Did you know that by filing your 2011 federal tax returns (student and parent) early you will save time when completing the 2012-13 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)? IRS Data Retrieval allows you to transfer your tax return information to the FAFSA making it unlikely that your application will be selected for verification. IRS Data Retrieval should be available beginning February 1, 2012.

 

IRS estimates that tax return data will be available for transfer to the FAFSA within 2 weeks of filing electronically or 6 to 8 weeks for families filing a paper return. It’s easy to make the transfer. You will be prompted to retrieve the tax information during the application process.

 

If filing your tax returns early isn’t an option, you can still estimate the income numbers, but you will be asked to obtain a tax transcript from the IRS to verify the data. The Department of Education no longer allows the university to collect a photocopy of your personal tax returns to verify your application. Whatever you decide to do, remember that the FAFSA filing deadline is March 10, 2012! 

Struggling with understanding financial aid? Feel like the financial aid office speaks in their own language? Sometimes understanding some basic financial aid terms is all it takes to level the playing field.

We have helpful information on some common financial aid terms on our website at http://www.uindy.edu/financial-aid/financial-aid-terms

Check out the information and increase your financial aid knowledge today!

Fall is the time of year for high school seniors to visit colleges and take tours of the campus. It is also the time of year seniors should be working on putting the final touches on their high school resume.

Many scholarship applications require students to list all of their awards, accomplishments, and activities. They will also ask you to list clubs and organizations you have joined. To make sure you have a strong application when you apply for scholarships you should start now to get your resume ready.

It may be difficult, but think back to your freshmen year and start your list there. If you are just beginning your freshmen year keep a notebook or a file where you can put any awards you may receive. By putting these items in one place it will make it easier to put together your resume when you are a senior. 

Most scholarship applications have deadlines. As you build your resume, also create an application deadline date calendar for yourself so you don't miss an opportunity to apply for a scholarship. If you have your resume already put together it will make meeting the deadlines a lot easier!

It's back to school in Indiana and no one is more excited about the start of the school year than the seniors of 2012. This is their year. Their year to shine and enjoy all the benefits of being a senior in their school system. It is also their year to buckle down and decide what their future will bring them. Some will decide to head straight to the work force after high school, while others will decide that further education is needed to attain their future goals. If they choose to further their education, planning for the financing of their future starts now.

Many students know that to maximize their potential for Indiana student grants they have to file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid by the March 10th filing deadline but many other steps along the way also help prepare them for paying for college. It's all the little things that count when it comes time to pay their college tuition bills next fall.

So what are the little things? UIndy has created a top ten list of things to remember as you begin to plan for financing your higher education. Remember we are always here to help with any of the steps along the way so give us a call or stop by if you need us. Our office is located in Esch hall 141 and we are open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also reach us by phone at 317-788-3217.

We're here to help, so go out there and enjoy your senior year!

UIndy's top ten financial planning "Little Things"

1.  Study, study, study. Getting good grades is still very important during your senior year. Enjoy all the fun times but make sure you still make time to stay on top of your studies.

2.  Visit colleges now to begin to make your final college choice. We hope UIndy is at the top of the list!

3.  Start researching scholarships now from community organizations, churches, professional organizations, etc that are in your community. Also look at national databases like www.fastweb.com.

4.  Meet all application deadlines for admission to the college (s) of your choice and for scholarships.

5.  File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid after January 1, 2012 but by March 10, 2012. March 10, 2012 is the Indiana deadline. You must file by this date to maximize your eligibility for Indiana student grants. You can file at www.fafsa.gov.

6.  Find out if the college (s) you want to attend require a university financial aid application and complete it by the deadline date if required.

7.  Quickly submit any additional documents that your college might need from you. Sometimes this might include copies of parent or student federal income tax forms. The school will notify you about what they need, but often you must do something to keep your application for financial aid moving along.

8.  Review your financial aid award letter and visit or call the financial aid office if you are awarded anything you don't understand.

9.  Understand what your approximate balance due will be after your financial aid is applied to your charges. Explore options for payment plans and/or loans if needed.

10.  Work with your first choice school to make sure you have followed all the steps to financing your education and are on your way to being a college freshmen! We hope to see you at UIndy!

Ah, the lazy days of summer are finally upon us. Swimming pools are in full use, picnic baskets are overflowing, and everyone is enjoying this beautiful time of year. Everyone has a list a mile long of gardening or household projects that they want to complete before the colder weather is upon us. Make sure to include financial aid and financing your college education on that list.

Summer is always a busy time for financial aid offices across the country as we work with students to complete loan applications and finalize financial aid awards. Bills for fall semester will be posted in mid-July with a payment deadline in early August. Now is the time to make final arrangements for paying the balance due either through a payment plan or through a parent loan or student alternative loan.

The financial aid office is located in Esch hall room 141, and is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please stop by or call us at 317-788-3217 and we will give you personal attention to help you make your final payment plans for fall semester today.

Do you know you need to complete the FAFSA but you are just waiting for the right day to do it?

Today is the day to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to maximize your opportunity to qualify for Indiana Scholarships from the State of Indiana! The March 10, 2011 state filing deadline is fast approaching and you don't want to miss out on Indiana Student Grants.

To file the FAFSA you will go to FAFSA.gov and complete the 2011-12 application. Make sure you submit the application and sign with a PIN by the deadline.

If you still have questions about the process or can't figure out an answer on the form, call the UIndy financial aid office at 317-788-3217 for help today.

Financial aid staff are ready and available to answer your questions and help guide you through the form. We are your partner to insure you don't miss the March 10th deadline!

Well, it's a little late for the holiday naughty and nice list but it is exactly the right time to start thinking about the list of things you need to gather to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2011-12.

The deadline to qualify for Indiana Grants and Scholarships from the State of Indiana is March 10, 2011.

So, what should you do now to prepare to file the FAFSA? January is typically the time to start gathering all of the documents you will need to complete the application. This will include both the student's and parent's (if the student is dependent) 2010 tax information, asset information, social security numbers, and information on other untaxed income the family receives. If you rely on someone else to complete your taxes, make that appointment today to have your taxes prepared. This will allow you to have accurate tax information to complete the FAFSA form.

You will also want to contact any schools that you are considering attending in 2011-12 to ask about any specific forms or documents needed to apply for financial aid at that institution. Make sure you also inquire about any deadlines to mark on your calendar. The University of Indianapolis has an on line financial aid application that can be found at https://uapp.uindy.edu/. All students applying for financial aid at UIndy should complete the application as soon as possible but definitely by March 10, 2011.

Start today to make sure you are able to check your "financial aid filing list" twice in time to file the FAFSA by the Indiana deadline. Remember the University of Indianapolis financial aid office is here to help you as you prepare your list and file on time to qualify for financial aid in Indiana.

Happy New Year from the University of Indianapolis' Office of Financial Aid! Do you have your list of New Year's resolutions all wrapped up for 2011 or are you still pondering your life improvements for this year? If you are still compiling your list think about adding "Spending some time researching UIndy's Cash Course website" to your list.

UIndy's Cash Course can be accessed by going to http://www.cashcourse.org/uindy/Default.aspx  Here you will find valuable information on budgeting, dealing with debt and credit cards, protecting your credit, preventing identity theft, planning for retirement and a whole lot more!

The UIndy financial aid staff are always available to help you with applying for financial aid but it is also our goal to help you make sure you take a look at your entire financial fitness. This is the year to help yourself be financially fit.

Take a look at the UIndy Cash Course website soon or join us on Wednesday, February 16th, at noon for our Money Management: Actions You Can Take Today workshop. This workshop provides an overview of money management.  Some of the topics we'll cover include controlling spending, money-saving ideas and dealing with debt.  Hope to see you there and we wish you all the best in 2011 as you work on your financial fitness!

The University of Indianapolis is a private university in Indiana and ranked among the best universities in the Midwest. It offers a range of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs, as well as accelerated degree programs for adult learners seeking a bachelor’s degree through Indiana night classes.  UIndy is a top choice among students wishing to attend one of the state’s faith-based colleges, but who desire a campus where all students are welcome and diversity is celebrated. Internship opportunities are readily available due to the university’s proximity to downtown Indianapolis. Athletic scholarships, Indiana scholarships and Indiana student grants, in addition to federally sponsored grant and loan programs, help make college affordable; students are encouraged to explore a variety of financial aid options.

So, it is finally December. First semester classes are heading into finals week and Christmas break is right around the corner. Before you get lost in a cookie coma, make sure you have your financial aid on the right path for you to begin classes in January.

If you are ringing in the 2011 year at the University of Indianapolis as a new student or as a transfer student, be sure we are listed as your #1 school on your 2010-2011 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the code 001804.  In addition to the FAFSA, you must also fill out the online University of Indianapolis Aid Application to be eligible for financial aid. If, by chance, you are selected for verification by the Federal Processing Center (30% of our students are selected at random each year), you may need to submit some of these additional documents.  

Have you already done all of that and received your Official Award Letter from the Financial Aid Office? Congratulations!  You are almost there.  All you need to do now is make sure that if you are borrowing, you have signed a Master Promissory Note (MPN) through Direct Loans and completed loan entrance counseling.  (Note: Be prepared!  You will need your FAFSA pin number.  Did you lose it?  No problem.   Visit the FAFSA PIN site and look it up!)

Once all of these items are completed, feel free to get back to that cookie coma.  If, however, you are still feeling a little uneasy about paying for college, check out UIndy’s Cash Course for information on budgeting, scholarships, and many other financial topics.  You can always visit our Financial Aid website at financialaid.uindy.edu or call us at 317-788-3217, too.
 

So, it is officially fall ... the season and the start of the new 2010-2011 academic year here on the University of Indianapolis campus.  You may still be getting used to Indianapolis culture as well as UIndy campus life, but you feel like you are forgetting something.  Let's see ... you hustled to get all of your financial aid paperwork in order.  Your Official Award Letter was received; you were billed for your fall classes; you even figured out how to pay for any outstanding balance.  But, for some reason, your Federal Direct Stafford loan(s) still have not paid to your account.  What are you doing wrong?  

Well, you may be forgetting one final step in the aid process!  All Stafford loan borrowers MUST sign a new Master Promissory Note (MPN), even if you have completed this loan task in the past (due to regulatory changes).  Once you sign this new note electronically, your fall loans will disburse.  Just a quick tip -- you will need your 4-digit federal PIN number handy when you complete your MPN.  What is a 4-digit federal PIN number?  It is the same number that you use when you file your FAFSA. 

If you feel confused and would prefer to walk through this final loan task with a member of UIndy's financial aid team, please feel free to call us at 317-788-3217 or look us up online at financialaid.uindy.edu. 

The University of Indianapolis is a private university in Indiana and ranked among the best universities in the Midwest. It offers a range of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs, as well as accelerated degree programs for adult learners seeking a bachelor’s degree through Indiana night classes.  UIndy is a top choice among students wishing to attend one of the state’s faith-based colleges, but who desire a campus where all students are welcome and diversity is celebrated. Internship opportunities are readily available due to the university’s proximity to downtown Indianapolis. Athletic scholarships, Indiana scholarships and Indiana student grants, in addition to federally sponsored grant and loan programs, help make college affordable; students are encouraged to explore a variety of financial aid options.

Do your educational goals include earning an associates, bachelors, or graduate degree from the University of Indianapolis (UIndy)?    Are you planning to attend UIndy in the upcoming 2010-2011 academic year?  If so, then financial planning is probably top on your list of priorities; (if not, it should be!)  Regardless of where you are at in your educational journey -- an incoming freshman, an upperclassman, or a graduate student -- financial aid may be available to you.  But, have you filed the right forms at the right time? 

You probably already know that the first step in the annual aid process is to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2010-2011 year.  Did you also know that at the University of Indianapolis, you must file an online University of Indianapolis Aid Application as well?  Perhaps your FAFSA was selected for verification, thus you were asked to submit copies of 2009 federal tax forms and a Verification Worksheet.  Have you done this yet?   Did your aid package include Federal Direct Stafford loans?  If so, you may already know that you are required to sign a master promissory note (MPN) through Direct Lending effective the 2010-2011 year (even if you have borrowed in the past).   Don't wait ... sign your MPN now and complete loan counseling if you are a first-time borrower. 

Knowing what form to file at the right time can be confusing.  Be comforted by the fact that thousands of students have successfully completed these aid forms and received financial assistance.  In fact, at the University of Indianapolis, 88% of our students receive financial assistance in the form of scholarships, grants, student loans and part-time work.  Our average financial aid package for entering new students is $21,392.    If you still feel confused or are not sure whether you have completed all of your aid tasks for the 2010-2011 year, the University of Indianapolis Financial Aid Team welcomes the opportunity to help you and your family.