Financial Aid - How to Apply

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Students who are entering Gaston College and are in need of financial aid are requested to follow this application procedure:

After the application for admission has been submitted, the student should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The student who wishes to apply for financial assistance must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The student should complete the FAFSA form on the Internet at www.fafsa.gov using Gaston College school code #002973. It takes 4 - 6 weeks to process a complete file. Therefore, students should submit all financial aid forms several weeks prior to their enrollment date.
In addition, the student should submit other documentation if requested by our office. Additional documentation includes the College Financial Aid Application, the Verification Form, and other financial information.
Students interested in Gaston College Foundation scholarships must apply online through STARS each year during January - March 31.
Students interested in Work-Study should submit an application available online or in the FInancial Aid Office.

Applicants may apply for a scholarship, grant, work-study, or any combination of these. The total combined sum of these must not exceed total financial need. The awarding of aid is based on funds available. Students will be notified of their financial aid eligibility by award notification letter. The letter will state the type and amount of award. Students should retain their copy of their award notification letter for their records. If the student does not plan to enroll or use their financial aid award, the student should notify the financial aid office.

In the event that a student receiving aid withdraws from the institution and stops attending all of their classes prior to the 60% point of the semester, the student will be responsible for repayment of a prorated amount of any portion of payments that were extended to the student for living expenses and that would no longer be attributed to meeting expenses related to attendance. If the student never attends a class(es), the student is not eligible to receive financial aid for the class(es) and will be responsible for repayment and billed for the aid in which you became ineligible. Students will be ineligible for future aid until repayment has been made.

The student has the obligation to maintain the "Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards" as defined specifically for financial aid recipients. Failure to maintain academic progress will result in the loss of eligibility for financial aid. Eligibility may be regained unless the student has exceeded his or her eligibility to receive federal aid. Student coursework must be restricted to the major that is on file in the Office of the Registrar. Courses taken outside of the approved major may require adjustment to the financial aid award. Financial aid will pay for repeated courses as long as it falls within the college’s repeat policy guidelines. However, Financial Aid will not pay for excessive repeats beyond this policy nor will it pay for repeated courses that are not necessary to complete the student’s major (i.e., courses that have been repeated twice and successfully passed/completed, or Elective Courses). In addition, Financial Aid will pay for remedial/developmental courses up to a maximum (attempted and/or completed) of 30 credit hours.

It is the student's responsibility to:

Review and consider all information about the school’s programs before enrolling.
Apply/re-apply for financial assistance EACH year by submitting the FAFSA – preferably by the Gaston College Financial Aid Office April 30 priority deadline - for the next upcoming school year.
Complete all application forms accurately and submit them on time to the correct location.
Pay special attention to, and accurately complete the FAFSA. Errors can result in long delays in receiving aid. Intentional mis-reporting of information on application forms for federal financial aid is a violation of the law and is considered a criminal offense subject to penalties under the US Criminal Code.
Return all additional documentation, verification, corrections, and new information to the Financial Aid Office.
Read and understand all forms before signing them and keep copies of all forms.
Notify the lender of previous student loans of changes in name, address, and school status.
Perform the work that is agreed upon in accepting a college work-study award.
Know and comply with the application and document deadlines (both U.S. Department of Education and the Gaston College Financial Aid Office) for application or reapplication for aid.
Contact the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing from school or changing course schedule.
Notify the Financial Aid Office in writing about additional income not reported on aid application.
Express written appreciation to any scholarship donor for Gaston College Foundation Scholarships awarded.
Understand and maintain Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards in order to continue to receive financial aid. Students are not considered to be making satisfactory academic progress if they do not maintain at least a 2.000 GPA each semester.
Officially drop or withdraw from a class(es) that the student registered for but is not attending even if that student applied for and/or received financial aid. The student cannot assume that automatic drops or withdrawals will be performed for them in the event that they do not pay for their registration fees.
Notify the Financial Aid Office immediately if the student rejects any/all financial aid that they have been awarded.
Notify the Financial Aid Office if the student has attended and received federal aid at another institution during the school year.
Make sure that your legal name, as it appears on your social security card, is on file with the Office of Records and Registration (via your WebAdvisor Account) and is the name you use on your FAFSA application.
Make sure that your correct mailing address and current phone number are on file with the Office of Records and Registration (via your WebAdvisor Account) in order to properly receive correspondence and/or refund checks (if applicable) that are mailed to you.
Use financial aid funds for educationally related expenses.

updated 10/2011