Enjoy College & Know Your Responsibilities

CONGRATULATIONS! All your hard work and research has finally paid off; you have been accepted to the college of your choice and have secured the best financial aid package for you and your family. College is a great experience, so make sure to enjoy yourself and study hard. While you are in college, you will need to make regular "check-ups" on your financial aid to make sure you continue to receive the aid you need throughout your college career.

What is Satisfactory Academic Progress?

• You must make satisfactory academic progress toward your certificate, diploma, or degree. Progress is calculated in terms of your grade point average (GPA) or other grading standard, and sometimes by attendance records.

• There is a maximum timeframe to complete your certificate, diploma, or degree for receiving financial aid. It is normally 150% (or time and one-half) of the standard timeframe. Check your school's website or financial aid materials for their specific timeframe.

• Make sure you understand what is expected of you when accepting the award. Do not wait until it is too late, and you have lost your aid to ask questions.

Entrance/Exit Counseling

Entrance Counseling — You must complete an entrance interview if you are taking out a Stafford, Federal Direct Loan (FDL), or Perkins Loan. You may be able to complete it online, or in a group or individual meeting. The interview explains your rights and responsibilities and the terms and conditions of your loan. It is a good time to ask questions.

Exit Counseling — Before you graduate or leave school, you must complete an exit interview. The exit interview concentrates on your repayment obligation and options and stresses the consequences of default. For more information on repaying your student loans please see our useful Repayment Guide.

To complete your counseling online, you can visit our partner "Mapping Your Future" via the following links:

• Stafford Entrance Counseling
• Perkins Entrance Counseling
• Stafford Exit Counseling
• Perkins Exit Counseling

Continue to visit www.GAcollege411.org

GAcollege411 is a great resource for you whether you are planning to attend college or are already in college. Our Repayment Guide offers valuable information for budgeting and financial management. Additionally, our Paying For College information can help you if you find you need additional financial aid. If you want to do some more research on careers that may be of interest, you can revisit our Career Info section.

What if my circumstances change?

If you experience a change in circumstances such as loss of job, illness or death, divorce or separation contact the financial aid office at your college. It is possible that your file may be reviewed to determine if you qualify for more financial aid.

If you change phone numbers or permanent addresses, please remember to contact your lender to inform them of your new information.

What happens if I have to withdraw from school?

While staying in college is something that we highly recommend, we understand that situations may arise where you have to withdraw. If you find yourself in this situation, these are some important points to remember:

• Complete withdrawal forms before you leave school. You may lose all or some of your eligibility for financial aid, especially if you do not complete the necessary forms.

• Your school may have to return funds used to pay your school charges and you may end up owing the school for any tuition and fees originally paid by financial aid. You may even have to repay grants due to lost eligibility.

• You are responsible for repaying your student loans that are not refunded whether or not you return to school.

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