Steps for Applying for Financial Aid
1. Apply for Admission to the College
o Submit all official transcripts from high school/previous colleges or GED
o High School transcripts should state type of diploma and contain exit exam scores
o Provide one Primary Form of I.D. or two Secondary forms of I.D.
o International Students must provide VISA
o Must declare a major/program to be eligible for Grants; Undeclared or Special Interest is not a major eligible to receive funds.
o Current mailing address and email address should be maintained to assure current information is received by all students
o Students are not eligible for financial aid until academic requirements for Quantitative and Qualitative GPA requirements are met
2. Take Placement Test- Compass/ACT/Other
o Must qualify for Ability to Benefit based on entrance test scores (ACT or Compass Placement).
§ Prior to enrollment or receipt of financial aid
o Make sure scores are provided to the Admissions Office
§ ACT scores usually on back of High School Transcript
o State Board Policy states that all students must take a placement test unless qualified for exemption
o Compass Placement Test Schedule for dates and time
§ No charge for first test
§ Test is multiple choice and is not timed
o IMPORTANT: Various health programs require pre-health students to take the Compass Placement Test regardless of their ACT score.
o Make sure to include an e-mail address on FAFSA form
o Must use all household income including child support.
§ Federal School Code is: 008988 – Lurleen B Wallace Community College
o Must obtain a PIN number for student and a parent where applicable. www.pin.ed.gov
§ Dependent students parents’ must obtain a PIN
o After LBWCC receives your FAFSA, LBWCC will mail a post card to your home for you to designate which campus you are planning to attend.
o Once you receive this card and return it to the FA Office, you will be contacted if you need to provide verification documents. If so, you must complete the following:
§ Verification Form (FRONT & BACK)
§ If no taxes were filed for either Student or Parent, a Non-Filer Form may be required to be filled out
§ Students that did not file Income Taxes may be required to fill out the Financial Resources Less than $9350 form
§ Bring Driver’s license, income taxes, and documents required to verify income
o You will receive an Award Letter once your application has been completely processed by the Financial Aid Office. Note: You do not have financial aid until you have received an award letter. The FAFSA must be filled out each year.
+++It is the student’s responsibility to: file the FAFSA, request a PIN number, retrieve the PIN number, add LBWCC’s school code of 008988. Financial Aid personnel are NOT allowed to complete these steps for the student. +++