A: All it takes at
Lamar University to apply for aid is the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student
Aid) and a University Application for Financial Aid. Certain types of aid, usually
loans, do require additional paperwork.
My parents did not claim me on their tax returns
this year; Can I file my FAFSA as an Independent student?
A: The department
of Education defines an independent student as someone who fits into one or more
of 12 specific categories. Answering "yes" to anyone of the 12 questions on the
FAFSA will result in the student becoming independent. Unfortunately, none of the
following individually or in combination with one another will merit a dependency
override. Those circumstances are:
1. Parents refusing to contribute to the student's education
2. Parents unwilling to provide information on the application or for verification
3. Parents not claiming the students as a dependent for income tax purposes
4. Student demonstrating total self-sufficiency.
*Please note that students receiving a dependency over-ride
at one school is not binding at another institution.*
If any student feels that they have unusual circumstances, they may contact the
financial aid office at 409-880-7011.
How do I accept my awards?
A:Log into your myLamar
account HERE , go to Financial Aid, then click the link "Accept
Awards"
What documents am I missing to complete my
financial aid?
A:Log into your myLamar
account HERE , go to Financial Aid, then click the link "student
requirement, required documents"
What happens if I "reject" my financial aid
that was awarded to me?
A:Call the financial
aid office immediately. A delay in contacting the office could result in the loss of grant funds to the student.
What are your office hours?
A:Monday Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday 8am - 5pm and on Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Should I send in my tax forms and other paperwork
before you ask for it?
A:You should not
submit tax forms and/or other paperwork unless we specifically ask for these documents.
After your FASFA has loaded in our system, you will receive a letter or an email stating what documents are required.
My SAR indicates that I was selected for "Verification".
What does this mean?
A:This indicates
that the Financial Aid Office must verify the information you provided on your FAFSA
when you applied for aid. You will need to submit the verification worksheet and
signed copies of tax returns including corresponding W-2's for the previous work year, and other required documents for the Financial Aid office.
Why is it when I try calling your office I
can never get through?
A:During peak times,
our phone lines often stay busy, You can send us a fax at (409) 880-8934 , or stop
by our office in Room 216 of the Wimberley Building for assistance.
How long does the awarding process take?
A:It usually takes
4 -6 weeks from the time your financial aid application is complete to the time
the award occurs. If you haven't heard anything from us after that time period,
please check with us to make sure we have everything that is needed.
What records will I need to apply for financial
aid?
A:Useful documents
include your tax return from the previous year, as well as your parents' tax return
if dependent, or your spouse's return, if applicable. Other records such as W-2
forms, business/farm records, and bank statements are also very useful. Please make
sure that the school has received all required documents such as grade or financial
aid transcripts if you are a transfer student.
How can I obtain Texas residency status for
tuition purposes?
A:There are several
pieces of information that are reviewed before awarding a previously out-of-state
student resident status. If you are an incoming freshman or a returning student
and have questions about whether you can be considered for in-state tuition rates,
please contact the Admissions Office at 409-880-8888.
How many hours do you need to enroll for to
receive financial aid?
A:A minimum of six
hours for any Federal or State aid. (Pell Grant is the only Federal Aid that can
be awarded for students enrolled for less than three hours - if they qualify)
If my financial aid is more than the amount
that I owe, when will I receive a check for the balance?
A: If you have a
credit balance, refund checks are run through the Cashier's Office and will be creditied
to your Cardinal One Debit Card. For Cardinal One questions, please contact the Cashier's Office at 409-880-8390.
Why is my Financial Aid not credited to my
account?
A:There are several
things that could cause this to happen. If the Pell Grant was awarded based on full-time
status and you are only enrolled for 9 hours, the grant would not pay and a check
would not be generated. If you were awarded prior to the end of a long semester
or summer term and did not maintain satisfactory academic progress during that semester/term,
the grant would not pay since you may no longer be eligible. Any of these items
may cause other grants such as the Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) to not pay
when the payment cycle is run as well.
How much money can I expect to receive in
grant monies?
A:financial aid grant
money is based on the number of hours a student is enrolled for, the Cost of Attendance (COA), and your
Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your true and correct FASFA is your application for grants and loans.
How will my Federal Stafford Loan be credited
to my bill?
A:The Master Promissory
Note you completed when applying for your loan will allow the loan proceeds to be
sent electronically to LU by means of EFT, which stands for Electronic Funds Transfer.
Funds received in this manner can be credited to your bill and a balance refund generated
if there is a credit balance. If your lender does not participate in EFT, a check
made payable to you will be sent to the LU Cashiers Office. Students with checks
must be endorsed at the LU cashiers office. Funds will be applied to students accounts
after endorsement.
I am an incoming freshman student and the
Federal Stafford Loan I was awarded is not showing up on my bill. Why?
A:As a first time
borrower on the Federal Stafford Loan Program, we are required to delay the first
disbursement of your loan for 30 class days. Since these funds will not be available at
the time your bill is due, it will not appear on your bill. If the Federal Stafford
Loan is needed to help pay for tuition and fees, you may contact the Cashiers Office
about the possibility of obtaining an institution emergency loan.
Why is the amount I received from my Federal
Stafford Loan different than the amount that shows on my bill?
A:As you are
aware, the Federal Stafford Loan is a federal program funded through private lenders
around the country. The structure of the program allows these lenders to extract
a percentage from the loan for processing and insurance against default. This information
as well as the net amount of your loan should be reflected on the disclosure statement
you received from your lender. Typically, this fee amounts to 1%. To calculate the
net amount, multiply the gross amount of your loan by 1% and then subtract this
amount from the gross amount of the loan. This would be the same on all loans made
under the Family Federal Education Loan Program -including Federal Stafford Loans
(subsidized and unsubsidized) and Parent Loans.
My parents applied for a Federal Parent Loan.
How will this be applied to my bill?
A:The Federal Parent
Loan (PLUS) works similarly to the Federal Stafford Loan except that it is a loan
made to your parent instead of to you. If your parent signed the certification statement
on your University Application for Financial Aid (UAPP) allowing the University
to credit this money to your bill, it will be credited to your bill. Any balance
will be generated in the form of a check made payable to you. If the lender sends
a check, it must be endorsed by your parent, returned to Lamar where it will be
credited towards your account. Any residual balance will be generated in the form
of a refund to your Cardinal One card.
I am eligible for Hazlewood, what do I need
to do?
A:You must be sure
that the VA office has qualified first.
Every year you must verify you are not in default of a student loan.
The easiest way is to complete a FAFSA every year.
How do I request a tax transcript?
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