Understanding Your Financial Aid Award

Now that you’ve received your Financial Aid Award, you may have questions about next steps.

For Admissions Scholarships and Hartwick Grants, your acceptance automatically results in a credit to your account.

Does your package include a Federal Direct Stafford Loan? If you have never had a Federal Stafford Loan before, you can complete the required Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note online. Please note that your loan can not be processed until you have completed both the Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note. You will need your FSA ID to complete your Federal Direct Stafford Loan.

First-time Federal Direct Stafford Loan borrowers will need to complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN):

  1. Log on to the Direct Loan website, using your FSA ID.  If you do not already have an FSA ID, you need to apply for one on the Federal Student Aid website.
  2. Click on Complete Counseling; then click on Start Entrance Counseling.
  3. After you complete the Entrance Counseling, click on Complete a Master Promissory Note, then click on Complete Subsidized/Unsubsidized MPN.
  4. Most pages require that you accept the terms by checking a box at the bottom of those pages.
  5. You must provide complete reference information for yourself, next of kin, and two additional references. Failure to complete all lines accurately will keep this loan from disbursing to your account.
  6. PROMISSORY NOTE – Read completely. Electronically sign at the bottom of the promissory note page. The electronic signature includes a check-off box plus your full legal name.
  7. You will receive an e-mail from Federal Student Aid, once your process is complete.

First-time Federal Perkins and Federal Nursing Loan borrowers need a valid FSA ID to complete the application process. You may request an FSA ID from the Department of Education. You will need to complete entrance counseling and a master promissory note (MPN):

  1. Log on to ECSI’s Website. 
  2. Provide your Social Security Number, last name, and date of birth.
  3. Provide your PIN when requested on the Student Authentication Network page.
  4. Most pages require that you accept the terms by checking a box at the bottom of those pages.
  5. You must provide complete reference information for yourself, next of kin, and two additional references. Failure to complete all lines accurately will keep this loan from disbursing to your account.
  6. Promissory Note (Read completely): Electronically sign at the bottom of the promissory note page. The electronic signature includes a check-off box plus your full legal name.

Students with Work-Study for the first time or those wishing to change jobs should check the Work-Study Job Board for a description of available positions.

If you are a continuing student with Work-Study as part of your award, you should have completed the Work-Study Authorization Form in the spring and had it signed by your supervisor; most likely, you are already working. If you change jobs, you will need to pick up a form from the Financial Aid Office, sign and date it, and have your new supervisor complete it before you return it to the Financial Aid Office.

You may not begin work until you receive notification from your supervisor that you have been cleared by Student Payroll.

Federal Direct PLUS Loan parent borrowers may complete the online Master Promissory Note (MPN) here. Note: A denial of the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan qualifies a student for additional unsubsidized Stafford Loan funds ($4,000 for first- and second-year students; $5,000 for third- through fifth-year students). The denial must be applied for and received every year before the Stafford funds can be certified.

Other financing options to cover the cost of attendance include the Tuition Payment Plan and alternative student loans. Please note that all federal loan options should be exhausted before considering alternative student loans.

Verification for Financial Aid

Verification: To comply with Federal regulations, certain students are selected for Verification.

To comply with Federal regulations, we verify the household and income information of selected students as reported on the FAFSA. You will be notified if you have been selected for verification. We require submission of federal tax transcripts for both parents and the student, as well as a Verification Worksheet, which may be downloaded and printed online.

2015-16 Dependent Student Verification Worksheet

Independent students are required to complete the Independent Verification Worksheet and submit a copy of your federal return tax transcript.

2015-16 Independent Student Verification Worksheet

Hartwick’s Financial Aid staff are available to assist you with any of these options. Please contact us at 607-431-4130 or finaid@hartwick.edu.

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