Award Information Tutorial

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• General Information

  • Q1: Where can I obtain more information regarding financial aid?
  • A1: Please refer to the OSFA Web site at www.uga.edu/osfa.
  • Q2: I understand OSFA automatically accepted for me all scholarships and grants which may be reflected on my Award. However, if I decide not to accept part or all of the student loans or federal work-study which may appear on my Award, can I request that money at a later date?
  • A2: It depends on the source of the aid. Federal Direct Loans are available to eligible students year-round; however, these loans will have to be completely processed before the end of your last semester of enrollment (at least half-time) for the applicable Award Year.
    
    If your Award includes Federal Work-Study (FWS) or a Federal Perkins Loan and you choose not to accept one or the other, they cannot be reinstated at a later date because these are limited funds.
  • Q3: What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and how does it possibly affect my federal and state financial aid?
  • A3: All students who have been awarded any federal or state financial aid (including the HOPE Scholarship) must maintain SAP. Please refer to the SAP criteria on our Web site or the SAP link on the same screen we provided this Award Information.
  • Q4: If the financial aid I am awarded for a term is more than enough to pay for my classes (including the dorm and meal plan if contracted), how and when do I receive the balance of the funds?
  • A4: The Student Accounts office handles the collection of these University charges and the disbursement of financial aid. The following information is from the Bursar Web site:
    
    “In general, financial aid, whether it is loans, grants, the Hope Scholarship or other scholarships, is first applied to your unpaid student account balance. Any balances can be direct deposited into your bank account. Please go to MY STUDENT ACCOUNT to sign up for this service. Otherwise, a check for any remaining financial aid is mailed to the "Financial Mail" address as specified by the student in the OASIS Registration System. Checks are mailed ten days prior to the first day of classes if the student is pre-registered for the required number of hours, is not on academic probation, and has no flags with the Bursar's Office. Direct Deposits or checks are not requested until the student is registered for classes. See Financial Aid Disbursement and Calendar and Payment Deadlines selection on the Bursar's home page for further details”.

• HOPE Scholarship

  • Q1: Where can I obtain information regarding the HOPE Scholarship?
  • A1: Please visit our HOPE Scholarship Web page.

• Federal Direct Loans

  • Q1: I was awarded a Federal Direct Student Loan for the first time at UGA. Do I need to do anything else to receive the loan?
  • A1: Federal Direct Loans (FDL’s) require your acceptance. Please review our Awards on the Web page for instructions on how to electronically accept or revise your initial loan offer.
    
    If you accept the loan(s) and you have not previously borrowed a Federal Direct Loan as a UGA student, you will receive a letter from the Student Accounts department regarding completion of the electronic Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) and the federally required on-line Loan Entrance Counseling.
    
    Once you complete the MPN and entrance counseling (if required), are registered for the term, then Student Accounts will apply your net loan proceeds for the semester toward any balance due for your University tuition/fees, housing, and meal plan. Student Accounts will then disburse via EFT (if you set this up with them) or will mail any remaining funds for the semester to your financial mailing address no earlier than 10 days prior to the first day of classes. See General Information, Q4. above.
  • Q2: What is the difference between the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan and the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan?
  • A2: Please review our Federal Direct Loans Web page.
  • Q3: How many credit hours must I enroll in each awarded term to be eligible for my Federal Direct Loan?
  • A3: You must maintain at least half time enrollment to be eligible for your Federal Direct Loan.
  • Q4: I am a dependent undergraduate student. What does my parent need to do to request the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan?
  • A4: You can request we add the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan by completing our Web based Change in Aid Request Form, or your parent can submit a written request to us to add the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan to your Award. We will then add the loan to your Award and Student Accounts will mail a credit check authorization form to your permanent address which the borrowing parent then completes and returns to Student Accounts. For additional information regarding the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan process, please review our Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Web page.

• The Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant.

  • Q1: I was awarded the ACG. Is there anything special I have to do to remain eligible for it?
  • A1: Yes. See our Web page for more information about the Federal ACG.
  • Q2: I was awarded the National SMART Grant. Is there anything special I have to do to remain eligible for it?
  • A2: Yes. See our Web page for more information about the National SMART Grant.

• Hours enrolled versus dropping or withdrawing from courses.

  • Q1: Will dropping a class during Drop/Add affect my financial aid? What if I withdraw from a class?
  • A1: See the discussion of these two issues on the OSFA Web site.

• Applying for federal student aid.

  • Q1: How do I apply for federal student aid including the Federal Pell Grant?
  • A1: See Application Process.
  • Q2: Do I need to inform OSFA about other types of financial aid I am receiving not listed on my Award?
  • A2: Yes. See Non-OSFA Sources of Aid.
  • Q3: I am enrolled in classes and school has started. Is it too late to apply for federal student aid?
  • A3: No. You can still apply for the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans by completing the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Each UGA academic year begins the Fall semester and runs through the end of the following Summer semester. Be sure you complete the FAFSA for the correct academic year. Please see the Application Process.