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Week of November 23, 2015

Loan exit counseling: all 3L students

Group Sessions:

December 1st 12-1pm Room 520
December 1st 6-7pm Room 590
December 2nd at 3-4pm
Room 590

One-on-One Appointments Room 230 (Office of Financial Aid), every 20 minutes.

December 2nd at 9-2pm
December 3rd at 9-5pm

RSVP ASAP HERE. Appointment times can fill up quickly.

Spring semester graduating students are encouraged to attend now to secure an appointment that is most convenient, as the one-on-one appointments tend to fill up quickly for the spring loan exit counseling program in March.

All graduating students that have borrowed Federal Loans at the IIT Downtown Campus are required to complete Federal Student Loan Exit Counseling. In order to provide you with the most updated information and give you the chance to ask questions, we will be holding group exit counseling sessions. You only need to attend one group session.

You will also have a chance to schedule a one-on-one appointment with the presenter if you need additional personalized assistance in navigating your loan portfolio. This is a great opportunity to get all your questions answered especially if you have a more complex situation. Appointments do not replace the group session or online requirement (see steps below).

Exit Counseling Steps:

1. Attend the in person Exit Counseling Session: It is very important that you attend the in person loan exit counseling session. By attending the session, you may gain a more in depth understanding of your student loans, your loan repayment options, and realistic loan repayment examples and scenarios. During the session, please take the opportunity to get answers to your student loan questions. You will also obtain your personal Loan Portfolio that lists all of the federal loans that you received while attending the IIT Downtown Campus. Please bring an ID and arrive early to pick up your Loan Portfolio. This will allow the presenter to go through all the material and answer all your questions.

2. You must also complete the Online Loan Exit Counseling Session: We will take attendance during the in person loan exit sessions. After the in person session, all students who attended will receive an email with instructions for completing the Online Loan Exit Counseling Session. Once the online session is complete, your Federal Loan Exit Counseling requirement will be fulfilled.

The Office of Financial Aid understands that this is a very busy time for you but we strongly recommend that you take the time to complete your loan exit counseling requirement now rather than later. We have scheduled the sessions now so that distractions from your finals, job interviews and bar exam studying are minimized. It is our goal that when you graduate you feel informed and more at ease about your loans and your repayment options. Please keep in mind that if you are unable to attend any of these sessions we will make accommodations for you to meet this requirement at a later date.

*One-on-One Appointments: These 20 minute sessions are for students with complex financial situations that need more detailed guidance. Space is limited, and for this reason appointments will be made on a first come first serve basis. Students are encouraged to bring in their loan history print out from the National Student Loan Database (NSLDS: www.nslds.ed.gov) and their log in. This will allow the presenter to give you the most accurate and detailed information possible. Please RSVP as soon as possible and indicate the time slot that you would like. If you cannot make your appointment time, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing our office at finaid@kentlaw.iit.edu. We will make every effort to reach out to other students who may benefit from the personalized appointment, as this is very popular session.

There will be another exit counseling program in March 2016. More information will be available in the spring semester on the Record Page and a mass email will be sent out to all students that apply to graduate in May 2016.

1L Your Way: Please email your enrollment intentions to our office

If you are a 1L student and will be choosing the 1L Your Way course sequence option, it may effect your financial aid award. We understand that the spring course schedule options will not be released until mid-November. We just want to make you aware of this now so that you can budget your finances accordingly. Once you determine your spring schedule please notify our office by emailing us at finaid@kentlaw.iit.edu.

Your financial aid may need to be adjusted as a result, and/or may not disburse to your student account until your enrollment options are confirmed. More information will be sent out by email and posted here in the coming weeks ahead.

Graduating in the fall semester or enrolled less than half time in the spring semester? Please notify our office of your enrollment intentions and find out how it impacts your aid.

If you are planning to graduate in the fall semester or will be registsered less than half time (less than 6 credits)in the spring semester, please notify our office as soon as possible of your enrollment intentions and credit hours, if you have not done so already. Students must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours in order to be eligible for federal student aid. Your award will need to be revised if this impacts you. Students may choose to apply for private loans if they are not enrolled at least half time. Please contact our office as soon as possible to determine how this may effect you. 

A note for 3 students

In order to receive federal financial aid at Chicago-Kent College of Law you must meet certain enrollment criteria. Students that do not meet these criteria are not eligible for federal financial aid. The enrollment criteria are as follows:

  • Be enrolled at least-half time in courses that count toward the 87 credits required for graduation.  Any credits taken above the 87 credits required for graduation are not eligible for federal financial aid.
  • According to the Registrar’s Office, at least half time enrollment is considered to be: 6 credits for fall and spring semester and 3 credits for the summer term. For more information about registration, see the Registrar’s Office.
  • If you plan to take between 6 and 11 credits, it is best to send your fall and spring enrollment intentions to our office via email. This will prevent delays of your disbursements and refunds. Once we receive your enrollment intentions, we will customize your cost of attendance budget to reflect your projected enrollment. It is best to let us know your enrollment intentions at least 3 weeks before classes start to ensure your financial aid is not delayed.

We understand that you may be close to graduation and not need as many credits as in past semesters. However, you must still demonstrate at least half time enrollment to maintain your federal financial aid eligibility. If you do not meet the enrollment criteria your options are make to payment arrangements with the Student Accounting Office or to apply for a private educational loan (tuition only).

Bar study loan information

Bar Examination loans are intended to assist students in paying for bar preparation courses and meeting other financial needs while studying for the Bar Exam.

Students may submit the application for the Bar Exam Loan funds during their last year before graduation. The terms, conditions, and credit criteria for Bar Examination Loans are similar to those for alternative loan programs. Unfortunately, students with negative credit ratings are generally not eligible for Bar Exam loans.

To apply for a Bar Examination Loan, review the Bar Loan Information, on our website. Once you are approved, the lender will contact our office to certify your loan. The funds will be disbursed directly to you from the lender.

See our website or stop in the office for more information.

Don't Forget to Accept Your Awards

If you still have not accepted or declined your loans, please do so as soon as possible.  You must use your myIIT account to accept/decline your loans. If you do not accept your loans, we cannot process them. That is why we urge you to accept them now to avoid delays with disbursement. If you do not wish to wish to receive any of the funds, you may decline the loan(s) using the myIIT portal.

Please select one of the options below on the myIIT portal at: https://my.iit.edu/cp/home/displaylogin.

Accept: If you wish to receive any portion of the loans still listed as offered, you must accept the funds. Also, please be aware that you may be required to complete a Master Promissory Note and Loan Entrance Counseling with Direct Loans at studentloans.gov before the funds can be disbursed. Please refer to your 'Requirements' section on the myIIT portal, and see our website for more information about loan requirements.

Decline: If you do not wish to receive any of the funds still listed as offered please decline the loan(s) using your myIIT portal.

 

2015-2016 Continuing Student Scholarships

Guaranteed renewable partial Chicago-Kent scholarships have been automatically included in financial aid award packages for the 2015-2016 academic year. If your renewable scholarship does not appear in your financial aid package, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Merit based scholarships are now included in financial aid award packages. For questions about your scholarship eligibility, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Full scholarships are initially based on your enrollment in the minimum number of credits required for the program (12 credits for day division and 6 credits for part-time/evening), and are adjusted to reflect actual semester enrollment as of the first day of class and again after the add/drop period. At this time all scholarships reflect current student enrollment status.

FAFSA Reminder 2015-16

In order to qualify for financial aid for the 2015-2016 academic year, you must complete the 2015-2016 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA must be completed each academic year, and is available after January 1st of each calendar year.

You can complete your FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. In order to apply you will need your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Please remember to include our school code, E00773, when completing your FAFSA and keep in mind that the school name will be listed as Chicago-Kent College of Law. 

If you need help completing the FAFSA, the Department of Education provides several helpful resources with complete instructions, videos, and contact numbers. Additionally, if you have any questions please feel free to call the Office of Financial Aid at (312) 906-5180, or send an email to finaid@kentlaw.iit.edu.

NASFAA Financial Literacy Report

The Opportunities to Improve the Financial Capability and Financial Well-being of Postsecondary Students report describes current efforts to enhance financial education among students to help them make informed decisions about choosing where and how to finance postsecondary education, and to aid students in making sound financial decisions when enrolled and beyond. Key topics include:

  • Policies and resources to help students make decisions on college choice and financing;
  • Tools for navigating the college search and decision-making process;
  • Tools for navigating postsecondary education financing and repayment;
  • Financial decisions facing currently enrolled students and recent graduates;
  • Institutional efforts to improve the financial capability of enrolled students;
  • Recommendations and next steps for higher education institutions

Information for 2L Students

Q: It looks like my 2015-2016 financial aid package is a lot smaller than the financial aid package that I received as a first year law student, is this correct?

A: Yes, for most students this is correct and here are the reasons why:

  • A one-time lap top allowance is included in your first year Cost of Attendance (COA) budget. This line item is not included in the COA for continuing students.
  • As a first year JD student, your COA is based on a flat rate tuition charge. As a continuing student your initial COA is based on a per credit tuition charge. The tuition component of the COA is based on a minimum of 12 credits per term for full time and 6 credits for part time students.
  • Eligible continuing students are awarded Federal Work Study (FWS). It is a need based employment program that requires students to earn their award amount through work. FWS reduces the amount a student can borrow in federal student loans. If you do not plan on participating in the program and need additional funds you may email to request the amount be converted into additional loan funds.
  • If your current cost of attendance does not meet your financial requirements please send your fall and spring enrollment intentions, and if you are authorizing a FWS conversion, via email to the Office of Financial Aid. In your email, please specify the following in your email authorization request:
  1. Exact dollar amount that you need
  2. Number of credits that you intend to take in both semesters
  3. If you are declining FWS

Please note, the Office of Financial Aid cautions students against borrowing up to the Cost of Attendance limit.

Planning to Study Abroad?

In order to determine if your study abroad program/course is eligible to receive financial aid please stop by the Office of Financial Aid. If you've been granted permission to study abroad through Chicago-Kent College of Law and are borrowing educational student loans to meet your educational costs, please contact the Office of International Law and Policy and you will be provided an electronic application to complete via Google Docs. The financial aid process for the study abroad program can take 4 to 6 weeks.

If credit is approved by home school (Chicago-Kent), the student may be considered enrolled at the home school for financial aid purposes. You must still follow the same eligibility criteria as if you were taking classes at Chicago-Kent. You must complete a FAFSA, be enrolled at least half time, be degree seeking, and the credits must count toward the required credits required for graduation. Student registered in credits over the graduation requirement (87 credits) may not be eligible for federal financial aid for those credits. See the headline, "Information for 3L Students". Please be aware that your Cost of Attendance during your study abroad term will be based on the living expenses and tuition charges of the program, not the standard Chicago-Kent budget. Additonal fees may be charged by the program.

The Office of Financial Aid does not determine the Cost of Attendance for study abroad programs. For this reason, it is very crucial for each student to thoroughly research the programs charges and costs of living prior to their departure. It is the students responsibility to budget themselves until their financial aid is processed.

Planning to Visit Another Law School?

If you have been granted permission to study at another law school for credit toward your Chicago-Kent law degree and are borrowing educational loans to meet your educational costs, you must notify the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible. You must complete the Financial Aid Request Form to Visit Another Law School, if you wish to use federal student loans.

We will ask the host school's Financial Aid Office to complete a Consortium Agreement with cost of attendance amounts, and their Registar's Office to provide enrollment verification with dates of attendance, and credit hours.

Once we receive all the required documentation from the visiting school, we will finalize your financial aid award, and you can accept the loans you wish to borrow on the myIIT portal. The funds will be scheduled to disburse to your student account according to your enrollment period at the visiting school. If you are expecting a refund, the Student Accounting Office will process it. It is the student's responsibility to pay tuition at the visiting school. Please be sure that you have set up direct deposit of your refund.

The Office of Financial Aid does not determine the Cost of Attendance for host schools. For this reason, it is very crucial for each student to thoroughly research the host school's charges and costs of living prior to their departure. It is the students responsibility to budget themselves until their financial aid is processed.

Free Credit Report

Did you know that you are now able to receive a free credit report once every 12 months? We encourage students to review their credit reports annually to check for inaccuracies and identify any suspicious activity.

To receive your free credit report, please visit the following link: http://www.annualcreditreport.com. This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Please be aware that other sites may advertise free credit reports, but this is the only site that is sponsored by the federal government and the three nationwide credit reporting agencies. Other sites may charge fees.

Financial Aid Contact Information

The Office of Financial Aid is dedicated to assisting students in financing their education and making financially informed and responsible decisions. Please feel free to contact our office at any time during the office hours listed below.

Office Hours - Suite #230

Monday-Thursday ~ 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Friday ~ 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m

Phone: (312) 906-5180 - Fax: (312) 906-5274

Email: finaid@kentlaw.iit.edu


 

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