View the most commonly asked financial aid questions.
Still have questions? Contact a knowledgeable member of our financial aid staff.
How do I apply for financial aid?
You
should obtain a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as
soon as possible after January 1 each year or apply over the Internet
at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
The award year includes fall, spring and summer. For example, in the
2007-2008 award year the FAFSA application will cover fall 2007, spring
2008 and summer 2008. A separate institutional Summer Request for will
also be required. This Institutional form is usually available in March
of each year at the campus information office.
What is a SAR?
SAR
stands for Student Aid Report. A SAR is the paper report that you will
receive after having filed the paper Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). It is a summary of the information that you (and
your family) provided on the FASFA. This form is also used to make any
corrections to the data that you initially provided that has you have
determined to be incorrect. It is not necessary for you to provide this
report to the College Financial Aid Office unless you make corrections.
It is important the office be aware of any corrections that might need
to be made, as they will be able to make these corrections
electronically.
What is the difference between a Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Stafford loan?
If
you have subsidized loans you will not be charged interest while you
are enrolled in school at least part time, during a grace period, or
during authorized periods of deferent. Interest will begin to accrue
when you enter repayment. Repayment usually begins within six months
after you graduate, leave school or do not enroll at least part time,
which is six semester credits. You must demonstrate financial need for
this type of loan. If you have unsubsidized loans, you will be charged
interest from the day the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full,
including in-school, grace and deferment periods. You may chose to pay
the interest during these periods or it can be capitalized – that is,
the interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan and
additional interest will be based on the higher amount. This type of
loan is not awarded on the basis of need.
If I’m not a U.S. citizen, am I eligible for federal and state financial aid?
Possibly!
A question on the FAFSA asks whether or not you are a U.S. citizen. The
answer choices are: (1) Yes; (2) No, but I am an eligible noncitizen;
or (3) No, I am not a citizen or eligible noncitizen. Eligible
noncitizens are required to provide their eight- or nine-digit Alien
Registration Number. Generally, you are an eligible noncitizen if you
are: (1) A U.S. permanent resident and you have an Alien Registration
Receipt Card (I-551); (2) A conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or
(3) An other eligible noncitizen with an Arrival-Departure Record
(I-94) from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service showing any
one of the following designations: "Refugee," "Asylum Granted,"
"Indefinite Parole," "Humanitarian Parole," or "Cuban-Haitian Entrant."
If you are in the U.S. on an F1 or F2 student visa, or a J1 or J2
exchange visitor visa or a G series visa (pertaining to international
organizations), you would not be eligible to receive federal and state
financial aid. In other words, if you are neither a citizen nor an
eligible noncitizen, you are not eligible for federal student aid or
state aid in Virginia.
If I’m in the National Guard or an active duty military member, am I considered a veteran for purposes of completing the FAFSA?
If
you were a member of the National Guard or were a Reservist called to
active duty for purposes other than training and you were released
under a condition other than dishonorable, you are considered a veteran
for financial aid purposes. If you are on active duty in the Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard but, you will be a veteran by
June 30, 2003, you are considered a veteran for financial aid purposes.
If your active duty will continue past June 30, 2003, however, you are
not considered a veteran for financial aid purposes.
I’m a veteran and I’m interested in seeing if I would qualify for veteran educational benefits. What do I do?
Each
campus has a veteran’s advisor who can explain the benefits and
procedures. In addition, you can find valuable information from the
College’s Web page on veterans programs at http://www.nvcc.edu/future-students/paying-for-college/financial-assistance/veterans-educational-benefits/index.html.
What
should I do if my family has special circumstances that aren’t
mentioned on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
If
your family (parent, spouse, student) has experienced a loss of income
since you completed the FAFSA, complete and submit an Appeal for an
Income Reduction. Independent or Dependent Student versions are
available. Be sure to attach supporting documentation and complete the
entire form. Loss of income may be the result of a loss employment,
income benefits, death of a parent or spouse, divorce or separation.
Send the completed appeal form and supporting documentation to the
College Financial Aid Office.
What is the six-digit code for Northern Virginia Community College?
The
six-digit identification code for Northern Virginia Community College
is 003727. This code must be included on the FAFSA in order for the
application data to be released to the College. Failure to include the
code on the FAFSA on the Web application or the paper version of the
FAFSA may delay the processing of your application.
How can I determine my application status?
Once
you have filed your FAFSA, identified NOVA as an institution to receive
the results of your application and received your Student Aid Report
(SAR), you can check the status of your application on the NOVA
Financial Aid website at http://www.nvcc.edu/finance.
Once you have logged on to the NOVA Financial Aid website you can
follow the links to determine the current status of your application.
Check via NOVAConnect,
the student information system at SA Self Service > Learner Services
> My Financial Aid Award 2007. If no award appears, review your To
Do List under SA Self Service > Personal Portfolio > Tasks >
To Do List.
What is Federal Work-Study?
The
Federal Work-Study program provides part-time jobs for students with
financial need. To qualify you must complete the FAFSA and demonstrate
financial need. Jobs may be on-campus or off-campus community service
positions.
I received "F" and "W" grades this semester. Will this affect my financial aid eligibility?
"F"
and "W" grades count in the calculation of your satisfactory academic
progress for financial aid. If you have too many "F" or "W" grades you
may fail these standards. Although you may submit an appeal, your
circumstances must be very unusual and have prevented you from
completing your course. We recommend that you talk with your instructor
before withdrawing from a course to see if you may be able to complete
it. Also, it is a good idea to meet with a counselor if you are
uncertain if you are prepared to take a course rather than withdraw or
fail it.
I don’t get
along with my parents and live independently -- I pay my own rent and
other bills. Can I apply without my parent’s income?
If
you do not meet the criteria to automatically be considered independent
and unusual circumstances exist in your relationship with your parents,
you may complete the Appeal for a Dependency Override. This form is
available at the College Financial Aid Office or from the forms section
of the Financial Aid Web page at http://www.nvcc.edu/finance/.
You must document your situation carefully and completely. If you
believe you may qualify for a dependency override, you should complete
and submit the FAFSA. Include only your income information. It will be
rejected when processed. However, if your appeal is approved, your
financial aid application will be submitted electronically by the
College Financial Aid Office. It takes approximately three weeks to
determine your qualifications for a dependency override.
My parents are divorced. Whose information do I need for the FAFSA?
The
parent with whom you lived with the most during the past year should
complete the FAFSA. It makes no difference which parent claims you as a
dependent for tax purposes. If you did not live with either parent or
lived equally with each parent, the parent who provided you with the
most financial support must complete the financial aid form.
What is a PIN for financial aid?
You
and your parents (if you are dependent for financial aid purposes) may
obtain a PIN. With a PIN you may complete the FAFSA on the Web without
submitting a signed signature page. The PIN is your electronic
signature. Allow 7 to 10 days to obtain a PIN. It will be sent to you
and your parents under separate letters. Be sure to keep it because you
can use it to check on the status of processing your FAFSA and make
corrections on the Web. To obtain a PIN, go to www.pin.ed.gov/.
What happens if I want to DROP a course before the last day of add/drop?
You
must be sure to drop your course over NOVAnet or in person at the
Registrar’s office. Otherwise, financial aid will hold your course and
you will be charged the tuition and fees.