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Application Process 2007-08

1- Admission to UW-L
All applicants must be admitted to the university as a degree seeking student. Contact the UWL Admissions Office for more information.  All applicants must be enrolled at least half-time and maintain satisfactory academic progress.

2- FAFSA / Renewal FAFSA
All applicants for 2007-08 must submit a FAFSA to the federal student aid processor. UW-La Crosse has a priority date of March 15, 2007. FAFSAs can be completed during the academic year but aid will be delayed until all necessary paperwork is received. Students are encouraged to file the FAFSA electronically. A paper FAFSA can be mailed to the federal student aid processor, however, it will take longer to process.

Electronically  
Visit FAFSA on the Web to complete the free application. To complete a pre-application worksheet click here. A Department of Education PIN is required. To obtain a PIN click here.

Returning students may fill out a Renewal FAFSA if they were previous applicants. To access a renewal application click here. The FAFSA on the Web Worksheet allows you to read and complete the questions before entering your information online. The questions are listed in the same order as they appear on the Website.

By Mail 
A copy of the paper FAFSA can be obtained from a guidance officer or requested through this office.

Student Aid Report (SAR) 
As a result of filing the  FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor. If you filed electronically, this will be sent via e-mail. Retain this document for your records. Do NOT submit the SAR to the UWL Financial Aid Office, unless specifically requested to do so.

3- FAIF (Financial Aid Information Form) and other forms as requested
Complete and submit the FAIF to the UWL Financial Aid Office. Submit any additional forms specifically requested by the UWL Financial Aid Office. Priority Date is March 15, 2007 for consideration of all types of aid. However, applications are accepted throughout the academic year.

4- Award Letters
√ New students (incoming freshmen, incoming graduate students and transfer students) will receive two copies of their Financial Aid Award Letters in the mail. Return one signed copy to the Financial Aid Office BEFORE the due date printed on the award letter.
By returning your accepted and signed award letter by the due date, you will ensure that your financial aid will not be cancelled. Keep the second copy of the Award Letter for your records.
If you are awarded Federal Work Study and you wish to accept it, be sure to return the completed “Federal Work Study Program Assignment Questionnaire” along with your Award Letter.

√ Continuing students should check their campus e-mail for notification during the summer that their award is available on TALON. Print your award, accept it, sign it and return it to the Financial Aid Office BEFORE the due date printed on the award letter. By returning your signed award letter by the due date, you will ensure that your financial aid will not be cancelled. If you are awarded Federal Work Study and you wish to accept it, be sure to print out and return the completed “Federal Work Study Program Assignment Questionnaire” along with your Award Letter.

5- Stafford Loan Additional Requirements
a.  Indicate on your Award Letter the name and lender code for the lender you are choosing for your Federal Stafford loan. You may choose a lender from our Preferred Lender List. If you choose a lender not on our Lender List, you must provide the lender name, lender code and the name of the Guarantor or Servicer that will be processing the loan.
b.  If you are a first-time borrower, you must complete the federally required Entrance Loan Counseling (ELC).
c.  You must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). If you have a U. S. Department of Education PIN, you can sign the MPN electronically.

6- Financial Aid Disbursed
If all necessary paperwork has been completed, financial aid funds are disbursed on the first day of classes each semester. Federal and state grants, Federal Perkins Loans and Federal Stafford Loans will be electronically credited to your University bill.

7- Tower One Card and Change Checks
All financial aid proceeds are applied first to the student’s university bill. If there are funds left over after the bill is paid in full, a change check is created. When a student activates their Tower One Card, they must choose one of three options for the handling of their change check:
    1- Funds are applied to their Tower One debit account
    2- Funds are transferred to the student’s personal bank (an ACH transfer)
    3- A paper check is mailed to the student
It is important that students activate their Tower One Card when they receive it in order to insure that their change check can be processed.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Students are responsible for paying their bill regardless of when their financial aid comes in. This checklist constitutes sufficient notification of the necessary procedures. It is the student’s responsibility to complete all steps of the application process.