Check out the 2009 - 2010 application Check List

The first step in applying for financial aid at Hunter College is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA. Completing your FAFSA on the web can speed up the application process. You can apply online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov or print a PDF version of the FAFSA at http://www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov.

Please note that student eligibility for federal aid includes a requirement to register for Selective Service. For more information or to register now, visit the Selective Service page of this site.

Students who submit the FAFSA application online will need to complete the signature requirement by printing out and mailing the signature page, or by using their 4-digit PIN. Parents are required to have their own PIN when signing the FAFSA electronically.

A PIN can be used as an electronic signature and can speed up your processing time. All students and parents are now able to request a PIN from the Department of Education by visiting http://pin.ed.gov and clicking on “Apply for a PIN” on the left-hand side of the page.

Once you submit your FAFSA, you will receive an email confirmation informing you that your application has been received and processed. Your FAFSA information will then be forwarded to your school of acceptance.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The first thing you should do after submitting your FAFSA is check your Student Aid Report online to ensure that Hunter College (Federal Code #002689) is listed as one of the schools you'd like to receive your FAFSA information. If Hunter is not listed, you may use your federal PIN number to login at www.fafsa.ed.gov and follow the link to make corrections to your submitted FAFSA.

Hunter College will receive your financial aid information from the federal processor and if any additional documents are needed to complete your file, a CUNY Financial Aid Edit Notice will be sent to you by the Office of Financial Aid. If you receive such a notice, please respond by bringing in the requested documents in person as soon as possible.

Once your financial aid file is complete, the Office of Financial Aid will mail your Financial Aid Award Letter. Your financial aid will be reflected on your billing statement and checks will be sent to your home address, unless you've requested a direct deposit to your bank account.

After you've submitted your FAFSA and received your Financial Aid Award Letter, you may wish to apply for a Direct Loan. Instructions on how to apply for a loan can be found here.

WHAT IF I HAVE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES?

During the academic year, you and your family may experience a change in your financial situation. You may feel your situation is unusual or warrants additional consideration. You may think an error was made in the calculation of your financial need. It is possible for you to ask a financial aid counselor to review your financial aid application and make adjustments that more closely reflect your individual circumstances. It is your responsibility to notify the Office of Financial Aid of any special or unusual circumstances or changes in your financial status that may affect your ability to pay for college.

Your first step in requesting special consideration is to obtain the appropriate form either through the printable forms section of this website or in person at OASIS (Rm. 217N). Complete the form carefully, include all required supplemental documentation, obtain the required signatures and return the form to the Financial Aid Office. The Office of Financial Aid will make a final determination on your request. Filing a request does not necessarily mean that your request will be approved.

WHAT ABOUT TAP?

Once you submit your FAFSA application online, a confirmation page will appear with a link to the TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) application. Alternatively, you can file your TAP form by going directly to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) website at http://www.hesc.org.

The University Application Processing Center (UAPC) will calculate an estimate of your TAP award which will be included on your Financial Aid Award Letter from Hunter. The New York State HESC will send you a TAP Award Certificate when your award is finalized, or you can check your TAP status online by going to http://www.hesc.org.

For more information about the New York State Tuition Assistance Program, please visit the TAP page of this site.