<p>Im sure this has been discussed many many times (should have been listening, but what is an Incoming freshman to do in order to claim the Stafford loan and the Perkins loans? i am clueless as to what to do. Do i just sit here and let the schools do everything?</p>
<p>Contact the financial aid office. They’ll have a file on you and can tell you what the next step is. Do not “just sit there”. It’s a pretty simple process but you have to complete all the steps.</p>
<p>Did you fill out the FASFA form? That is the very first place to start ! Are you starting this fall?</p>
<p>yes, i am starting this fall. so i filled out the fafsa and did everything. i got an estimate of what i can get and its in my list of pending financial aid. now all i need is the promissary note that RPI says they will send out. but are there any intermediate steps i must take, because honestly, im getting uneasy with the upcoming school year looming over my head and all.</p>
<p>They might require that you complete a counseling session before they’ll accept the promissary note. I seem to recall my S and I sitting down and doing it - all on line. You do it once and it’s good for the whole time you’re in C.</p>
<p>You’re right osdad- we had to do a counseling questionaire online as well. The Promissary Note is completed online too as opposed to RPI sending it out to you. There should be a link to it through RPI’s Financial Aid website. </p>
<p>If you are seeing your financial aid as “pending” right now then you are in good shape 
If it will help you relax some you can always call the financial aid office at RPI and double check with them exactly what it is that they are waiting on from you, if anything. </p>
<p>kgrmom</p>
<p>Ah. that makes me feel so much better. thank you kgrmom and osdad. 
i wish they had sent some instructions or something…</p>
<p>gah. im still worried that by the time RPI sends me anything, it’ll be too late</p>
<p>Hi Donut:</p>
<p>This letter is posted on RPI’s Financial Aid site. It has the links to the counseling session you need to complete for your student loans. It has the links for the Master Promissory Note and it also has the phone number for the Financial Aid Office.</p>
<h2>The best thing you can do for yourself is to pick up the phone and ASK them where you stand. They are used to getting these kinds of phone calls. I know, because I’ve made them myself </h2>
<p>Rensselaer Finance An open letter to our students from the Bursar Office:
As you approach registration for your next semester, the Bursar staff want you to know that were here to assist if you have a financial hold on your account. Please read further for some helpful tips that will ensure a smooth and uninterrupted registration period.</p>
<p>Federal Stafford and Perkins Loan Recipients: Each of the following must be completed:
Completion of a Master Promissory Note online.
Completion of Entrance Counseling Session. This is also only required for 1st time recipients and can be completed online at [Financial</a> Aid - Current Students](<a href=“http://www.rpi.edu/dept/admissions/financialaid.html]Financial”>http://www.rpi.edu/dept/admissions/financialaid.html).
Accepting the amount you wish to borrow on your SISrecord. Loans are not originated and disbursed to your account until you accept them.</p>
<p>New York State Awards:
All Tap, New York Award for Academic Excellence, and other miscellaneous state award recipients must be completed and submitted to New York State Higher Education Services Corporation in order to finalize your actual award.</p>
<p>Miscellaneous suggestions
Please read carefully all notices emailed to you from the Office of Student Records, Office of Financial Aid, and Office of the Bursar. Many times these notifications are attempting to alert you to some outstanding requirement that could prevent and/or delay your registration.
Review your SIS account to check for any outstanding requirements necessary for receiving and/or finalizing your financial aid award.
Registration time tickets were emailed to students in early to mid-October. Please read this time ticket carefully as it will notify you if there are any issues that could prevent you from registering for the next semester.
If you continue to have an outstanding balance after all of your financial aid has been posted to your account, CONTACT US!
Accounts must be paid in full or paid with financial aid in order to register for the next semester.</p>
<p>PLEASE, do not hesitate to contact the Bursars Office at 518-276-6610, via email at <a href=“mailto:bursar@rpi.edu”>bursar@rpi.edu</a> or in person in Academy Hall 2000 level. Please know that we want to help and ensure that your registration process is a smooth one!</p>
<p>With our best wishes,
The Bursar Staff</p>
<p>ah! this is what i’ve been looking for all this time! thank you again! thank you so much! ah i feel relieved now.</p>
<p>You’re welcome. Sometimes you do have dig around for this stuff and they make it a little less obvious that it could be Good Luck.</p>