Next steps

Thank you for choosing Financial Aid first at WMU. You've received your award letter, but you still have questions. What's this all mean? Can I get more money? What's an MPN? What else do I have to do?

Get all the answers here.

Your part in the financial aid process doesn't end when you receive your award letter. Depending on your situation, you may have to complete additional steps, including:

• student financial aid adjustment form
• scholarship resource form
• federal payment authorization form
• federal direct student loan E-MPN
• federal perkins promissory note
• loan entrance counseling

Our financial aid checklist will help you finish the process. To find out what requirements you need to complete, logon to GoWMU. You can check the status of your financial aid any time, anywhere.

More money

Financial aid doesn't always cover your entire cost. If you need additional help, you might need to consider alternative private loans. If you think additional loans are in your future, visit our loans page.

Financial aid adjustment form

The student financial aid adjustment form must be completed and returned to student financial aid at least 30 days prior to your last date of enrollment for the applicable aid year to do the following:

• decline or reduce the amount of federal direct student loans or federal perkins loans.
• decline federal grad PLUS.
• cancel all awards if you are not attending WMU
• if graduating at the end of summer or fall (rather than the end of spring)
  • we will recalculate your aid based upon that enrollment period
  • if you are an undergraduate student who will be graduating at the end of summer or fall and then becoming a graduate student at WMU, you must notify us in order to receive financial aid at the graduate level

Scholarship resource form

You must notify our office of scholarships, assistantships, tuition benefits and other resources received from sources outside of the State and WMU. To do this, complete the scholarship resource form and return it to Student Financial Aid. Private donor scholarships will be indicated as "estimated awards" until the check from the donor is received by our office.

Federal payment authorization

If you are receiving federal financial aid, you must select an option to pay all charges on your WMU account at the time those funds are paid or, limit the payment to only tuition, fees, and on-campus room and board charges. If you already completed this form in a prior year, it is not necessary for you to complete it again. To complete the form for the first time, go to GoWMU and complete the form online. If you wish to change your payment option, complete and submit the paper federal payment authorization form. If the form is not received prior to the disbursement of your federal aid, we will assume you want your federal aid to pay only tuition, fees, and on-campus room and board charges.

Electronic master promissory note (E-MPN)

The E-MPN is an electronic promissory note that can be used to receive multiple federal direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans. By signing the E-MPN, you are receiving a "line of credit" for the maximum amount of loans for which you are eligible, not to exceed the maximums allowable under the Higher Education Act.

If you are a first-time borrower, you must complete an electronic master promissory note (E-MPN) . If notification of the completion of the E-MPN is not received within 30 days of your acceptance of the loan (or at least 30 days prior to your last date of enrollment) your loans may be canceled.

Perkins master promissory note (MPN)

The federal Perkins MPN is a promissory note that can be used to receive multiple federal Perkins loans. By signing this promissory note, you are receiving a "line of credit" for the maximum amount of loan for which you are eligible, not to exceed the maximums allowable under the Higher Education Act.

If you were awarded a federal Perkins loan, you must electronically sign the Perkins MPN online: https://www.ecsi.net/prom49/ . Due to limited loan funds, if your MPN is not received within 30 days of your award notification (or at least 30 days prior to your last date of enrollment), your loan may be canceled.

Loan entrance counseling

If you are a first-time borrower of a federal direct loan at WMU, you can complete entrance counseling on the Web. We will be notified electronically that you have successfully completed entrance counseling. Your loans will NOT pay toward your tuition and fees or other WMU charges until entrance counseling has been completed. If you are enrolled and have not completed entrance counseling within at least 30 days after your loans have been offered, your loans may be canceled.

Updated: 04/15/2013 3:32 PM