How to Apply for Academic Year 2011-2012

The Three Step Application Process

1. File your 2011-2012 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  School Code 002014 must be included or added to an existing FAFSA for LSUHSC-NO to receive the results.

2. Recently passed federal legislation discontinues the Federal Family Educational Loan (FFEL) program, which was based on lending through banks and other lenders. All Federal Stafford and PLUS borrowers and schools must utilize the Federal Direct Loan program beginning with the 2010-11 academic year.

   Please complete your MPN at https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action.The PIN required is the same PIN you use to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Select “LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER – NEW ORLEANS” from the school selection pull-down. DO NOT select “LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER – SCH. OF DENTISTRY” even if you are a student at the School of Dentistry.

   Students who borrowed Federal Direct Sub/Unsub loans at LSUHSC-NO in 2010-11 do not need to complete the online master promissory note or counseling session discussed below.  Most borrowers will obtain sufficient funding through the Federal Sub/Unsub program. Some may need to seek additional funding through the Graduate PLUS, Undergraduate PLUS (for parents of dependent undergraduates), or private alternative loans.

3. Complete the Federal Direct Loan online entrance counseling session at https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action.

A Detailed Description of the Application Process

STEP 1 Ø Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Students must complete a FAFSA for each academic year they seek aid.  The Department of Education and the Financial Aid Office highly recommend filing the FAFSA on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov.   The Department of Education provides PIN numbers for use as electronic signatures at www.pin.ed.gov.

• File the FAFSA in January or February to facilitate prompt processing of aid for the Fall semester.

• Study all directions and complete all FAFSA worksheets. Many items are not self-evident.
   

•  List the LSUHSC New Orleans Federal School Code, 002014, in Step Six of the FAFSA.
   

•  Undergraduates (Associate/Bachelors degree seekers) must follow the FAFSA to determine if parent data is required.  Students in LSUHSC Masters and Doctoral programs are graduate/professional level and do not have to include parent data on the FAFSA to qualify for U.S. Department of Education federal aid. 
  
  However, applicants for Health Professions Loan (DDS), Primary Care Loan (MD), or federal extreme need scholarships must include parent data.  Also, students with low income parents should include parent data if possible.
   

• Feel free to bring your FAFSA in for review with your financial aid counselor, but submit your electronic or paper form to the federal processing center.

Student Aid Report - The Student Aid Report (SAR) lists the results of the FAFSA filing.  Contact the financial aid office immediately if any of the follow occur.

• There are errors in your report

• Your SAR includes the letter “C” next to the EFC figure, or

• LSUHSC-NO is not identified as a data recipient.

Verification - If the SAR indicates an aid applicant is selected for verification, the application file will not be complete for processing until the financial aid office receives a completed Independent Verification Worksheet or a completed  Dependent Verification Worksheet and all required Federal Income Tax Returns. The SAR may also identify other requirements.

Step 2 Ø The Federal Direct Sub/Unsub Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)

The Federal Direct Sub/Unsub Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) covers multiple academic years.  Note: minimum level enrollment for Sub/Unsub is five credits graduate, six credits undergraduate, in a regular semester. 

Additional Amount Request - You have already requested a Federal Sub/Unsub loan for the 2011-2012 academic year. Use the LSUHSC-NO Additional Amount Request Form to request additional Federal Sub/Unsub loan funding for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Step 3 Ø  Federal Entrance Counseling

Complete the Federal Entrance Counseling at https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action.