| Understanding The Financial Aid Process |
| The financial aid process consists of six steps. This process is basically the same at all institutions which administer federal student aid. Thus, students who transfer to another school should plan on going through these same steps at the new school. |
| Step 1. The Application. |
| Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal Application at FAFSA on the Web every year between January 1st and March 2nd. About 3 days later, the Department of Education will send a Student Aid Report (SAR) to both the applicant and to each of the school listed on the FAFSA. |
| If the March 2nd Cal Grant Priority Deadline has passed, fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible. |
| A paper FAFSA can also be used, but it takes much longer and is far easier to make mistakes. |
| Step 2. The Missing Information Letter. |
| Once the Financial Aid Office receives a student's SAR, a Missing Information Letter is sent to the student. The letter lists the additional items that are needed to complete the student's application. |
| It is important to realize that a financial aid file is not complete until all the items on the Missing Information Letter have been turned in. The First Priority Deadline for completing a financial aid file at LBCC is May 1st. |
| Step 3. Verification |
| About 30% of the financial aid applications are selected for a process called verification. Such applications are indicated by an asterisk (*) next to the EFC on the SAR. Students who are selected for verification must submit a verification worksheet and a tax return from the previous year, for the student and/or for their parents. |
| It is possible that the verification process can produce a change in the EFC and may also result in a request for additional information or clarification of the information that was originally submitted. Be sure to respond on any such requests as quickly as possible. |
| Step 4. The Award Notification Letter. |
| Once the file is complete and verification, if selected, is complete, the student is awarded financial aid. All students are considered for all the financial aid available at Long Beach City College except for scholarships and student loans, both of which require a separate application. |
| Students should receive an Award Notification Letter about two to four weeks after their file is complete and, if selected, verified. The first Award Notification Letters are mailed to students at Long Beach City College by July 1st each year. |
| Step 5. Check Disbursement. |
| The first financial aid checks for the fall and the spring semesters and for summer are mailed to students the week before school starts. Students who apply late or complete their files late, will receive their checks about two to four weeks after they receive their first award letter. Click on the link to the left for more information about the disbursement of financial aid checks. |
| Step 6. Satisfactory Progress. |
| At the end of each semester and at the end of summer, grades are checked for all financial aid students. Financial aid students must be making progress toward a degree or certificate by maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 and by completing the units for which they are paid. Students who withdraw entirely are suspended from financial aid and may have to repay some of the financial aid received. Click on the link to the left for more information about satisfactory progress. |
