GCC Catalog 2025-2026 - Flipbook - Page 30
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1. You are not in default on a federal student loan
2. You do not owe money on a federal student grant and
3. You will use the federal student aid only for educational purposes.
Show you’re qualified to obtain a college or career school education by having a high school diploma or
recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate
Completing a high school education in a homeschool setting, approved under state law (or-if state law
does not require a homeschooled student to obtain a completion credential-completing a high school
education in a homeschool setting that qualifies as an exemption from compulsory attendance
requirements under state low) or
Be enrolled at least half-time (6 credit hours) in an eligible program for Direct Loan Program Funds.
Application Procedures
Apply for Financial Aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) directly with the
Department of Education (DoE).
1. Gather all the documents needed to apply. This includes your Social Security number, your parent’s Social
Security number, your driver’s license number if you have one, federal income tax returns, W-2 forms,
records of your untaxed income and information on cash, savings and checking balances, investments, etc.
The full list is located at https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out . You can find your tax
transcript through the IRS’s Get Transcript service at irs.gov/transcript.
2. Complete the FAFSA between October 1, 2022 and June 30, 2024. There are NO exceptions to the deadline
date. Apply as soon as possible to meet school and state aid deadlines. The fastest and easiest way to
apply is through https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa If you used the Internal Revenue Service data Retrieval
Tool (IRS DRT) when filling out your FAFSA form, you may not have to verify that information.
3. Check your data. The Department of Education will send you your Student Aid Report (SAR), which will
contain your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). This number is used to determine your federal student
aid. Information on how and when you will get your SAR is online at https://studentaid.gov/apply-foraid/fafsa/review-and-correct/sar-student-aid-report. Your SAR might also contain a note indicating that
you’ve been selected for verification. Find out what to do if you’ve been selected for verification. If you
have been selected for verification we need more information before we can determine your financial aid
eligibility. Verification is the process your school used to confirm that the data reported on your FAFSA
form is accurate. If you’re selected for verification, your school will request additional documentation that
supports the information you reported.
4. Check your “To Do List.” on My GCC. If we need more information from you, we will contact you by mail or
email and add items to your “To Do List.” Be sure to keep your address current with the Admissions Office
and check your “To Do List” in My GCC often for any updates. Students can access financial aid
information, and checklists for financial aid processes via My GCC. Failure to address holds and “to do”
items by published deadlines can result in delays or ineligibility for aid.
5. Watch for an Award Offer. Award Offers are sent after a review of your SAR outlining your financial aid
eligibility. Award Offers are sent when a student’s financial aid file is complete. If you were selected for the
verification process and didn’t submit all required documentation, your financial aid file is incomplete and
therefore, we cannot determine your eligibility.
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