Financial Aid Application Process
Students are required to complete their financial aid application on-line. The school cannot determine your financial aid eligibility until your financial aid application has been processed and verified if required, so, it is important to complete your application as early as possible. Some FAFSA applications are flagged for a process called “verification”. If your application is flagged, additional information will be required by our office. You will be notified in writing of what documentation is needed and no financial aid will be processed until it is received and verified. Once you have completed and submitted your financial aid application AND the Office of Financial Aid has received all required paperwork from you, our Office will have everything required to determine your financial aid eligibility.
1. Gather required information for FAFSA application
Before you begin completing the FAFSA application, you will want to gather the information required to apply. Listed below are some of the data items you will need in order to complete this application. You will be notified in writing if your application is flagged for verification.
- Your Social Security number and your parents’ Social Security number if you are providing parent information
- Your driver’s license number if you have one.
- Your Alien Registration Number if you are not a U. S. Citizen
- Information on savings, investments, and business and farm assets for yourself, your spouse if you are married, and for your parents if you are providing parent information. When calculating investments, do not include IRA accounts or the home in which you live.
- Child Support Received or Paid
2. Go to https://studentaid.gov
Click on “Create an Account” and follow the prompts on the screen. If you already have a FASA ID go to the next step. A user can only have one account associated with their social security number. If you are dependent, a parent or guardian will also need to creat an account.
3. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the school years you are applying for (2020-2021).
Go to: https://studentaid.gov webpage, Click on the “LOG IN” button. You must complete a FAFSA application to be considered for any federal assistance and if you qualify, special state grants and scholarships. This step cannot be omitted. If you need help, please contact the Financial Aid Office. When completing the tax section of this application, it is highly recommended that you import and do not change your Tax Return Information from the IRS. If you have previously completed a FAFSA and need to renew for the next year, or need to make a correction on your FAFSA, go to https://studentaid.gov click on the downward arrow next to “APPLY FOR AID” and click on “Complete the FAFSA form”. Next, click on the “LOG IN” button under “Returning User?”
4. Complete Loan Entrance Counseling (Required for Student Loans)
Go to https://studentaid.gov and click on the downward arrow next to “Complete Aid Process”, click on Complete Entrance Counseling. Sign in using the blue “Log In” button. Follow the screen prompts to complete the Entrance Counseling. For a demonstration of the Entrance Counseling, scroll down the page to the blue “LOG IN TO START” button, and click on Start Demo.
5. Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) SCHOOL CODE – 040413 (Required for Student Loans)
Sign-in to the https://studentaid.gov website and click on the downward arrow next to “Complete Aid Process”, click on “Complete Master Promissory Note”, You will LOG IN to “MPN for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans. Follow the prompts.
6. If you need help in completing the FAFSA, or would like to complete it at the school, please call 610-743-7630 to set up an appointment.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility for Federal Pell Grants and Federal Student loans is based on financial need and on several other factors. Students must meet all eligibility requirements prior to being able to receive federal financial aid. The eligibility requirements for all students are outlined below and an explanation can be found by clicking on each topic.
Student Eligibility
Determine if your out-of-country diploma is equivalent to a U.S. diploma
Citizenship Requirements
Selective Service Requirements
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Default / Overpayment Requirements
Conviction or Possession of Illegal Drugs
Completing Your Financial Aid Application Online
1. Apply for a PIN number from the US Department of Education.
You will use this number to sign each of your on-line financial aid applications. NOTE: If you are required to provide parent information on your FAFSA application, then one of your parents must also apply for a PIN number of his/her own in order to be able to sign your application electronically.
*Determine if you are required to provide parent information.
2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
BCTC School Code — 040413
You must complete a FAFSA application in order to receive any federal assistance. This step cannot be omitted.
When completing the tax section of this application, it is highly recommended that you transfer in and do not change your Tax Return information from the IRS. If you do not use the IRS Data Retrieval tool when completing your initial FAFSA application, you can return to https://studentaid.gov log in to your FAFSA record, select “Make FAFSA Corrections,” and navigate to the Financial Information section of the form. Follow the instructions to determine if you are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer IRS income tax information into your FAFSA. It takes up to two weeks for IRS income information to be available for the IRS Data Retrieval Tool for electronic IRS tax return filers, and up to eight weeks for paper IRS tax return filers. If you are unable to transfer in your tax return information from the IRS, you must contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 and request a copy of your Tax Return Transcript.
Go to: https://studentaid.gov webpage, Click on the “LOG IN” button. You must complete a FAFSA application to be considered for any federal assistance and if you qualify, special state grants and scholarships. This step cannot be omitted. If you need help, please contact the Financial Aid Office. When completing the tax section of this application, it is highly recommended that you import and do not change your Tax Return Information from the IRS. If you have previously completed a FAFSA and need to renew for the next year, or need to make a correction on your FAFSA, go to https://studentaid.gov click on the downward arrow next to “APPLY FOR AID” and click on “Complete the FAFSA form”. Next, click on the “LOG IN” button under “Returning User?”
3. Complete Loan Entrance Counseling.
Go to https://studentaid.gov and click on the downward arrow next to “Complete Aid Process”, click on Complete Entrance Counseling. Sign in using the blue “Log In” button. Follow the screen prompts to complete the Entrance Counseling. For a demonstration of the Entrance Counseling, scroll down the page to the blue “LOG IN TO START” button, and click on Start Demo.
4. Complete a Master Promissory Note.
SCHOOL CODE – 040413 (Required for Student Loans)
Sign-in to the https://studentaid.gov website and click on the downward arrow next to “Complete Aid Process”, click on “Complete Master Promissory Note”, You will LOG IN to “MPN for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans”. Follow the prompts.
Exit Counseling
BEFORE BEGINNING THIS PROCESS, gather the following information because you will need to enter it on the Student Information Form.
- your permanent address & phone number (If this is new information, you must contact your servicer to update your record.) Data entered on this form is used for tracking purposes only.
- your driver’s license number
- the complete name, address, and phone number of your next of kin
- the complete name, addresses, and phone numbers of 2 other references
You should receive repayment information from your loan servicer approximately 3 months after you leave school. If you do not receive this information, it is your responsibility to contact your servicer before the end of your 6-month grace period to arrange for the repayment of your loan.
It is important that you plan for the repayment of your loan. You will have the opportunity to estimate your monthly payment as you proceed through the online exit counseling session. If you don’t know your outstanding Stafford Loan balance but know who your loan is serviced through, you can contact them directly to receive your outstanding balance. If you do not know the name of your loan servicer and/or guarantor, you may search using the National Student Loan System at:
At the end of the exit counseling session, you will be asked to complete a Student Information Form. You must provide all required information. When you have entered the required information and it has been accepted, you will receive a congratulations page stating that you have successfully completed your exit counseling. You can print this page for your records. At this point, you have successfully completed the session and your information is available to the Office of Financial Aid.
FAQ’S For Financial Aid
Numerous inquiries are made by students and their parents about financial aid programs available at our school. In anticipation of some of the questions you may have, the following information is provided for you to review:
Application to Complete | Web Site Address | Technical Support |
Master Promissary Note | www.studentloans.gov | 800-433-3243 |
FAFSA Application | www.FAFSA.ed.gov | 800-433-3243 |
Loan Entrance Counseling Direct Stafford Loan Application Direct PLUS Loan Pre-approval Direct PLUS Loan Application |
www.studentloans.gov | 800-433-3243 |
Loan Exit Counseling | www.studentloans.gov | 800-433-3243 |
For Questions Regarding: | Office to Call | Phone | |
Financial Aid Packaging/Disbursing |
Financial Aid Specialist | Vickie Foreman vickie.foreman@berkscareer.com |
610-743-7630 |
Admissions, Registration and Enrollment Information |
Continuing Education Administator | Kim DeHart kim.dehart@berkscareer.com |
610-987-2708
|
For Questions Regarding: | Agency to Call | Phone |
Tax Transcripts | IRS | 800-829-1040 www.irs.gov |
Status Information Letter or Waiver | Selective Services | 847-688-6888 703-605-4100 |
Correction of Social Security discrepancies | Social Security Administration | 717-299-5261 |
Information on all of your Title IV Funding | National Student Loan Data System | https://nslds.ed.gov/npas/index.htm |
HEERF Annual Reports
- 04041300_HEERF_Annual_Report_Year_1_2021
- 04041300_HEERF_Annual_Report_Year_2_2022
- 04041300_HEERF_Annual_Report_Year_3_2023
HEERF Student Funds
CARES Act Communication
- CARES ACT FAQS
- Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Grant Application
- Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds Grant Notification and Signature
- Email sent to Students Concerning HEERF Grants
- Cares Act Student Report 08.06.2020 FINAL
HEERF II
- CRRSA
- CRRSA Student Report 06.04.2021
- CRRSA Student Report 07.02.2021
- CRRSA Student Report 07.16.2021
- HEERF QTR Report 06.30.2021
HEERF III
- American Rescue Plan Act
- ARP Student Report 09.10.2021
- 0404130_QTR Report for HEERF I, II, III Student Portion_Qtr12022_04012022
- 04041300_Qtr Report for HEERF I,II,lll Student Portion QTR 3 10042021
- 04041300_Qtr Report for HEERF I,II,III Student Portion QTR 01052022
- 04041300 HEERF QTR Reporting Form_Q22022_20220707
- 04041300_HEERF Quarterly Reporting Form_Q32022_10052022
- 04041300_HEERF_Q42022_1_11_111_01092023
HEERF Institutional Funds
- Cares Act Institutional Report 1
- Cares Act Institutional Report 2
- HEERF II Quarterly Report
- 0404130_Quarterly Report_HEERF I_II_III_Institutional_QTR4_01042022
- 04041300_HEERF I II and III Quarterly Reporting Qtr 3
- 04041300_Quarterly Report_HEERF_I_II_III for QTR 1 2022
- 04041300_HEERF_Q12023_l_ll_lll_Final_04062023