Last week financial aid awards were in the mail. Every admitted student with a complete application (FAFSA, VLS Institutional Application and 2007 Federal Tax Return) was packaged. We are now working on the next round of awards which should go in the mail by this Friday. It is not too late to get in your financial aid paperwork. If you have questions, please feel free to call, email or stop by.
Archive for the 'Financial Aid' Category
What a day to write my first financial aid blog of the year. It is beautiful and I find myself looking outside and thinking Spring is coming! Inside, the Financial Aid Office is really busy, which is expected. Visitors are stopping by and the phones are ringing off the hook.
The award process has begun and by next week, we will have all applicants awarded who have complete files. Remember, a complete file requires you to submit a FAFSA and Institutional Application. We also need a copy of your 2008 Federal Tax Return.
We will continue updates on this blog as where we are with awarding. Please feel free to call us if you have questions. Enjoy your weekend!
May is here and we are getting a lot of phone calls about what is the next step? All accepted students with complete files (FAFSA, VLS Institutional Application and signed 2006 federal taxes) have been awarded. It is not too late to get these documents in to make your file complete.
So onto the next steps, around June 15th, we will be mailing our packets to all deposited students with financial aid awards. This packet will include forms that need to be filled out before aid can be disbursed. Included in these forms are loan paperwork, disbursement forms and a form stating your rights and responsibilities.
You are allowed to choose any lender you want for your federal educational loans. About 97% of VLS students use Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC). Here is why so many of our students use VSAC:
- Incredible Vermont Value Benefits
1.3% annual rebate on all Stafford Loans during repayment
4.3% rebate during Year 1 of Grad PLUS
1.3% rebate after year 2 and beyond of Grad PLUS
- Amazing Customer Service for students
- 1:1 in-person Exit Counseling before you go into repayment
So to recap, after June 15th, we will mail out packets of financial aid materials with loan information. Now is the time to clean up any credit issues you may have.
All awards are in the mail for accepted students who have filed their FAFSA and VLS Institutional Application. After Accepted Student Visiting Day (Monday), we will continue to award students as files are completed. So this means if you have not turned in paperwork, please file your FAFSA and the VLS Institutional Application. Next week, we will be sending missing information letters out to applicants who have not turned in all of their paperwork- just a gentle reminder.
A quick update on our Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP). I think it is one of the best programs in the country. Our applicant pool grew this year and we were able to fund 58 alums working in the public interest/public service arena. We were able to award roughly $160,000 this year. Since 1996 VLS has awarded $1.725 million to over 475 alums. It is great being able to work with students not only when they are at VLS but being able to follow their careers as alums.
So starting in the next few weeks, I will post some messages relating to “what should I be doing now” in terms of financial aid. Hopefully where ever you are it is as beautiful as Vermont on a spring day!
The Financial Aid Office is busier then ever. Between awarding new prospective students and presenting financial literacy/planning programs for our current students, things are a happening! Students are back from spring break and the campus has some traffic. It was very quiet last week. New award letters are going out each day. Please remember, before we can create an award letter for you, your FAFSA, VLS Institutional Application and 2006 signed Federal Tax Return must be filed. We have completed roughly 10% of the first year awards. My goal is to have all of the completed files awarded and mailed out by next Friday. I will keep you posted with my progress!
Questions are coming in left and right. People have been calling asking how do they fill out their FAFSA with 2006 tax data when they have not filed their taxes? The FAFSA can be filled out with estimated 2006 numbers. When your 2006 taxes are complete, just mail your taxes into the financial aid office and we will update your FAFSA.
We try to make it as easy as possible. Remember try to get your FAFSA in by February 15th and do not forget our institutional application on our website.
How can I not talk about the weather in my first ever blog. It was 58 degrees this weekend and I thought I was going to have to mow the lawn. My girls were disappointed that they could not ski but were excited to play soccer outdoors.
On the financial aid front we are getting ready for the beginning of the semester. Classes start in two days and students are looking for their financial aid.
We are still receiving many calls from prospective 1L’s. In the near future, I will post different ways to prepare for law school financially. But for now, I will quickly explain the financial aid process. It is three easy steps:
- Fill out the FAFSA at www. fafsa.ed.gov
- Download the VLS Institutional Application on our website (type financial aid application in the search box)
- Mail us a signed copy of your 2006 Federal Tax Return
Good luck with the process and remember to call with questions!
