Applying for financial aid requires the following steps:
Step 1:
The first step is to apply for a PIN. Both the student and one parent will need to have a PIN to sign the FAFSA form and other financial aid forms electronically. Apply online at PIN. Save these numbers in a secure location as you will need them throughout your college years.
Step 2:
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the next step. Be sure to file the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. Bluffton University’s priority filing date is May 1. You will need your current tax returns, W2s, federal PINs and Bluffton’s school code (003016) in order to complete the FAFSA. Apply online at www.fasfa.ed.gov.
Step 3:
Corrections to the FAFSA can be made on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Corrections can also be made electronically by the financial aid office. Whether made by the student or the financial aid office, correction results are sent both to the student and to the financial aid office. A revised financial aid award notice may be generated and sent to the accepted or continuing student when corrected FAFSA data is received and required documentation is on file.
Step 4:
Students who have not previously borrowed Federal Direct Loans through Bluffton University need to complete Entrance Loan Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN). The Entrance Loan Counseling session is a quick tutorial that covers your rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower. The MPN will require your PIN for electronic signature and two references. Loan funds cannot be disbursed until both of these are complete.
Step 5:
The last step is a step that not all FAFSA applicants will be required to complete. The federal government selects some FAFSA applications for a process called verification. If your FAFSA is selected, you will be required to submit a verification worksheet along with other documentation requested by the financial aid office.
