For students who will be applying for financial aid for this upcoming school year, there are alot of things to keep in mind.
First of all, students who would like to receive financial aid in 2013-2014 must apply by filling out two different forms: the 2013-14 Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the 2013-2014 Bellevue College Financial Aid Application. These applications can be accessed at http://fa.bellevuecollege.edu.
Students who will be applying for financial aid will also need to know what the deadlines are for each school quarter. The deadline for fall quarter of 2013 has already passed; however, funds can be dispersed retroactively if the student is eligible for aid. The deadline for winter quarter is Oct. 4, 2013, and the deadline for spring quarter is Jan. 24, 2014.
Once students have applied, they should check the online financial aid portal for status updates and also remember to regularly check their BC email for information and award letters. The financial aid portal is located at: https://www.fas.ctc.edu/portal4/?col=080.
Once students have received their notice of award, they should go to http://fa.bellevuecollege.edu/youraid/onecard to have financial aid funds dispersed.
Students should also check the financial aid website for office hours and phone hours. Due to the high volume of financial aid applications, these hours may be limited. There is also a drop box for dropping off forms during closed hours.
Another service provided to BC students is the Tuition Payment Plan. According to Jennifer McMillan, cashiering supervisor at BC, this plan allows students to set up an automatic payment of their class fees and tuition in monthly installments for each quarter. This plan is available through Nelnet Business Solutions.
The accepted payment methods for the Tuition Payment Plan are a credit or debit card payment, or an automatic payment from a bank account. For those interested, visit http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/financial/pplan/ to find out more and to enroll in the Tuition Payment Plan. The Tuition Payment Plan is not available for international students.
Getting ready for the upcoming school year can be stressful. However, keeping these financial aid facts in mind will help students be prepared to successfully apply for financial aid in the 2013-2014 school year.