Question about federal student aid, and reimbursement?

Question

I'm enrolling in college for the first time since my kids were born. I just applied for FA and was processed on the 22nd, so I'm still awaiting to hear from my school that they have processed my SAR. Anyways, I'm not quite sure how this works. (I posed this question to the FA office but they haven't gotten back to me yet.) This is what is stated in the policies:

"Eligibility for student financial assistance is determined based on your enrollment status on the 15th day of the session in which you are enrolled." (which would be around mid-September.)

However, when I went to sign up for classes, it said that I am not completely registered for classes until they are payed for, the due date being August 12th.

So does that mean I go ahead and pay my tuition, and the FA office will reimburse me? The last time I was in college (a different college) my FA was automatically applied to my tuition *before* I started school. Anybody else's school do this?

Answer 1

If your school gets your SAR processed before school starts and gets it posted to your account, you will be allowed to register and they will take the money coming to you, pay your expenses and give you the difference.. That's not likely to happen.. If it does, it will be right at the deadline and you may have trouble getting the classes you need UNless the classes you need are offered in a LOT of different sections (20-30 classes of each).. If you pay tution, you can register and then once they get SAR processed, it will show as credit to your account.. you will then get the entire financial aid packet as a refund.. in 2 installments..  Whatever is best for you.. GL