Office of Student Aid : Priority Dates : Calendar/Checklist for Graduate Students

December/January

• If you do not have a Federal Student Aid PIN (Personal Identification Number), make sure you apply for one. Using your PIN to sign your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web or pre-filled FAFSA can speed up your application by two weeks.
• Review the information on graduate student funding available through the Graduate School.
• Complete the FAFSA on the Web as soon after January 1 as possible for maximum consideration of all available student aid programs. New Penn State students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA on the Web by February 15 and returning Penn State students should submit the FAFSA on the Web by April 15.
• Complete your federal taxes before completing your FAFSA on the Web; if you cannot, you may estimate your income on the FAFSA.

February

• New Penn State students--complete the FAFSA on the Web by February 15 for maximum aid consideration.
• Access information on Penn State's payment plan.
• Begin a student financial aid folder for all of your important papers. Include copies of all applications, tax information, and letters you receive.
• Review summer aid information. Returning Penn State students can apply for Summer Work-Study from the "Students" menu on eLion beginning February 15.
• Review financing strategies.

March

• Returning students--it's not too late to apply for summer work-study on eLion.
• The Office of Student Aid begins sending new Penn State students the Student Financial Aid Summary. Carefully review the notification and the information on the Office of Student Aid Web site.

April

• Returning students--complete the FAFSA on the Web by April 15 for maximum aid consideration.
• If you will be attending Penn State this summer and have not received the maximum amount of Federal Direct Stafford Loan eligibility during the previous fall and spring semesters, you may have remaining Federal Stafford Loan eligibility. You can request your Summer Direct Stafford Loan from the "Students" menu on eLion.

May

• Begin saving money for fall semester startup expenses, such as books, supplies, and off-campus apartment expenses.
• If you are a returning student--it's not too late to request consideration for a Summer Direct Stafford Loan from the "Students" menu on eLion.

June

• Returning students--you will receive a notice to your Penn State e-mail account advising you when your Student Financial Aid Summary will be available online beginning mid-June. You can access your notification via the Student Aid Summary from the "Students" menu on eLion.
• If you are a first-time Federal Direct Stafford Loan borrower at Penn State, you will need to complete your Federal Direct Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). You can access your Direct Stafford Loan MPN online.

July

• Fall tuition bill arrives.
• Decrease your Federal Perkins, University, or Federal Direct Stafford Loan(s) for fall semester by accessing Loan Decrease from the "Students" menu on eLion.

August

• Fall tuition bill is due. Your registration is not complete until you access Bills/Tuition Other from the "Students" menu on eLion and follow the instructions to pay your tuition and fees, and/or confirm your registration. Print the registration confirmation page for your records. This is proof that your registration is complete. Incomplete registration could result in the loss of aid.
• Remember to bring money for startup expenses such as books, supplies, and off-campus apartment expenses.
• If you are a first-time borrower of a Federal Direct Stafford Loan at Penn State, you will need to complete Loan Entrance Counseling from the "Students" menu on eLion.

September/October

• Study, work hard, and enjoy!

November

• Spring tuition bill arrives.

December

• Spring tuition bill is due. Your registration is not complete until you access Bills/Tuition Other from the "Students" menu on eLion and follow the instructions to pay your tuition and fees, and/or confirm your registration. Print the registration confirmation page for your records. This is proof that your registration is complete. Incomplete registration could result in the loss of aid.
• Get ready! It's time to begin the student aid application process for next year. See January for instructions.