Office of Financial Aid
How To Apply For Financial Aid On The Web
Office of Finanacial Aid Home Page
Step 1 Obtain a PIN number before Completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
If you do not already have a PIN, apply for one now at http://www.pin.ed.gov. You will need a PIN to electronically sign your FAFSA. If a parent is required to provide information on the FAFSA, then one parent should also apply now for a PIN so he/she can electronically sign your FAFSA. A PIN will also allow you to check the status of your financial aid application on- line, correct any errors on your application, and sign student loan promissory notes.
Your PIN will be e-mailed to you within 1-5 days. If you do not have an e-mail address, your PIN will be sent to your permanent mailing address within 7-10 days. Your PIN is confidential and should not be shared with anyone. Since a PIN does not expire, you should keep it in a safe place.
Step 2 Completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Some applicants find it helpful to fill out a Pre-Application Worksheet before completing their online FAFSA. To print out a Worksheet go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov and click on “worksheet” in the first column of the home page.
There is no fee to complete the FAFSA on line. To complete the FAFSA, go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov and select “Fill Out a FAFSA” in the second column. Follow the on-screen instructions. If you filled out a Pre-Application Worksheet, use it to complete the application. If you only partially complete the FAFSA, it is possible to save your information to be completed at a later time. Once you have completed the FAFSA, review your answers carefully, and correct them if necessary before you submit your application. Remember to add Schenectady County Community College code 006785.
Use one of two options to sign your FAFSA. You can sign electronically with your PIN, and your parent (if dependent) can also sign electronically with his/her PIN. If you do not have one or both PINs, you can print the signature page, sign it and mail it. If you choose to mail it, this will delay the processing of your application for a couple of weeks until the signature page is received and processed.
Submit your application by selecting the “Submit my FAFSA Now” button on the very last page of the form. Once you submit your application, you will be taken to a Confirmation Page that shows your confirmation number and estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC). You should print a copy of the Confirmation Page for your records.
Step 3 After the FAFSA is Submitted
You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) Information Acknowledgment in the mail about 2 weeks after submitting your on-line FAFSA. If you provided your e-mail address, you will receive an e-mail with a link to your SAR on the Web in 5 days or less. The colleges that you listed on the FAFSA will also receive your financial aid information at this time.
Step 4 Financial Aid Information Form
Financial Aid applicants at Schenectady County Community College are required to complete a Financial Aid Information Form the first year. The form can be printed, completed and mailed to the Financial Aid Office. A copy of the form is also available from the Financial Aid Office upon request.
Step 5 New York State TAP Grant
A full time student who is a New York State resident may be eligible for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) through the New York State Higher Education Services corporation (HESC). Students can now apply for both federal and state aid using a single on-line session. After submitting the FAFSA on the Web, a New York State resident is able to immediately link to the TAP on the Web form (from the FAFSA confirmation page) which is pre-filled with their FAFSA data. If the student does not complete the TAP on the Web at this time, he/she will be sent an email or postcard from HESC with instructions how to establish a HESC PIN and how to use the on-line TAP application. The SCCC TAP code is 2243.
The HESC website is http://www.hesc.com and the phone number for student questions regarding their TAP grant eligibility is 1-888-697-4372.
Step 6 Financial Aid Award Letter
When the College electronically receives the processed financial aid information from the U.S. Department of Education, the Financial Aid Office will send each applicant a financial aid award letter indicating their estimated eligibility for state and federal grants, student loans and/or federal work study.
Step 7 Extenuating Circumstances
The Financial Aid Office recognizes that some students and/or parents may have unusual or extenuating circumstances that may complicate the completion of their financial aid application. In the following cases, the student may need to talk to a financial aid advisor before submitting his/her FAFSA.
The student is Dependent using financial aid criteria, but the student believes that he/she should be Independent due to special circumstances.The FAFSA uses the prior year family income to determine financial aid eligibility. Some students and/or parents may experience unusual circumstances (i.e: significant decrease in family income, unemployment, death in family, separation/divorce, etc.) that would mean that income would not be a good indicator of the family’s financial status. It may be possible for the Financial Aid Office to make adjustments to the family income. Students who have extenuating circumstances should contact the Financial Aid Office before submitting the FAFSA.
Step 8 Admissions Office
Financial Aid regulations require that first time students must be accepted for admission into a degree or certificate program. Any questions about the Schenectady County Community College admissions criteria can be addressed to the Admissions Office at (518)-381-1366.