Filing Online
We encourage students to complete the 2008-2009 FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA online at
fafsa.ed.gov. The online FAFSA is
faster for the U.S. Department of Education to process, typically reducing processing by
as much as two weeks. Because students may save their FAFSA applications online as they
work toward completion, they receive the added benefits of multiple online editing
sessions, error reduction, and secure, confidential access from school or home.
Request a Personal Identification Number
A Personal Identification Number, or PIN, is necessary to log in on the FAFSA Web
site to file an online FAFSA. The U.S. Department of Education will issue a PIN
upon request. Students and parents of dependent students may request a PIN at the
U.S. Department of Education’s Web site:
www.pin.ed.gov.
The PIN serves as an electronic signature. Students or parents who file a FAFSA
online, but do not request a PIN, will later be required to obtain, sign and mail
a signature page.
Complete an online FAFSA form
Log in to www.fafsa.ed.gov
to complete and submit a FAFSA application.
Complete an online FAFSA4caster form
Log in to
www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
to complete and receive an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid.
This Web site provides you with an opportunity to increase your knowledge of the
financial aid process; become familiar with the various types of federal student
aid that are available; and investigate other sources of aid, such as grants and
scholarships.
FAFSA application.
The FAFSA customer service telephone help line is 1-800-433-3243.
Student Aid Report — Results and Changes
A Student Aid Report, or SAR, is provided to the student when the financial aid application
is processed. The SAR should be reviewed for accuracy and completeness.
If the SAR has errors, corrections should be completed, signed, and the SAR submitted for
reprocessing. Electronic corrections can be made at the FAFSA Web site by logging in with
the same PIN used to submit the FAFSA.
If a financial aid application has been filed, but Brookhaven College was not listed as a
school choice, a school change should be initiated. This may be done when submitting a
correction to the SAR or by obtaining a duplicate SAR to correct and submit. Duplicates may
be requested by calling 1-800-433-3243, on the FAFSA Web site by using the PIN, or by request
that our office initiate a change.
When a correct SAR is received, sign and submit it to the Scholarships/Financial Aid Office.
Brookhaven College receives SAR information electronically, but we require a signed, correct
SAR be on file in our office.
Verification
Brookhaven College participates in the U.S. Department of Education’s Quality Assurance
Program, designed to improve customer service, efficiency and accountability. In the program some
applicants are selected who must verify information provided on the financial aid application.
Those selected applicants will be sent a verification worksheet. Complete verification worksheets
carefully and return them to the Financial Aid Office with all requested verifying documentation.
Send only signed copies of documents; return of verification documents is not available.
Examples of requested verifying documentation include:
- federal tax returns with supporting documents such as W-2 forms — for the student and,
when appropriate, for his/her spouse or parents;
- proof of Social Security Number;
- proof of citizenship or immigration status;
- proof of Selective Service registration;
- proof of veteran’s status; and
- proof of satisfactory repayment status for student loans.
Students selected for verification must provide all requested documentation to be eligible to
receive and maintain financial aid awards and payments. A completed, signed verification form
must also be submitted with the requested documentation. The form is available in the Financial
Aid Office.
