<p>Okay, I just got my final financial aid award notice the other day from UChicago. They tweaked some things, but only two.</p>
<p>I am now eligible for the Federal Pell Grant at $400, HOWEVER, I haven't received anything from the government or state about this. When I applied for the FAFSA, I did it online and I only received an email saying thanks for applying and here's your EFC. That was it. Nothing in the post. What should I do to make sure I get this grant? Do I sit and wait? Do I have to fill out any forms? How does this get dispersed?</p>
<p>I am now eligible for a Feral Supp. Educ. Oppor. Grant for $4000 but I also haven't received anything for this. I just received this letter five days ago and I do not know what I should be doing for some of it.</p>
<p>Also, I have this Outside Agency Scholarship for $1000 which I think may be the MEAP Award from the state of Michigan. </p>
<p>I was told I would be sent information about the Federal Perkins Loan in July. I already sent the form for the Federal Stafford Loan but I haven't received anything on it. </p>
<p>If I were to get more outside scholarships, would that take away from how much I need to borrow in loans?</p>
<p>I suppose I'm just looking for help on what I should be doing right now. I've sent in the class/housing deposits and I am doing some shopping for my first year. What else should I be doing as far as financial aid is concerned to make sure the ball is rolling?</p>
<p>It seems you are confused as to how Financial Aid works.</p>
<p>Financial Aid, including pell and fseog grants, are administered and dispersed through the financial aid office at your school.</p>
<p>You complete the FAFSA and have it sent to your school (which you have done). the school takes that information and decides how to disperse the aid it has available (including federal grants, state grants and school aid). they then send you a letter telling you what you will be awarded.</p>
<p>You do not have to do anything additional to recieve the grants -- these will be dispersed this fall, first paying what is owed to the school (tuition, room and board, fees) and any amount left will be sent to you.</p>
<p>The same is generally true for all stafford and perkins loans -- the school is paid first and then any extra will be sent to you. this is done in the fall.</p>
<p>for the loans, you generally have to fill out some forms and send them in. this can usually be done juat a few weeks before school starts.</p>
<p>I do not know how outside scholarships affect financial aid at U of Chicago -- each school is different. </p>
<p>Right now, I would email the FA office and ask for a convenient time to talk with a FA counselor on the phone to go over your FA award. call at that schedule time (and have a list of questions prepared ahead of time -- you might even email the list of questions so the FA counselor is ready with answers). Follow up the phone conversation with a letter recapping what you discussed and send it to the FA office.</p>