GCSU

Application Procedures

To receive consideration for Federal Financial Aid and the HOPE Scholarship

You may complete the electronic version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) found at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

You may request a paper FAFSA if you do not have computer access. These may be obtained from the Georgia College & State University Financial Aid Office located in 103 Parks Hall.

A PIN from the U.S. Department of Education serves as your identifier to let you access your personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems. It's like the Personal Identification Number that you get from your bank that enables you to access your account. Because the PIN serves as an electronic signature for the FAFSA, it should not be given to anyone. Both students and parents will use a PIN to electronically sign the FAFSA. PIN Registration

Help in completing the electronic version of the FAFSA can be found at HELP.

Click for a listing of Title IV Codes.
The GCSU Federal School Code is 001602.

To receive consideration for the HOPE Scholarship Only

If you are only interested in the HOPE Scholarship you may complete the Scholarship & Grant Application.

You may complete this electronically at www.GAcollege411.org.

Status of Financial Aid Application

Students are encouraged to check with the Financial Aid Office regarding the status of their application. This may be done by visiting or telephoning the office or checking the GCSU PAWS website at http://paws.gcsu.edu.

Students may check the status of the FAFSA by using the Department of Education's automated system (touch tone phone required) at 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) and selecting option #1. Students who do not wish to use the automated system or who have a rotary phone should call (319) 337-5665.

Students may check the status of the FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/follow003.htm.

Verification Procedures

Verification is a process used to check the accuracy of the information that a student gives when applying for financial aid. The selection of an application for verification does not mean that we believe your information is incorrect. Some applications are selected for review on a random basis. Some applications are selected upon a set of common edits that check data for consistency and logic. In some cases, data is checked against the Social Security Administration and the Veterans Administration to ensure that these benefits are being reported correctly. Finally, data is also checked against prior applications that have been submitted to the U. S. Department of Education. Until the verification process is complete, no Federal Funds may be disbursed. If a student seeking a Federal Stafford Loan or a Federal PLUS Loan and is selected for verification, the application cannot be processed until verification is complete.

The GCSU Financial Aid Office will notify students if selected for verification. Pay particular attention to the listed items that are requested in the notification letter.

Signed copy of student's and parents' Federal income tax forms;
Explanation of untaxed income;
Birth certificate of dependent child;
Dependent or Independent verification worksheet;
Marriage license, etc.

Financial Aid Verification Procedures 2007-2008 (pdf)

Request of Documentation Explanation 07-08 (pdf)

Links to Verification Worksheets: A Dependent Worksheet is for students who had to list the parent information on the FAFSA, which was determined by the following criteria:

The student is under 24 years old.
The student has no dependents (children) of their own.
The student is not a veteran of U.S. Armed Forces.
The student is not married.
The student is not working on a master's or doctorate degree.
The student is not an orphan or ward of the court.

Dependent Verification Worksheet 2007-2008 (pdf)

Independent Worksheets are for students who were not required to list the parent information on the FAFSA.

Independent Verification Worksheet 2007-2008 (pdf)