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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
| Q1. Do I need to file for financial aid every year? |
| Yes. You will need to file a FAFSA every year, after January 1st. |
| Q2. Can I claim independence? |
| Federal
regulations have specific criteria to meet before you can be considered
independent. The following questions are on the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and are used to determine your dependency
status. To be considered an independent student, you must answer yes
to one of the following questions: |
| 1.
Will you be at least 24 years old by January 1st, prior to your first
semester at
SU? |
| 2.
At the beginning of the academic year, will you be working on a master's
or doctorate program (such as an MBA, MA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or grad
certificate)? |
| 3.
As of today, are you married? |
| 4.
Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from
you? |
| 5.
Do you have dependents (other than your children and spouse) who live
with you and who receive more than half of their support from you,
now and through June 30th of this academic year? |
| 6.
Are both of your parents deceased, or are you or were you (until age
18) a ward/dependent of the court until age 18? |
| 7.
Are you currently on active duty or are you a U.S. veteran? |
| Q3. What is the difference between a Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan and an Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan? |
| The government pays your interest on a subsidized loan while you are enrolled in college. The government does not pay your interest on an unsubsidized loan. You will either need to make interest payments while you are in school or defer your interest payments to begin after leaving/graduating from college. For more information, you may visit the Loan Section of our web site. |
| Q4. Do I have to use my Federal Work-Study award? |
| It is not mandatory for a student to obtain work-study employment. However, work-study earnings are intended to help you pay for books, supplies, and personal expenses during the academic year. Work-study earnings also have the advantage of being excluded when applying for financial aid in subsequent years. If you have savings from a summer job or expect financial help from your family, it may be possible for you to meet all educational expenses without utilizing your work-study award. |
| Q5. Does my financial aid package change each year? |
| Award
amounts may change from year to year for various reasons. Calculated
family contributions, costs, and maximum award amounts can change,
and can affect your aid package. Your eligibility for the Federal
Stafford Loan will increase as you advance from freshman to senior
levels. Merit scholarships are always renewed for the original amount.
Syracuse Grant, SSSP and HEOP awards are also renewed as long as you
continue to demonstrate sufficient need. Students who receive a University-funded scholarship beginning with the fall 2007 semester, must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75. Students who received University-funded scholarships prior to the fall 2007 semester, must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. In addition, all students must complete at least 12 credits per semester to continue to be eligible to receive University-funded scholarships. |
| Q6. What happens to my aid if I move off campus? |
| As long as you're not living at home with your parent(s), you receive the same amount of financial aid whether you live in a residence hall or in an off-campus apartment. Any financial aid in excess of your bursar bill can be refunded to you to meet off campus expenses such as rent, food, etc. Students living at home with their parent(s) are considered commuters and have a lower Cost of Attendance and receive less aid, as they do not incur room expenses. |
| Q7. Can I receive any aid for summer study? |
| Generally the only aid available for regular summer session attendance is the Federal Stafford Loan. Students may be eligible for half of their annual loan maximum. The maximums are $1,750 for students with 23 or fewer earned credits; $2,250 for students with 24-53 earned credits; $2,750 for students with more than 54 earned credits. Students must be enrolled for at least 6 credits to receive any federal financial aid. |
| Q8. Is there any additional aid if I enroll in a Study Abroad program? |
| SSSP and HEOP students enrolled in a Syracuse University Study Abroad program will be awarded up to an additional $1,500 grant. A student can only receive this grant once. An SSSP or HEOP student in a SU Study Abroad program may receive a grant from the Study Abroad Office as well, and may be eligible for additional Federal Stafford Loan funds. |
| Q9. Are my books paid for if I'm in the SSSP or HEOP Program? |
| Book costs are not paid directly for SSSP and HEOP students. Students are expected to use money saved from summer earnings and, during the academic year, work-study earnings to pay for books and other personal expenses. |
For
comments on this web site, please contact sbluke@syr.edu
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Copyright
© 2007 Syracuse University. All rights reserved. |