Office of Student Aid : Priority Dates : Calendar/Checklist for Prospective Students
Calendar/Checklist for Prospective Students
December/January
- Make sure you and your parents, if applicable, apply for a Federal Student Aid PIN (Personal Identification Number. If you and your parents sign the FAFSA on the Web electronically using a PIN, your FAFSA will reach us ***two weeks faster*** than the paper FAFSA.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (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.
- You and your parents, if applicable, should complete your federal taxes before completing your FAFSA on the Web; if you cannot, you may estimate your income on the FAFSA.
- Check with your state grant agency to determine if there are any applications you need to complete. Find out your home state's application deadline. The application deadline for the Pennsylvania State Grant consideration is May 1st (Pennsylvania residents only).
- Ask your parents to visit the Office of Student Aid's Parent Newsletter on our Web site.
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 financing strategies.
March
- The Office of Student Aid begins sending new Penn State students the Student Financial Aid Notification. Carefully review the notification and the information on the Office of Student Aid Web site.
April
- Aid notifications will begin to arrive from state grant agencies.
- If you will be attending Penn State this summer, request your Summer Direct Stafford Loan from the Students menu on eLion. If you do not have access to eLion, you can contact our office at 814-865-6301. **You will need to have completed the 2008-09 FAFSA.**
May
- The application deadline for the Pennsylvania State Grant consideration is May 1st (Pennsylvania residents only).
- Complete your Federal Direct Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN), i.e., your student loan application, online after you have received your aid notification and made your decision to attend Penn State. Instructions on how to complete the MPN are available on our site.
- Parents of dependent students who are interested in a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan can access PLUS information online. The application can be completed after the aid notification has been received.
June
- Begin saving money for the fall semester. You should come to school with money for startup expenses, such as your books and supplies.
- Students interested in private alternative loan funding can access information and electronic applications from our Web site.
July
- Fall tuition bill arrives.
- Decrease your Federal Perkins, University, and Federal Direct Stafford Loan(s) for fall semester by accessing Loan Decrease from the Students menu on eLion.
August
- Fall tuition bill is due. Respond to the bill--it is the only way Penn State knows that you are planning to attend classes. 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. Responding to the bill is the only way for Penn State to know that you are planning to attend. 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.