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Financial Aid Basics

Summer homework

  1. Check out scholarships. Searching for the right scholarship is time-consuming, so it's best to start early. Many scholarship deadlines are in the fall, making late summer an excellent time for research. A good place to begin is the dean's office, since UNH provides scholarship funding through its individual colleges. Students can learn about organizations that disseminate local, regional, and national scholarship information at the Financial Aid Office, the reference desk in Dimond Library, and of course, online. Parents also should check with their employers, as many companies offer scholarship programs for the children of employees.
  2. Take advantage of work-study. Many students do not take advantage of these funds, which are built into their financial aid packages. From the President's Office and Dimond Library to biology labs and recreation facilities, work-study opportunities abound at UNH. Work-study dollars can have a positive impact on financial aid packages if students use them for spending money and apply any summer wages to their tuition bills. The work-study experience also can help students structure their time better and provide another connection to adults and other students on campus.
  3. Explore off campus work opportunities. Not only does the thriving economy of the Seacoast provide ample opportunities for part-time employment, some companies offer tuition or book subsidies as part of their benefits package. For example, UNH students who work 25 hours a week for MBNA (one the world’s largest independent credit card issuers), can receive 100 percent tuition reimbursement, book buy backs, and medical benefits.

January check-list

First things first. File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal Application (returning students) as soon as possible. Forms are available through your student’s high school guidance office, the UNH Financial Aid Office, or online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.

Act now. Do not wait until your federal income taxes are complete before filing the FAFSA or Renewal Application. You can base the applications on estimates and make necessary corrections later.

Meet your deadlines. UNH requires that the federal processor receive your student’s FAFSA or Renewal Application by March 1. Missing this deadline likely will result in your student receiving substantially less total aid. Since this application could be lost in the mail or at the federal processor, it is a good idea to request a "certificate of mailing" at the post office.

Just in case. Keep a record of all materials submitted to the UNH Financial Aid Office or the federal processor.

Explore your options. Investigate other sources of financial aid. For example, free scholarship information is available online at Web sites such as http://www.fastweb.com/.

Don’t be fooled. Beware of “financial aid consultants” who require a fee to fill out applications or search for scholarships. Information is always free at the UNH Financial Aid Office.

Keep the process moving. Six to eight weeks after filing the FAFSA or Renewal Application, your student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) based on the information in his or her FAFSA. Review the SAR and make any necessary corrections as soon as possible.

Follow up. Call the UNH Financial Aid Office to ensure you and your student have submitted all necessary forms. If additional forms are required, submit them as soon as possible.

State your case. The FAFSA and Renewal Application do not ask you to indicate any special circumstances you feel may affect your family's ability to contribute to the cost of your student’s education. Notify the UNH Financial Aid Office in writing of any such circumstances, or make an appointment to see a UNH financial aid representative.

Don’t panic! If you have a question, the UNH Financial Aid Office is here to help, by phone, (603) 862-3600; by fax, (603) 862-1947; by e-mail, financial.aid@unh.edu; or by post: UNH Financial Aid Office, 11 Garrison Avenue, Stoke Hall, Durham, NH 03824.