Accept/Decline Aid
After reviewing your financial aid package, all that’s left to do is to finalize your offers by accepting or declining your financial aid for the year. The majority of grants are automatically accepted on your behalf. However, any loans offered, will require your decision or action. It is also important to report any outside scholarships you have received.
While there is no official deadline for finalizing financial aid, keep in mind that no aid will apply to your student bill until it has been finalized. Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (SFA) recommends you complete all aid requirements by July 1st or six weeks before the start of the semester. Check below to see what is required for different types of financial aid.
SFA automatically accepts Federal Student Loans on behalf of the student, however the first time a student borrows a federal loan, they will need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling. Loans will not apply to the student's bill until both have been completed. Once the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling have been completed, the loans will show as anticipated aid on the student's bill. Student's can get started by visiting www.StudentAid.gov.
Please note, loan amounts listed in the student's account is a maximum. Students are encouraged to only borrow what is needed to cover their bill. All loan amounts can be lowered by contacting SFA.
Beginning the 2020-2021 aid year, students will no longer need to accept Work Study. If a student chooses to participate in Federal Work Study, it will automatically be applied when the student receives a Work Study eligible job.
Once the student is enrolled in classes, they will be able to access Handshake, BGSU’s online job and internship database. To find a Work Study job, search through job postings and contact listed employers for the application process.
Parents of dependent undergraduate students may borrow a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan to help cover the gap after the student's aid has been applied to the bill. The maximum amount the parent is able to borrow will be determined by SFA but can not exceed the student's COA for the year. Parents are encouraged to only borrow what is needed to cover their student's bill. If a parent would like to borrow a Parent PLUS Loan, they are required to apply for the loan using the steps below. Once approved, the loan amount can be adjusted by contacting SFA office.
- Start by logging into www.StudentAid.gov.
- Next, click on Parent tab > Apply for a Direct PLUS Loan
- Once credit approved, the parent will need to complete a PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN).
- BGSU will then add the Parent PLUS Loan as accepted to the student's financial aid award summary and disburse the funds to the student's bill when appropriate.
If the parent's credit is denied, the parent has several options: add an endorser, pursue a credit override, or do not pursue a PLUS loan. If the parent chooses to pursue the PLUS Loan by either adding an Endorser or pursuing a credit override, SFA will add the PLUS Loan to the student’s financial aid package. If the parent chooses not to pursue the Parent PLUS Loan or undecided, SFA will automatically offer an additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan to the student. The additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan will be offered on the student’s award and will require the student to accept or decline the loan in their MyBGSU decision before it can be processed.
- To accept the additional Unsubsidized Student Loan, the Student will login to their MyBGSU > Student Center > Financial Aid > Select aid year > Accept/Decline Award > Edit and use drop down to accept additional loan.
Graduate students may apply for a Graduate PLUS Loan in addition to their Direct Unsubsidized Loan to help cover the gap in their COA. To apply, student's will need to complete a Graduate PLUS Loan application by visiting www.studentaid.gov > In School tab > Apply for a PLUS Loan for Graduate School.
Once the student's credit is approved, the student will need to complete a Graduate/Professional Loan Entrance Counseling and a PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN). Once the MPN and Entrance Counseling have been completed, the loans will show as anticipated aid on the student's bill.
Students are encouraged to only borrow what is needed to cover their bill.
- Research your private loan options. Review private loan information and search online lenders.
- Complete a loan application with your lender. Most lenders have applications available on their website.
- Once credit is approved, contact your lender for the next steps.
- Once SFA has received a certification request from the lender, the student will be required to complete an Private Loan Questionnaire found on their To Do List in their MyBGSU > Student Center > Action Items > To-Do list.
SFA will notify the student via the questionnaire is available on their To Do List. After the questionnaire is completed, certification will be sent to the lender and the private loan will be viewable on the student’s financial aid found in their MyBGSU.
*Note that the private loan application processing time typically takes at least 4 weeks. Apply as early as you can, so that funds arrive in time for the bill due date. The credit check on each Private loan is only valid for 30 to 180 days depending on which lender you choose. Please check with you lender and submit your application appropriately.
Follow the steps below to report your external scholarship to SFA:
- A letter (on letterhead) from the organization/foundation awarding the scholarship, must contain Student’s full name and the amount of the scholarship awarded. Please be sure to include Student’s ID number.
- Letter can be mailed or uploaded online to SFA.
- Don’t forget to give your donor the Bursar address to send a paper check.
Updated: 09/28/2023 08:06AM