APU Financial Aid forms incomplete? Please help!

Paying for College
1

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>So I’ve been accepted to APU as a transfer, my classes are already picked. I thought everything was fine and that I’m all set for the transition to APU from COC. But I got an email telling me that my first payment was due on the 10th, asking for $2,000+. At first, I thought this was normal, I assumed that it was similar to COC where I just pay the classes & I’m ready! But it was a surprise to my parents because they’re not planning to pay $2k out of pocket. They started asking and telling me things about signing a plus loan and receiving acceptance for financial aid and stuff along those lines. I have no clue what any of those things are & they weren’t discussed with any of the counseling courses that I took at COC EXCEPT they kept saying to finish the FAFSA (which I believe is completed). These “plus loans & direct loans” are all new to me. After looking through my portal again, it turns out that there were 4 things needed on my “To-Do List”: </p>

<ul>
<li>Online Direct Loan Entrance</li>
<li>Online Direct Loan MPN</li>
<li>Parent Plus Loan MPN</li>
<li>Parent Plus Loan Worksheet </li>
</ul>

<p>I’m freaking out a lot right now because I really have no idea how loans and financial aid work. I just know that “the earlier the better”. My mistake was assuming that completing the FAFSA would complete my financial aid. I’m worried because the first deadline for payment is this week and I don’t know how long these things take, if I’m able to attend APU anymore, what happens to my classes if this gets sorted out.</p>

<p>I’m looking at the forms and also looking at my fall statement as we speak & printing them out. But I’m just so terrified that I won’t be able to get any loans to afford the classes I need & end up having to go back to COC again. My questions are:</p>

<ul>
<li>Will I still be able to get any aid at all?
I looked at APU’s financial aid deadlines site and it says that “Priority Deadline: June 30” & idk if the things listed above are included with this! </li>
<li>FAFSA & Direct Loan/Parent Plus Loan different? Same thing? </li>
<li>How long do these things usually take? </li>
<li>What can I do about the payment deadline this week? </li>
</ul>

<p>Now I did receive an award letter, which is another reason that I thought everything was set. But I have yet to “accept or decline”. I thought that receiving it meant that that was how much I would receive in aid.
I will be calling APU’s financial aid office first thing tomorrow morning, as well as CollegePlanning, to ask the same questions, but I also wanted some input from anyone else who has been in this situation or at least knows what to do. </p>

<p>Please help me! </p>

2

<p>I can’t help you with all these questions and your seeming total lack of info about how aid works. You really will have to talk to the aid office at school tomorrow. If you want you can read the Financial Aid FAQ thread pinned at the top of the forum, but that is pretty long, you only need some of that info and it won’t tell you how to accept aid.</p>

<p>You are supposed to accept grants and federal aid so that is can be processed, and I would click accept RIGHT AWAY for any free money, Grants, work study and also for your Direct Loan so your financial aid office can process that stuff for you. The letter just offered it. Unless you accept it you do not get it.</p>

<p>But you should know:</p>

<p>FAFSA is just the form you have filled out. You said that was done. Fafsa is not money, it is just a form to fill out to qualify.</p>

<p>Federal Direct Loan: This is money you the student qualify to take out in your name. Entrance is likely the counselling session you are required to have to get a loan. MPN is the note/paperwork you have to sign to get it.</p>

<p>Parent Plus Loan: This is a loan your parents have to take in their name and they have to sign the MPN for that, and it looks like they need to do a worksheet too. No one makes them take this, it is there if they need it.</p>

<p>You will have to talk to the school to find out how long it takes and if they will apply these funds to the amount due.</p>

3

<p>What is “College Planning”? If you’re talking about the private company by that name, I hope you didn’t pay them anything, since they didn’t give you any advice.</p>

<p>When you call the FA office, try to make an appointment to come in right away. You have a lot to sort out, and that’s best done in person, not on the phone.</p>