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When should one apply for Grad Plus loans? And around when should one accept the Stafford Loans? I remember hearing at some Financial Aid workshop something about not applying for the Grad Plus loans too early because if it is a certain number of days before the semester starts they will have to run your credit check twice - has anyone heard of this?

Can I apply for the Grad Plus now and accept the other Federal Loans now or is it better to wait?

Ask your school. The financial aid office should start emailing directions to accepted students over the summer. The credit check is good for 90 days, so you can probably apply now as long as you have all the information you need. When you get notifications of aid packages, just accept them whenever, as long as you know you're attending. You won't get the money until around the first day of class.

Oh ok, thank you!

Gideon Strumpet wrote:Ask your school. The financial aid office should start emailing directions to accepted students over the summer. The credit check is good for 90 days, so you can probably apply now as long as you have all the information you need. When you get notifications of aid packages, just accept them whenever, as long as you know you're attending. You won't get the money until around the first day of class.

But they send you the tuition bill by then. You don't have to pay?

Gemini wrote:

Gideon Strumpet wrote:Ask your school. The financial aid office should start emailing directions to accepted students over the summer. The credit check is good for 90 days, so you can probably apply now as long as you have all the information you need. When you get notifications of aid packages, just accept them whenever, as long as you know you're attending. You won't get the money until around the first day of class.

But they send you the tuition bill by then. You don't have to pay?

Did you get aid in UG? Assuming you do everything on time, they take their tuition straight out of the financial aid and give you the remainder when class starts. If you are late, then you can usually get an emergency, short term 'loan' from the school.

geoduck wrote:

Gemini wrote:

Gideon Strumpet wrote:Ask your school. The financial aid office should start emailing directions to accepted students over the summer. The credit check is good for 90 days, so you can probably apply now as long as you have all the information you need. When you get notifications of aid packages, just accept them whenever, as long as you know you're attending. You won't get the money until around the first day of class.

But they send you the tuition bill by then. You don't have to pay?

Did you get aid in UG? Assuming you do everything on time, they take their tuition straight out of the financial aid and give you the remainder when class starts. If you are late, then you can usually get an emergency, short term 'loan' from the school.

I was lucky enough to not need to get loans for UG, so I have no idea how this process works.

Gemini wrote:

Gideon Strumpet wrote:Ask your school. The financial aid office should start emailing directions to accepted students over the summer. The credit check is good for 90 days, so you can probably apply now as long as you have all the information you need. When you get notifications of aid packages, just accept them whenever, as long as you know you're attending. You won't get the money until around the first day of class.

But they send you the tuition bill by then. You don't have to pay?

I took loans in UG, and from what I vaguely remember the actual due date on the tuition bill is set after the first day of class. I think. At any rate, they know if you have the loans coming, and your only real issue is if for some reason the loans fall through. The main thing you need to worry about is any *other* bills you may need to pay before the loan dispersal. (books, rent, food, etc)