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Summer Aid Checklist

The following checklist is available to help you determine your financial aid eligibility for summer:

  1. Apply For Federal Financial Aid 
    Be sure to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2024-2025.
     
  2. Apply for TAP 
    If you are enrolled in six or more credits in the summer term, and choose to use TAP towards your summer bill, you may need to complete an application for TAP online. Please refer to Summer Aid Information (PDF) for more details about summer TAP eligibility.
     
  3. Review Federal & State Aid eligibility 
    Review important federal and state financial aid regulations outlined in Summer Aid Information. Federal regulation requires that we split your accepted student loan evenly among all enrolled terms.

    Please note: If your parents wish to apply for a federal Parent PLUS Loan for summer, they must complete a Parent Loan application on www.studentaid.gov and include the summer dates in the loan application. (May 2024 to August 2024).

    If your parents wish to apply for a federal Parent PLUS Loan for summer, fall, and spring terms, they must complete a Parent Loan application on www.studentaid.gov and include the summer start date (between May 2024 and August 2024) and the Spring 2025 end date (May 19, 2025) in the loan application.
     
  4. Register for Classes 
    Coursework taken MUST be applicable to your degree program. Delays in registering for all of your classes will cause delays in the processing of your financial aid. For some sources of funding (e.g., Direct Loans), processing will not occur until you are registered at least half-time.

    Most financial aid programs have certain requirements regarding the minimum number of credit hours you must take in order to be eligible. The definition of "full-time" or "half-time" during the Summer Session is typically the same as during any semester. Your enrollment level is determined by your total number of credit hours for the entire summer, including May Term.

    Follow the instructions for Registration on the Summer Session webpage.
     
  5. Complete the Summer Aid Application 
    All students wishing to utilize financial aid for any summer session must complete the Summer Financial Aid Application. Once submitted, the Summer Aid Application form will automatically be sent to the Financial Aid Office. Students may complete the application here: Summer Aid Information and Application.
     
  6. Review your Bill
     
  7. Be Sure To... 
    • Notify the Financial Aid Office of any Outside Aid 
      Outside scholarships or other sources of assistance affect your eligibility for both federal and state aid. Be sure to notify the Financial Aid Office of aid you may be receiving for summer from outside sources.
    • Notify the Financial Aid Office of ANY Changes 
      ANY changes to your Summer Session enrollment could affect your financial aid eligibility. Notify the Financial Aid Office if you are planning to adjust your summer enrollment, including withdrawing from a class.
    • Respond to Missing Information Notices 
      You will receive a notification through BearPAWS if we are missing any information needed to process federal aid on your behalf for the summer term, and subsequent fall and spring terms. Check BearPAWS and your Potsdam email regularly.
    • Complete Loan Requirements
      • All federal loan borrowers must electronically complete the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement at www.studentaid.gov.
      • New federal loan borrowers must electronically complete:  Loan Entrance Counseling and a Loan Agreement (Master Promissory Note). Both can be completed online at www.studentaid.gov. Be sure to select the appropriate loan type for your loan (MPN for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans, PLUS MPN for Graduate/Professional Students, or the PLUS MPN for Parents)