Financial Aid Online

How to Apply...

It's as easy as 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 !

1	Get an email address
2	Apply for a PIN
3	Complete application @www.fafsa.ed.gov
4	Track your financial aid status
5	Receive notification of award

IMPORTANT

To apply for aid, you’ll first need an email address and access to the internet. (You do not have to own a personal computer to file your FAFSA on the web.) You can use computers to get on the internet at many public libraries (including the HCC library), high schools, adult education centers, community centers, as well as the HCC computer labs in Rooms A230 and A232.

NOTE: Housatonic cannot process your financial aid application until you are accepted in a degree or eligible certificate program.

If you’re a new student, apply for admission immediately at myCommNet or call 203-332-5100.

Step 1

Getting an email address

The Financial Aid Office at HCC will use email to keep you informed. If you don’t have an email account, you can get one for free at www.juno.com, www.hotmail.com, www.yahoo.com, and other providers. You will need to provide your email address to both the U.S. Department of Education and Housatonic Community College. The U.S. Department of Education and HCC will communicate with you about your financial aid application by sending information to your email address.

Step 2

Applying for a PIN (Personal Identification Number)

If you don’t already have a federal student aid PIN, go to www.pin.ed.gov. The PIN will allow you to sign your federal student aid application online, saving you several weeks in processing time. If you have to include parents’ information when you complete your federal aid application, your parents will also need to request a federal student aid PIN. If you are not sure whether or not you have a PIN already, you can go to the same website to check. Now that you have an email address, the Department of Education will email you directions on how to obtain your PIN from a secure website. Allow 5 days to secure your PIN from them.

Your PIN serves as your password to access private information on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.

Step 3

FAFSA on the Web

Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and complete the federal student aid application online. This site has a useful “pre-application worksheet” you may want to print out first. You will need the Housatonic school code, 004513. (Remember, you can use public library computers to do this.)

What do I need to fill out the FAFSA?

You will need records for income earned in the year prior to when you will start school. You may also need records of your parents’ income information. For the 2008 - 2009 school year, you will need 2007 information. You will need to refer to:

Your social security number

Your driver’s license (if any)

Your W-2 forms and other records of earnings

Your (and your spouse’s, if you are married) 2007 Federal Income Tax Return - IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040Telefile, foreign tax return, or tax return for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia

Your parents’ 2007 Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)

Your parents’ social security number(s) and dates of birth

Your 2007 untaxed income records – Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records

Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds and other investments

Your alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen

Using myCommNet Student Self-Service

Now that you have filed FAFSA, you can track status of your financial aid application and award information by going to myCommNet . To use this system, you need to know your Banner ID number and Banner PIN (this PIN is different from your FAFSA - U.S Department of Education PIN mentioned earlier). When you applied for admission to Housatonic Community College, you were given these numbers, if you do not remember your Banner ID, you must contact the Registrar's Office at HCC to get the information.

Current Students:

Log in using your NetID and password (the same NetID and password you use to sign on to college computers.)

For New NetID Users:

Your NetID is your Banner ID (with the @ symbol in a different position, example: a student with a Banner ID of @12345678, will have following NetID 12345678@student.commnet.edu

Your initial password is made up of the following information:

First three characters of your birth month (first letter capitalized )

The "&" symbol

Last 4 digits of you Social Security Number
Example: a student born in October and whose SSN is 6789, the initial password will be Oct&6789. You will be prompted to change your password.

Once in myCommnet you will have 24/7 access to the Financial Aid Office at HCC. In addition to being able to follow the progress of your financial aid application online, you will be able to download forms needed to complete your application process. You can print these forms and either mail or drop them off at the Financial Aid Office. We recommend that you access your account weekly to stay current with your financial aid information.

Step 5

Your Financial Aid Award

When the review of your financial aid application is complete, the award notification will be sent to you via regular mail or to your e-mail address. Note: Your e-mail address must be current.

Please note that you do not have financial aid until you have received an official award notice.

Housatonic Community College