2008 Woodie Awards
Take Proactive Approach with Financial Aid Office
Brian Jones
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: College News
- Page 1 of 1
Phuc Tien was extremely anxious as the Fall 2007 semester got underway. He was more concerned about how he was going to pay his tuition than the prospect of another strenuous semester. Like many other students, he was having a difficult time understanding financial aid.
Tien, an IUPUI junior majoring in exercise science, had been notified he was not receiving any financial aid and did not understand why. In the previous academic year, about half of his tuition was covered by the Federal Pell Grant. This year, his financial aid package made no mention of the Pell Grant or any federal loans.
In the seven months leading up to the fall semester, Tien's total income was around $4,300. But, his financial aid package was based on his 2006 tax return. Tien spent half of 2006 deployed to Iraq with his Marine Corps Reserve unit and receiving a full time salary. His financial aid was being determined by income he had not been paid for more than one year. He didn't know what to do.
"My roommate told me about the appeals process," said Tien.
In appealing, Tien explained how his financial situation had changed and he had a limited income. He says it took at least four weeks before he received the result of his appeal.
"After appealing I received $5,600 in the form of the Pell Grant for the academic year and loans to cover the rest of my tuition," said a relieved Tien. "If I would have known about the appeals process in the first place, I would have filed it earlier and avoided all the stress."
Tien's story is one of many. Every college campus contains numerous students with firsthand accounts of stress filled encounters with the financial aid office. Being prepared and understanding the system can alleviate some of this stress.
Kathy Purvis, IUPUI's director of the Student Financial Aid Services, advises students to take a proactive approach when working with the financial aid office.
She says, students should file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on time, review and respond to the "To-Do" list on Onestart, routinely scan their IUPUI email accounts for anything from the financial aid office and to be sure to ask questions if something is unclear.
"Students who miss the March 10 priority filing date will not be considered for programs that require the FAFSA be filed on time," said Purvis.
The financial aid office works on financial aid applications throughout the year and during the summer months.
"It is important to read your IUPUI
e-mail throughout the summer, because we will send you critical financial aid information," said Purvis.
She also encourages students to visit IUPUI's Scholarship Office website at: www.iupui.edu/~scentral, to see what scholarships are available in lieu of loans.
"Students should also review the Office of Student Financial Aid Services website to make sure they understand the federal and state funding options available to them," said Purvis.
The website can be found at: www.iupui.edu/~finaid.
Tien, an IUPUI junior majoring in exercise science, had been notified he was not receiving any financial aid and did not understand why. In the previous academic year, about half of his tuition was covered by the Federal Pell Grant. This year, his financial aid package made no mention of the Pell Grant or any federal loans.
In the seven months leading up to the fall semester, Tien's total income was around $4,300. But, his financial aid package was based on his 2006 tax return. Tien spent half of 2006 deployed to Iraq with his Marine Corps Reserve unit and receiving a full time salary. His financial aid was being determined by income he had not been paid for more than one year. He didn't know what to do.
"My roommate told me about the appeals process," said Tien.
In appealing, Tien explained how his financial situation had changed and he had a limited income. He says it took at least four weeks before he received the result of his appeal.
"After appealing I received $5,600 in the form of the Pell Grant for the academic year and loans to cover the rest of my tuition," said a relieved Tien. "If I would have known about the appeals process in the first place, I would have filed it earlier and avoided all the stress."
Tien's story is one of many. Every college campus contains numerous students with firsthand accounts of stress filled encounters with the financial aid office. Being prepared and understanding the system can alleviate some of this stress.
Kathy Purvis, IUPUI's director of the Student Financial Aid Services, advises students to take a proactive approach when working with the financial aid office.
She says, students should file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on time, review and respond to the "To-Do" list on Onestart, routinely scan their IUPUI email accounts for anything from the financial aid office and to be sure to ask questions if something is unclear.
"Students who miss the March 10 priority filing date will not be considered for programs that require the FAFSA be filed on time," said Purvis.
The financial aid office works on financial aid applications throughout the year and during the summer months.
"It is important to read your IUPUI
e-mail throughout the summer, because we will send you critical financial aid information," said Purvis.
She also encourages students to visit IUPUI's Scholarship Office website at: www.iupui.edu/~scentral, to see what scholarships are available in lieu of loans.
"Students should also review the Office of Student Financial Aid Services website to make sure they understand the federal and state funding options available to them," said Purvis.
The website can be found at: www.iupui.edu/~finaid.
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