Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of Georgia

Frequently Asked Questions

General Aid Information
- What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and how can it affect my financial aid eligibility?
  - Students must successfully complete 67% of the courses in which they enroll and maintain a minimum 2.0 overall Grade Point Average (GPA) to maintain SAP and continue to receive student financial aid, including HOPE. For more information, go to http://www.uga.edu/osfa/sap.html .
- How do I get UGA Financial Aid Information?
  - For general information regarding the financial aid application process, please visit http://www.uga.edu/osfa/application.html.
  - For information regarding merit-based scholarships offered by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, please visit here
- How do I contact OSFA?
  - OSFA contact information is here.
- What is Selective Service and who must register?
  - Men ages 18 through 25 are required to register with the Selective Service System (SSS) to be eligible for Federal and State of Georgia financial aid funds. Any male students age 18 through 26 who have not yet registered with the SSS can do so when they complete the FAFSA or can register via the SSS Web site. Registration forms are also available at all local post offices.
- Where is info for Gwinnett students?
  - Please go here for more information.
- Where is international student info?
  - Please go here for more information.
- What is OSFA's fax number?
  - Please go here for more information.
- What are the residency requirements for obtaining in-state tuition rates?
  - See "Rules Governing the Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes" in the current University Bulletin.
- How can I receive Financial Aid for a Studies Abroad Program?
  - Financial aid recipients may study abroad either with UGA sponsored programs or with programs sponsored by other schools or private organizations. Students must meet the normal requirements for the types of aid they receive. Students studying abroad through other schools or organizations must also complete the Office of International Education's Credit Approval Form. For both types of programs, OSFA can adjust the student's Cost of Attendance to reflect the additional costs of studying abroad. Sometimes this will qualify a student for a subsidized loan rather than unsubsidized, or qualify the student for additional loan money if the student's loans were originally restricted by the Cost of Attendance. Students should first contact OSFA to determine if including the additional costs would result in an increase in aid before submitting documentation of the expenses (usually in the form of a brochure listing tuition, airfare, housing, etc). Please note that due to federal student aid program limits, the inclusion of Study Abroad expenses may not result in additional funds for the student.
- What happens to my financial aid if I withdraw from a class?
- Where do I find out more information about UGA at Gwinnett?
  - Find more info about UGA at Gwinnett at http://www.uga.edu/osfa/gwinnett .
Important Dates
- What are the important financial aid dates for the current Academic Year?
  - Please see http://www.uga.edu/osfa/deadlines.html .
- What is the application process and what does it mean to have it "complete"?
  - Please see http://www.uga.edu/osfa/application.html Also, please see http://www.uga.edu/osfa/deadlines.html
Application Procedures
- I've filed my FAFSA, now what?
  - Please see http://www.uga.edu/osfa/application.html for all steps to receive financial aid.
- How do I apply for federal aid/HOPE?
  - Please go here for more information.
- What are the federal guidelines to be considered an independent student for the purposes of filing for student financial aid?
  - A student is considered independent by meeting any of these criteria:
    1. if you were born before January 1, 1986,
    2. if you are married,
    3. if you are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training,
    4. if you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces,
    5. if you are an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence,
    6. if you will be working on a master's or doctorate program at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or graduate certificate, etc),
    7. if you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010,
    8. if you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2010,
    9. if when you were age 13 or older, both your parents were deceased, you were in foster care or you were a dependent/ward of the court,
    10. if you are in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence,
    11. if at any time on or after July 1, 2008, your high school or school district homeless liaison determined that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless,
    12. if at any time on or after July 1, 2008, the director of an emergency shelter program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determined that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless,
    13. if at any time on or after July 1, 2008, the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determined that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless.
    If you have extenuating circumstances, you may contact our office and speak with a Professional Judgment counselor who will evaluate your situation.
- How long does the Professional Judgment (PJ) process take?
  - Completing the Professional Judgement review process depends on the speed with which the student provides all necessary documentation. Once all requested documentation has been received, the student's situation will be formally reviewed and a decision will generally be made within a week (depending on the complexity of the PJ appeal/information). Students wishing information regarding their PJ appeal should contact a PJ counselor at OSFA. If the PJ approval necessitates changes to the student's FAFSA, it will take approximately 5 additional business days for us to receive the changed information from the Federal Processor.
- How will Independent Study courses affect my Financial Aid?
  - Please see http://www.uga.edu/osfa/policies.html .
- What is the UGA Federal School code?
  - The University of Georgia Federal School Code is 001598. This information will be needed by students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Awards
- How do I view my Award?
  - Please go here for more information.
- When are Awards mailed?
  - NO paper Awards are mailed; all Award notifications are e-mailed. See http://www.uga.edu/osfa/myfa-al.html for more information on Award Notices. When final tuition data for the upcoming Academic Year is received and processed, official electronic Awards will be available.
- How do I accept aid on my award?
  - To accept all unaccepted aid on your award (i.e. all aid that shows a blank line in the "Amt To Accept" column) you should follow the prompts on your Award in OASIS.
    
    If you only want to accept some unaccepted aid, you should:
    1. Print a copy of your Award in OASIS
    2. Enter your changes in the "Amt You Accept" column
    3. Sign it
    4. Return it to OSFA
    For a tutorial on completing you Award in OASIS, go to Award Tutorial.
- How do I cancel aid on my award?
  - To cancel all unaccepted aid on your award (i.e. all aid that shows a blank line in the "Amt To Accept" column) you should follow the prompts on your Award in OASIS.
    
    If you only want to cancel some unaccepted aid, you should:
    1. Print a copy of your Award in OASIS
    2. Enter your changes in the "Amt You Accept" column
    3. Sign it
    4. Return it to OSFA
    For a tutorial on completing you Award in OASIS, go to Award Tutorial.
- What is "unaccepted aid"?
  - Unaccepted aid is indicated on your Award with a blank line in the AMT TO ACCEPT column. Unaccepted aid is any fund that requires your acceptance. If you do not accept unaccepted aid by the return date indicated on your Award, the unaccepted aid will be cancelled.
    
    Unaccepted aid does not include scholarships (including the HOPE scholarship) or grants. Scholarships and grants are considered gift aid and are pre-accepted when they are awarded. They will not be cancelled if you choose to cancel all unaccepted aid on your Award.
- How do I request a change in the aid that has been offered to me?
  - To request a change in the aid that has been offered to you, complete the Change in Aid Request form.
- Will the "Cancel all unaccepted aid" option on my Award cancel my scholarship or grant?
  - No. The "Cancel all unaccepted aid" option only refers to aid that requires your acceptance (such as Federal Direct Loans). These types of aid are noted with a blank line (______) on your Award.
    
    Scholarships and grants will not be canceled if you select "Cancel all unaccepted aid" in OASIS.
    
    Please click on unaccepted aid questioin on this page to see more information about unaccepted aid.
- Do I have to accept aid that already has an amount in the "Amt To Accept" column on my Award (i.e. HOPE, Pell Grant, etc.)?
  - No. All types of aid that do not require you to repay or work to earn is automatically accepted for you.
- How do I change my housing status on my Award?
  - Housing status that is incorrect on your Award should be corrected. Changing the housing status may have NO effect on your aid. You should talk to a Counselor to determine the effect. Any request for a change in housing status must be submitted in writing to OSFA (osfa@uga.edu) . The request for the housing status change should include your name, the last four digits of your SS#, correct address, and date of birth. Your housing status will then be corrected. This will not change your mailing address. You will have to do that in OASIS.
Computer Issues
- Where can I get help with OASIS?
  - Please go here for more information.
- How do I get a UGA e-mail address?
  - Please go here for more information.
- Where can I find information about the e-mail address that is being used by OSFA?
  - Please see http://www.uga.edu/osfa/myfa-email.html .
- Where can I get help with OASIS?
  - Please see the OASIS Web site at https://oasisweb.uga.edu for help using OASIS.
- Why won't OASIS recognize my Student ID?
  - If your Student ID is not recognized in OASIS, go to the Record Services & Registration Office, 105 Academic Building, with a picture ID or call the Office of the Registrar at (706) 542-4040.
- Why won't OASIS load on my computer?
  - First review the troubleshooting tips at https://oasisweb.uga.edu. If your problem persists, contact EITS at (706) 542-3106 or view their Web site at http://www.eits.uga.edu/helpdesk.
- How do I create a PIN in OASIS?
  - The first time you access OASIS your PIN will be your birthdate in MMDDYY order. Then you will be required to create a new PIN. This PIN will be used each time you access OASIS so it is very important that you remember this number. (NOTE: If you forget your PIN, are unable to correctly answer the PIN Hint Question, or have your OASIS access revoked you will need to call the Registrar's office at 706-542-4040 during normal business hours.)
- Why won't OASIS recognize my PIN?
  - If you forget your PIN or your access has been revoked, go to the Record Services & Registration Office, 105 Academic Building, with a picture ID and they will reset it to your birth date. You may also call the Office of the Registrar at (706) 542-4040.
HOPE Scholarship
- What is the book allowance for HOPE?
  - If you are enrolled in 1-5 hours, $75 will be credited on your Student Account. If you enroll in 6 or more credits, $150 will be credited on your Student Account.
- Must I be admitted to UGA before I apply for the HOPE Scholarship?
  - No. A prospective student can complete the HOPE application at any time; financial aid will not be awarded until you are admitted to UGA.
- What is HOPE Paid-Hour limit?
  - In addition to the Attempted-Hour limit, there is now the Paid-Hour limit. All hours for which students received payment from Accel (Accel pays for college classes taken while enrolled in high school), HOPE Grant (Summer 2003 forward), and HOPE Scholarship programs are included in calculating the total Combined Paid hours. Students are eligible for combined payment for a maximum of 127 semester hours, unless they are enrolled in specific programs of study designed to require more than 127 semester hours for graduation. In that case, students are eligible for a maximum of 150 semester hours OR the number of hours required for graduation, whichever is less. If a student reaches the Attempted-Hours limit before reaching Combined Paid-Hours limit, he or she is ineligible to receive further HOPE Scholarship payment.
- Is my HOPE Scholarship GPA and attempted hours the same as my UGA Cumulative or Overall GPA and attempted hours?
  - Not necessarily. The HOPE Scholarship GPA and hours are often not the same as the UGA Cumulative and Overall GPA and Hours because the criteria used to calculate them are different. You may contact OSFA to review your HOPE GPA and hours.
- Are my transfer credit hours counted as attempted credits even if I never previously received the HOPE Scholarship?
  - Yes. ALL credit hours attempted in college following high school graduation are counted and do apply toward the 127 attempted credit hour limit whether or not you received the HOPE Scholarship while attempting these credits. This includes all remedial courses, transfer courses, and courses that do not transfer into a degree program at UGA.
- What does the HOPE Scholarship consider as attempted credit hours?
  - HOPE credit hours are not necessarily the same as the credit hours reflected on OASIS. All credit hours attempted at the college level are counted for HOPE purposes, including those assigned "W", “WP” or "WF" grades, those attempted at other institutions (including Out of State institutions) whether or not the credit hours transfer to UGA. Also, hours paid for by the student, and Developmental Study hours, including English as a Second Language (if the student has been fully admitted as an undergraduate student) count as attempted hours for HOPE Scholarship purposes.If a student graduates high school as a HOPE Scholar, then any degree credit hours attempted by the student prior to high school graduation, or equivalent, are not counted as Attempted hours.
  - If a student is determined not to be academically eligible for HOPE upon high school graduation, and the student graduated on or after July 1, 2008, then degree credit hours attempted by the student after July 1, 2008, and accepted by a Postsecondary Institution, must now be counted as Attempted hours. Students determined not to be academically eligible for HOPE upon high school graduation and either graduated from high school prior to July 1, 2008, or who earned credit accepted by a college or university that was taken prior to July 1, 2008 may appeal to GSFC for an exception.
- Does the HOPE Scholarship count my attempted or earned credit hours?
- When does UGA recheck my HOPE Scholarship Eligibility and what is a "benchmark"?
  - OSFA is required to verify your HOPE Scholarship eligibility at the end of the semesters in which you attempt your 30th, 60th, and 90th credit hours (and at the 127th credit hour for specific programs of study designed to require more than 127 semester hours for graduation.). These checkpoints are referred to as benchmarks. You must have at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) each time you reach a benchmark; otherwise your HOPE Scholarship will be canceled for future terms. If you lose the HOPE Scholarship at 30 or 60 attempted hours, you can regain the scholarship if you meet eligibility requirements at the next benchmark. If you do not have a 3.0 GPA at the 90 credit hour benchmark, you can never regain HOPE Scholarship eligibility.
    
    In addition, there is an End-of-Spring Semester Checkpoint for all HOPE Scholarship recipients. You must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA at the end of each Spring term in order to continue eligibility, except for Freshman recipients who enrolled less than 12 hours for each of their first three terms.
- Is the HOPE Scholarship available for Graduate Study?
  - Generally, no. There is an exception for students enrolled in a 5 year combined undergraduate/graduate program. You can receive HOPE if you are enrolled in one of these programs and have not received an undergraduate degree and you meet all other HOPE eligibility criteria. Examples of 5 year combined programs are PharmD and BLA.
- How much does the HOPE Scholarship pay toward my tuition and for how many attempted hours?
  - HOPE pays the tuition and mandatory fees charged for your registered classes. HOPE pays for 127 attempted credit hours as long as you maintain eligibility and do not receive an undergraduate degree. The 127 attempted credit hours include all course work attempted in college after your high school graduation, regardless of whether HOPE did or did not pay for the courses. There are several programs at UGA that receive more than 127 attempted credit hours for HOPE (PharmD, BLA, BSAE, BSBE, and BMUS). You may contact OSFA for more information regarding the number of additional HOPE attempted hours allotted for these programs.
- Will the HOPE Scholarship pay for Transient Study?
  - Yes. If you are a UGA student enrolling in classes at another HOPE eligible school please complete our electronic HOPE Transient Form and transmit to OSFA. This form is on this Website's home page, under Student Aid Forms, click on the appropriate Award Year, then under HOPE Forms you will find the "HOPE Transient Form". You may want to print a copy for your records. Remember to keep track of the dates by which academic transcripts must be received. Failure to comply with these deadlines will result in a cancellation/repayment request.
- Must I complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to receive the HOPE Scholarship?
  - No. If you wish to receive only the HOPE Scholarship, the FAFSA is not required. You should instead complete the appropriate HOPE Application. If you have other student financial aid and are not sure if the FAFSA is required each year, you should contact OSFA and speak to a financial aid counselor.
- Must I enroll full-time at UGA to receive the HOPE Scholarship?
  - No. Even if you enroll in only one course, the HOPE Scholarship will pay your tuition and fees plus a book allowance.
- Will the HOPE Scholarship reimburse me for my Independent Study courses If so, how?
  - If you are enrolled in a degree seeking program at UGA, you must pay for the Independent Study courses and bring the receipt to OSFA. As long as you are HOPE eligible, we will generate a new Award for you that includes the cost of the Independent Study course(s), and Student Accounts will mail you a check.
- Will the HOPE Scholarship pay for Study Abroad and National Student Exchange (NSE) courses?
  - Yes. HOPE will only reimburse you for the cost of tuition (no fees) as if you were attending classes at UGA as well as the usual book allowance. You must pay for any additional tuition and fee expenses.
- Must I reapply for the HOPE Scholarship every year?
  - Please go here for more information.
- Does HOPE pay for audit classes?
  - No. HOPE does not pay for audit classes.
Loans
- Where can I get information on the federal student loan programs?
  - Complete information on the eligibility requirements and process of applying for student loans is available on our Web site.
- How do I increase, reduce or cancel my student loans after they've been awarded?
  - Please complete the Change in Aid Request form.
- I did not request student loans when I completed my FAFSA, but I would like to receive them. What should I do?
  - Please complete the Change in Aid Request form.
- Can I return my loan funds if I decide I don't want or need them anymore?
  - Yes. If you have received a disbursement, you can return these funds within 120 days of the disbursement date without penalty; however, we recommend these funds be returned within 30 days of the disbursement date so that the repayment can be processed by both the University and the Direct Loan Servicer in a timely manner. Please contact the Student Accounts Office at (706) 542-2965 for further instructions.
    
    To cancel or reduce future disbursements, please complete the Change in Aid Request.
- Do I have to be a full time student to get a loan?
  - To receive Federal Direct loans you are only required to be enrolled half-time.
- How do I add the Parent PLUS loan to my financial aid award?
  - To request the Parent PLUS loan to be added to your financial aid award, complete the Change in Aid Request form on the Student Aid Forms section of our Web site.
- Can I defer payments on a parent PLUS loan?
  - For Direct PLUS Loans that were first disbursed on or after July 1, 2008, parent borrowers have the option of deferring repayment if the dependent student on whose behalf the PLUS Loan was obtained is enrolled on at least a half-time basis, and during the 6-month period after the student ceases to be enrolled on at least a half-time basis.
    
    Parent borrowers must call the Direct Loan Servicing Center at 800-848-0979 to request a deferment based on the dependent student's enrollment status.
- What is the difference between a subsidized loan and an unsubsidized loan?
  - There are two types of Federal Direct Student Loans:
    
    The Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
    - For a subsidized loan, the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest on the loan amount while you are in school at least half time.
    - The amount of subsidized loan offered depends on your financial need (determined by your FAFSA results), your grade level and other aid you receive.
    The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
    - For an unsubsidized loan, you are responsible for the interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it's paid in full. You can pay the interest as you go along or allow the interest to accrue.
    - The amount of Unsubsidized Loan depends on your grade level and when added to your other aid cannot exceed your Cost of Attendance (COA).
- What are the current interest rates/origination fees?
  - Please click here
- I have accepted my loan on my Award, now what?
  - First time borrowers will have to complete the Entrance Counseling and sign the Master Promissory Note, if necessary, through the Student Accounts office. In order to complete Entrance Counseling or the Master Promissory Note, you should visit the Bursar's Web page and choose the links under "Loan Entrance Counseling" and "Master Promissory Note-Direct Loan".
- When do I have to start repaying my student loans?
  - Repayment begins six months after you graduate, leave school or drop below half-time status. For more information visit http://www.dl.ed.gov.
- Loan Consolidation - what, when, who, how?
  - Please visit http://www.uga.edu/osfa/consolidation.html .
Scholarships
- Where can I find scholarships?
  - See the Scholarship Announcements on the OSFA Web site at UGA. Many academic departments administer their own scholarship programs; contact your department for more information.
- Where should I send my Scholarship check?
  - Send Scholarships checks to:
    
    The Office of Student Financial Aid
    University of Georgia
    220 Holmes/ Hunter Academic Building
    Athens Georgia 30602-6114
    
    Please be sure that the student's name and Social Security Number appear on the check and/or documentation.
- What scholarships are available for International students?
  - Please review http://www.uga.edu/osfa/international.html.
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
- What is Federal Work-Study?
  - Please go here for more information.

If you are unable to find an answer to your question in our FAQ section, please contact us via e-mail, by phone, or just stop by our office.