4 EZ Steps to Financial Aid

Step One: Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
You can either obtain the FAFSA from your high school guidance counselor, your college financial aid office, or complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. To fill out your FAFSA online, you will need a PIN to electronically sign when you submit the form. You can receive your PIN at www.pin.ed.gov.

Step Two: Review your Student Aid Report (SAR).
About four weeks after you submit your application, you and the school(s) you have designated on your FAFSA will receive your SAR. This report includes an estimate of the amount you and your family are expected to contribute for your education. You don't need to do anything with the SAR unless you find an error.

Step Three: Review your Award Letter and accept. Identify Associated Bank as your preferred lender using 830492 The financial aid office will use your SAR to create a customized financial aid package for you. Each school, to which you've been accepted, will send an "award letter." This letter will show your expected family contribution and the types and amounts of financial aid for which you qualify. At this point, you will need to choose one and let the financial aid office know you accept the aid offered in their package. Your school may enclose a preferred lender list. Whether or not Associated Bank is on this list, you may choose us as your lender using code 830492.

Step Four: Apply for appropriate loans.
If your package includes a Subsidized or Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan, you need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). This application will be mailed directly to you by Great Lakes Higher Education Corp. or may be obtained from your financial aid office. If the financial aid awarded does not meet your financial needs, your parents may apply for a PLUS loan. This application may be obtained at Associated Bank. Use Lender Code 830492 to make Associated Bank your student loan lender even if we are not on the school's lender list.

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