January

• Be sure you and your parents, if applicable, apply for a Federal Student Aid PIN (Personal Identification Number). If you and your parents sign the FAFSA or pre-filled FAFSA on the Web electronically using a PIN, your FAFSA will reach us ***two weeks faster*** than the paper FAFSA.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web by March 1 for maximum aid consideration. The FAFSA on the Web Worksheet may be helpful to you as you prepare your FAFSA.
• You and your parents, if applicable, should complete your federal income tax return before completing your FAFSA on the Web. This will allow you to choose to use the IRS Retrieval tool, which provides a secure way to view and transfer tax information to the FAFSA, saving time and improving accuracy. Tax information will be available for transfer 1-2 weeks after you submit your taxes electronically, or 6-8 weeks after submitting your taxes by mail. If you cannot submit your taxes before completing your FAFSA, you may use estimated tax information.
• Check with your state grant agency to determine if there are any applications you need to complete. For Pennsylvania residents, the state grant consideration deadline is May 1.
• Research and begin to submit applications for scholarships. You may also want to use scholarship search engines to locate private scholarships.

February

• If you have not done so already, complete the FAFSA on the Web by March 1 for maximum aid consideration. The University of Pittsburgh Federal School Code is 008815. Use estimated tax information if needed.
• Access information on University of Pittsburgh’s payment plan.
• Get organized—keep all of your important student aid documents in one folder. Include copies of all application materials, tax information, and letters you receive.
• Review financing strategies.

March

• The Office of Financial Aid begins sending new Pitt-Bradford students the Financial Aid Notification Info . Carefully review the notification and the information page on the Office of Financial Aid Web site.
• If your financial aid application is selected for verification, don’t panic. Just provide the additional documents that are requested, such as copies of your IRS Tax Return Transcripts , W‐2 and 1099 forms and any other documentation requested. The federal government selects approximately 30% of the FAFSAs for verification.
• Respond quickly to requests for additional documentation from the financial aid office and/or your state agency.
• If you wish to decrease your Federal Perkins, Federal Direct Stafford Loan(s), please complete the loan change form and return to the Office of Financial Aid.
• After you have reviewed your Financial Aid Notification and accepted your offer of admission to Pitt-Bradford, go to the StudentLoans.gov Web site and select "Sign-In" and enter your Federal Student Aid PIN. Choose "Complete Master Promissory Note," then select Subsidized/Unsubsidized. Follow the four-step process listed to sign your MPN.
• Complete Entrance Counseling at StudentLoans.gov if you are a first-time borrower of a Federal Direct Stafford Loan at University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

April

• If you will be attending Pitt-Bradford this summer, you will need to submit a 2013-14 FAFSA to be considered for aid in summer 2013.
• If you are a Pennsylvania resident, submit the 2013-14 FAFSA on the Web, if you have not yet done so, to meet the May 1 deadline for the Pennsylvania State Grant Program.

May

• State grant agencies begin to send aid notifications to qualifying students—watch for yours!
• Respond quickly to requests and return necessary forms. When in doubt, contact the financial aid office.
• Notify our financial aid office of additional funding you’ll get for college (scholarships and loans, etc.).
• Learn about borrowing responsibly.
• Consider a cosigner to help you get your student loan.

June

• If you are a dependent student and your parents are interested in a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan, your parents can access PLUS information on the Office of Financial Aid Web site.
• Begin to save money for the fall semester. You should come to school with money for startup expenses, such as your books and supplies.
• If you need additional funds to satisfy your tuition bill and other costs associated with your education, you can access private alternative loan information.
• Respond to requests from the college you will be attending. Keep copies of everything you send.

July

• Fall semester tuition bill notification arrives in your university e-mail account. Share this with your parents if they are helping to pay the bill. Your financial aid will appear as a credit on the bill.
• If you wish to decrease your Federal Perkins, Federal Direct Stafford Loan(s), please complete the loan change form and return to the Office of Financial Aid. 
• Those eligible for Federal Work Study will be notified through their university email account that the application website is available to apply for a position.
• Notify the financial aid office of all scholarships and loans you will receive.
• Sign up for Direct Deposit. It is the quickest, safest, and easiest way to get your refund.

August

• Fall semester tuition bill is due. Log into Pitt-Pay through my.pitt.edu to pay your tuition.
• Your financial aid will be ready for disbursement 10 days prior to the start of the term (if all steps have been completed). If there are excess student aid funds after the tuition bill is paid in full, you will receive a refund. To learn how to expedite the receipt of your refund, visit the  Office of the Student Accounts Web site .
• Remember to bring money for start up expenses such as books, supplies, and off-campus apartment expenses.

September/October

• Study, work hard, and enjoy your Pitt-Bradford student experience!

November

• Spring semester tuition bill notification arrives in your university e-mail account. Share this with your parents if they are helping to pay the bill. Your student aid will appear as a credit on the bill.
• If you wish to decrease your Federal Perkins, Federal Direct Stafford Loan(s), please complete the loan change form and return to the Office of Financial Aid.

 December

• Spring semester tuition bill is due. Log into Pitt-Pay through my.pitt.edu to pay your tuition.
• Your financial aid will be ready for disbursement 10 days prior to the start of the term (if all steps have been completed). If there are excess student aid funds after the tuition bill is paid in full, you will receive a refund. To learn how to expedite the receipt of your refund, visit the Office of the Student Accounts Web site.
• Get ready! It's time to begin the student aid application process for next year. See January for instructions.