Virtual Financial Aid Office (2024)

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The Office of Financial Aid is pleased to provide the Virtual Financial Aid Office! We will be hosting Zoom meetings (see below for days and times) to answer your general inquiries

Virtual FA office hours:

Mondays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and Wednesdays, 2-5 p.m. Please check back here periodically for updates regarding schedule changes.

Students do not need an appointment as these are "walk-in" hours to assist with any general financial aid questions.

How it Works

An Important note about ZOOM Accounts

All students, continuing and prospective, are required to have a ZOOM account to be able to login to the Virtual Financial Aid Office. Continuing students should use their CUNY ZOOM account and prospective or recently admitted students will need to have a personal zoom account (see the instructions below). For quality assurance purposes and for protection of your privacy we strongly recommend that you use your own ZOOM account and do not login with a friend’s or relative’s ZOOM account.

Due to current security settings and requirements you will need to login to ZOOM using your CUNYfirst Single Sign On (SSO) credentials or, if you are a prospective or recently admitted student and do not yet have a CUNY ZOOM account,your personal ZOOM account before you will be able to accessthe Virtual Financial Aid Office ZOOM session. This is a layer of security that is required by the university and it is there to protect students and prevent zoom bombing.Please see the "Visit the Virtual Financial Aid Office" section below for steps on how to access theZOOM session for continuing and prospective students.

After you have logged into ZOOM with your CUNYfirst SSO credentials or personal ZOOM account you will be able to access the ZOOM session by clicking on the link below. Once you have entered the waiting room, please enter only your EMPLID in the chat. This will allow the meeting host to queue students in the order in which they have entered the waiting room. Each student will then be assigned to a breakout room for a maximum of 10 minutes to speak with a financial aid representative about general inquiries such as finding about financial aid that is available, help with financial aid “To-Do” list items, and reviewing pending aid. More specific inquiries may have to be referred to an appointment with a financial aid advisor for further assistance.

Visit the Virtual Financial Aid Office

Instructions for Current and Continuing Students

Step 1:Click here for instructions on how login to ZOOM with your CUNYfirst Single Sign On (SSO) credentials

Step 2:Access the session here:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88101332615?pwd=TWo0NGpwbUl2L0VsVmNwZXN2QnV5QT09

Instructions for Prospective and Recently Admitted Students without a CUNY ZOOM Account

Step 1: Since you do not yet have a CUNY ZOOM account, if you do not yet have a personal ZOOM account, using your personal email address create a free one at https://zoom.us/freesignup/

Step 2:Access the session here:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88101332615?pwd=TWo0NGpwbUl2L0VsVmNwZXN2QnV5QT09

A Note to Parents and Guidance Counselors

The Virtual Office of Financial Aid is open to prospective and continuing students who have questions related to their financial aid record or general financing questions. Both the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 as amended prohibit any staff member within the Office of Financial Aid from disclosing any specific information about a student’s record or information about an FAFSA applicant to anyone but the student or applicant (unless documented authorization is on file). Therefore, parents or guidance counselors seeking information on behalf of student’s or applicants can only be given general information unless the student/applicant is present with you thereby giving their consent to disclose such information.

Additional Resources

A considerable amount of general information is available online at the links below. We encourage you to visit them for additional information:

  • Federal Student Aid Portal – A one stop location for information about Federal Student Financial Aid Programs and for FAFSA filing.
  • NY State Higher Education Services Corporation Paying For College Page – Has considerable information about NY State Financial Aid programs such as TAP, APTS, Excelsior Scholarship and other programs.
  • The Brooklyn College Office of Financial Aid Webpage (some highlights are below):
    • Information Guides
    • Undergraduate Financial Aid
    • Graduate Financial Aid
    • FAQ
    • Financial Aid TV (FATV) Videos

A Note to Entities and Agencies External to the University

If you are acting on behalf of an entity, agency, organization etc. that is seeking to contact the Office of Financial Aid for an inquiry please do not use the Virtual Financial Aid Office, as that is a student only service. Instead, please visit our Contact Page for more information on whom to contact.

Virtual Financial Aid Office (2024)

FAQs

Should you answer yes to need based financial aid? ›

Need based grants examples include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) and state-based grants. In other words, always say “yes” to grants if your child receives them on the financial aid award! However, check into the requirements for the grant.

How to answer why you need financial aid? ›

Explain the difficulties you are having meeting your needs. Describe changes in your life that have affected your ability to pay for college. For example, changes in your family's income or unexpected expenses may have caused a financial deficit. Provide evidence that you can handle your finances responsibly.

How can I see my FAFSA answers? ›

Once your FAFSA form or correction has been processed, you can get a copy of your SAR by logging in to fafsa.gov using your FSA ID and selecting the “View SAR” option near the middle of the “My FAFSA” page.

Why isn't FAFSA responding? ›

Try accessing the site late at night or early in the morning when it's not as busy. Contact the FSA Office. If you're still having trouble, ask the Federal Student Aid (FSA) Office for help. You can reach them at customerservice@studentaid.gov or call the FAFSA phone number at 800-4-FED-AID.

Do I have to answer all FAFSA questions? ›

If you're completing the FAFSA form on paper, the instructions will guide you towards which questions are required. If you're an independent student, you don't need to provide parental information and may skip the questions about parent household and finances.

Should you say yes on financial aid Common App? ›

Every college should have its own Net Price Calculator, found on its website (federal policy ensures they have one). Try inputting your family's financial numbers to see if you qualify for aid. If you do, confidently mark "Yes" on the Common App question.

What to say to get financial aid? ›

Begin with who you are and where you are from, how grateful you are to have been accepted and that you are excited about the school. Be direct about what the letter is for (financial aid) Briefly talk about why the school is a great fit for you and why you need the money in a straightforward and respectful way.

How to explain financial hardship for a scholarship? ›

Body: Your financial situation and hardships

Make sure you describe your parents' occupation, any savings (like a 529 College Savings Account), and any student jobs. You might also discuss any sudden changes in fortune (e.g. parent fell ill or lost their job) that have ruined your original financial plans.

How to prove financial need for a scholarship? ›

Some documents that show evidence of financial need are bank statements, documentation from a sponsor, financial aid letters, or a letter from an employer showing annual salary.

How do I see how much FAFSA approved me for? ›

How do I view my Student Aid Report (SAR)?
  1. Go to fafsa.gov.
  2. Select “Start or Edit a 2023–24 FAFSA Form.”
  3. Enter your account username and password (FSA ID).
  4. Select the student role on the “Roles” page.
  5. Select “View Student Aid Report (SAR)” from the “My FAFSA” page.

Can FAFSA see my checking account? ›

Students selected for verification of their FAFSA form may wonder, “Does FAFSA check your bank accounts?” FAFSA does not directly view the student's or parent's bank accounts.

What happens if you make a mistake on FAFSA? ›

A mistake on your FAFSA can delay the processing of your application for financial aid. If your FAFSA is verified and contains errors, it can cost you.

How to talk to a real person at FAFSA? ›

You can also check the status of your FAFSA form by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243. To check on the status of financial aid being disbursed (paid out) to you or your account, check with your school's financial aid office.

Why would someone be denied FAFSA? ›

There are a few common reasons why the Federal Processor will reject an application: Missing signatures, inconsistent marital status with income, taxes paid are equal to or higher than adjusted gross income, citizenship questions are blank, marital status and family members blank, etc.

Is FAFSA broken right now? ›

User reports indicate no current problems at FAFSA.

Should you check need-based financial aid on the Common App? ›

If you intend to file the FAFSA when submitting your college applications, check the box. Not checking the box, but then filing for aid, will only create confusion for the admissions office. They may reach out to you to clarify your intent, or they may simply consider you a full-pay family and not award aid.

What does "do you intend to pursue need-based financial aid" mean? ›

The term “need-based” is a designation that is based on a student's financial need. For example, a need-based grant might be awarded based on a student's low income.

Should I say yes to work-study on FAFSA? ›

Select “Yes” if you're interested in being considered for a work-study job. Selecting this response doesn't guarantee that you'll be offered a Federal Work-Study job. Select “No” if you aren't interested in being considered for a work-study job.

What is the difference between FAFSA and need-based financial aid? ›

You must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA, to determine your family's eligibility for need-based financial aid. The information you include on the FAFSA is used to calculate your expected family contribution, which will factor into your award.

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