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Financial Assistance, Office of Admissions and Records

 

Financial Assistance For Students and Parents


Congratulations on your interest in the University of Illinois at Springfield. The staff of the UIS Office of Financial Assistance is here to assist you through the processes of applying for and receiving financial assistance to fund your education. Please feel free to contact our office, if you have any questions.




Ready, Set, Go!

To begin the Financial Aid process you will need to complete a FAFSA, The Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The quickest way to complete the FAFSA is by obtaining a pin code at www.pin.ed.gov and completing the application online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Your eligibility for aid is determined once the Office of Financial Assistance receives the information compiled from your FAFSA. If your submitted FAFSA contains any errors, you will receive a notice asking you to adjust your FAFSA. Financial Aid Advisors are available to help you with the corrections and filing process. Once your award eligibility is determined, you will receive an award offer at the mailing address listed on your student account. It is important to keep your address current; otherwise, you may experience delays in receiving important information, which can delay your processing. After you receive your award offer, it is extremely important that you carefully read all of the material in the packet, complete the student portion and return the letter to the Office of Financial Assistance before the deadline. Financial Aid Advisors are in the office to help you every step of the way!

 

How to Apply for Federal and State Financial Aid for the 2008-2009 Academic Year

The time to begin applying for financial assistance for the 2008-2009 academic year is NOW. The Office of Financial Assistance recommends that students apply as early as possible to avoid missing any grant opportunities. Continuing students with valid e-mail addresses on their 2007-2008 FAFSA will receive e-mail reminders about filing a renewal FAFSA for 2008-2009. Students who reported an invalid e-mail address or did not report an e-mail address on the 2007-2008 FAFSA will need to visit www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete a 2008-2009 FAFSA. Below you will find tips on how to apply and how you can submit your application for 2008-2009.

 

What you need to complete your 2008-2009 FAFSA

  • Your Social Security number

  • Your driver's license number, if you have one

  • Your W-2 Forms for 2007

  • Your completed federal income tax return for 2007

  • Your current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds, and other investments

  • Your records of other untaxed income received, such as Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), welfare or veteran's benefits

  • Your business or farm records, if applicable

  • Your alien registration number, if you are not a U.S. citizen

  • If you are a dependent student, you will also need:
    • Your parents' Social Security number's
    • Your parents' income and financial records (as listed above)

Use income records for the calendar year prior to the academic year for which you are applying for financial aid.

 

FAFSA filing tips

Tip 1
Get a PIN. To sign your FAFSA electronically, you (and your parent, if you are dependent) need a U.S. Department of Education PIN. If you do not have one, apply now at http://www.pin.ed.gov. For faster processing of your FAFSA, we recommend that you sign with a PIN.

Tip 2
Print the Pre-Application Worksheet from www.fafsa.ed.gov. Many students find it helpful to complete the Pre-Application Worksheet before completing their FAFSA online.

Tip 3
Save Your FAFSA as You Go. Save your application often using the "Save" button at the bottom of the screen. That way, if you lose your internet connection, you can return to the FAFSA you already started.

Tip 4
Get Help. Because there is plenty of FREE help available, you do not have to pay to get assistance filling out your FAFSA. The "Need help with this page?" button at the bottom of every online FAFSA page will lead you to more information to help you complete that page. The "Help" button at the top of every screen has a complete index of help topics.

Tip 5
Sign Your Application. If you have a PIN, you can electronically sign you FAFSA. Otherwise, you will need to print the signature page and mail it. If you are a dependent student, a parent will need to sign your FAFSA as well. Your parent can sign either by using a PIN or by mailing in a signature page.

Tip 6
Submit Your Application. Click the "Submit" button located on the very last page of the online FAFSA form. After submitting your application, a confirmation page will appear. Print this page for your records.
 

Important Deadlines :

The deadline for processing financial aid for the Fall 2008 semester is November 15, 2008. The deadline for processing financial aid for the Spring 2009 semester is April 15, 2009. The deadline for processing financial aid for the Summer 2009 semester is June 15, 2009. Please submit all required financial aid documents to our office prior to these dates. Applications received after those dates may not be processed.

 

What Can You Do With Your PIN?

  • Sign your FAFSA electronically.

  • Review and, if necessary, correct answers on your processed FAFSA.

  • Sign loan promissory notes electronically.

  • View information about your federal loans and grants.

  • Reapply for financial aid in the future.

Special Note: Print the Confirmation Page that appears at the end of your data entry. This page contains a confirmation number that can be used for tracking purposes if there are problems in the transmission, or if you do not receive a Student Aid Report as a result of submitting your data via the Web.


 

How Is Financial Aid Determined?

 

Is It Too Good To Be True?

Ten common scholarships scams to be on the look out for:

  1. Fees: Scammers use bogus fees such as "application", "disbursement", "redemption", and "processing fees" as a way to take your money. Scholarships should not require any fees.

  2. Credit card or bank account information needed: Never give credit card or bank account info to receive aid. If you have already given this information out, call your bank or credit card issuer immediately.

  3. Scholarship guarantee: No one controls judges' decisions. Be wary of "high success rates," which often refer to matches, not award winners.

  4. No work involved: Legitimate scholarship applications require both time and energy.

  5. No contact information: Before you apply, confirm the sponsor's contact info. The sponsor should supply a valid e-mail address, phone number or mailing address (not a PO Box) upon request.

  6. Unsolicited scholarships: If you receive a phone call about a scholarship that you have never applied for, be alert. Ask where the sponsor got your name and number; check with that party.

  7. Pressure tactics: Do not allow anyone to pressure you into applying for a scholarship, especially if the sponsor is asking you to pay money up front.

  8. Claims of "exclusive" scholarships: Legitimate sponsors will not restrict knowledge about their award to a single search service.

  9. An official-sounding name or endorsement does not automatically mean legitimacy: A sponsor may use words like "national," "education" or "federal" or have an official-looking seal, but might still be a scammer. In addition, the federal government and the U.S. Department of Education do not endorse private businesses.

  10. Getting the round around: Cannot get a straight answer from a sponsor regarding their application, what will be done with your information (e.g., if it will be sent to a third party) or other questions? Proceed with caution.

For more info on scams and scholarships visit www.fastweb.com

Suspect a Scam?

If you think you may be dealing with a scammer, follow the directions below:

  1. Save all forms, you receive from the suspected scammer. Keep copies of written details about the offer and any materials that are dated. Take notes during any seminar or phone conversations. Record the date, time, phone number, and the person's name with whom you spoke. Also, include a detailed account of your conversation.

  2. Report the suspected scammer to law enforcement.

    Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
    Fill out an online complaint form or call toll free:
    Ph: 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)
    Web: http://www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams

    National Fraud Information
    Ph: 1-800-876-7060
    Web: http://www.fraud.org

    Better Business Bureau (BBB)
    Be sure to have the address of the company about whom you are filing the complaint.
    Ph: 1-703-276-0100,
    Web: www.bbb.org

    United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
    Ph: 1-800-654-8896
    Web: www.usps.com/postlinspectors/fraud