Step 1. Complete the Renewal FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) on the WEB or paper Renewal FAFSA.

The U.S. Department of Education will send Renewal Reminders to students who provided email address in October and a second reminder in February. If an email address is not provided or is returned undeliverable, a Renewal Reminder letter will be mailed. You may complete an update to your FAFSA via the Web by visiting www.fafsa.ed.gov. Before begining, be sure to print the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet to prepare your responses.

You will want to provide your PIN so that you can electronically sign your FAFSA on the Web application. Forgotten your PIN? Go to www.pin.ed.gov for a duplicate.  If you are completing parent income information, your parent must also provide a PIN when completing the FAFSA on the WEB Renewal application.

Be sure that you include Northern Virginia Community College's (NOVA) Federal School Code. The code is 003727.

Step 2. Verify and Correct, if necessary, the Information on Your Student Aid Report (SAR).

If you completed the Renewal FAFSA on the Web, you will be sent a summary of the information you provided electronically to your email address. If you filed by paper FAFSA, you will be sent a printed report. Be sure to review the information carefully. If you need to make corrections to reflect information on your completed federal tax return, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and make corrections electronically.

As long as you provided NOVA's school code of 003727, the College Financial Aid office will also receive this information. We will receive the information in about a week for Web-based filers and two to three weeks for paper-based filers.

Step 3. Check on the status of Your Application.

Login to NovaConnect at www.nvcc.edu/novaconnect and verify your User Preferences. Click SA Self Service > Personal Portfolio > Home > Personal Portfolio > User Preferences. Set the Preferences: Institution - NVCC; Academic Career - Credit; Term - 2064 (Fall 2006); 2072 (Spring 2007) and 2073 (Summer 2007); Aid Year - 2007. SAVE

Navigate to Tasks. Check the To Do List. if documents are required, submit them to your Campus Financial Aid Advisor or to the College Financial Aid Office. If you have questions, call us at 703-323-3199.

If no items display on your To Do List and you are sure you provided our school code,003727, then, you must wait until your file has been reviewed and you are awarded. You can check back to NovaConnect to see if you have been awarded by navigation to SA Self Service > Learner Services > Finances > View My Financial Aid.

If you do not have Internet access, don't be concerned. You will also receive a Missing Information Letter, if you need to submit additional materials. You will receive an award letter, when you have been awarded student financial aid.

Step 4. Respond to Requests for Information

If an item is requested on your NovaConnect To Do List, submit it immediately. If you receive a Missing Information Letter for an item, respond right away. Be sure that federal tax returns and verification documents are SIGNED.

Did you misplace a form that was sent to you? You may obtain a duplicate from our website at www.nvcc.edu/finance under FORMS. 

You may drop off a form and have it reviewed by your Campus Financial Aid Advisor. You can find the correct address, telephone and fax number at www.nvcc.edu/finance/help.htm

You may also mail your forms to the College Financial Aid Office, Northern Virginia Community College, Forbes Office Center, Annandale, Virginia 22003-3796.

Step 5. Review your Award Letter.

You should allow 4 to 6 weeks to receive your award letter. Awards are mailed beginning the first of June. You may also check it out online on NovaConnect. Navigate to SA Self Service > Learner Services > Finances > View My Financial Aid.

Student Loans. You will receive written instructions on how to complete the requirements for a student loan. You will be required to complete a master promissory note for both the Federal Family Educational Loan Program (FFELP) and Federal Perkins Student Loan Program. The FFELP is online at www.nvcc.edu/finance under Student Loans. The Federal Perkins Loan will be sent to you in a separate mailing.

You will also need to complete Entrance Counseling requirements online at www.nvcc.edu/finance under Student Loans for each of these programs.

Work Study. You should arrange to meet your campus work study coordinator and select a job placement.

Please read all Terms and Conditions of your awards. Remember, if you do not enroll full-time, your award may be adjusted.

Step 6. Enroll in Your Classes.

The Schedule of Classes is available only by visiting www.nvcc.edu/schedule.
After Selecting your classes, you may enroll online via NovaConnect.

When you receive your financial aid award, you may enroll and your anticipated financial aid will hold your classes. You will not need to make a payment, provided your financial aid is sufficient to cover the cost of your tuition and fees. If your awards are NOT sufficient to cover your entire balance, you must pay the remaining balance or you will be dropped from the portion of your class schedule that is not paid.

Be sure you are aware of enrollment dates, last day to add and drop, and payment deadlines. Remember to DROP any classes that you do not want before the last day for a tuition refund or you will be held responsible for the charges. If you have not received an award, one month before the first day of classes for the semester, you should plan on other payment arrangements. Your award will be paid to you as a refund, if you pay on your own, and you are later determined to be eligible for financial aid.

Step 7. Buy Your Books and Supplies at the Campus Bookstore.

Financial aid students may purchase books and supplies at the campus bookstore with approved financial aid. You may make these purchases 10 days before classes begin through the last day to add or drop a class for the standard length term. You cannot use work-study, PLUS loans or FACTS payments to purchase books and supplies.

Step 8. Verify Your MAIL Address on NovaConnect.

In order to receive your refund balance check from financial aid, after tuition/fees and books and supplies have been paid, you must have an accurate MAIL address in NovaConnect. So, keep your address current.

Step 9. Cash or Deposit Your Financial Aid Refund Checks.

About three weeks after classes begin, you should receive any refund balance from your financial aid awards for the semester. If you are a late applicant, these checks are issued weekly throughout the semester. Be sure that you deposit or cash your check. Uncashed checks will be canceled after 60 days.

Step 10. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid.

Be sure you are familiar with the academic standards for financial aid. Withdrawing from classes is the most frequent reason that students fail the standards. Failure to meet the standards will result in the loss of your financial aid.