• Have you understood everything in the Learn section regarding this?
• If you are needing aid for Summer School: Do you understand the Summer School process? Learn more about summer aid
• Watch this video on student loans
• Complete FAFSA (Must be completed every year):  studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa (FAFSA School Code: 003721)
  • First-time FAFSA filers will need to create an FSA ID
  • Make sure you include JMU in your list of schools
• Optional: Use JMU's Net Price Calculator to determine how much aid is needed
• Freshman Applicants only: Receive a PRELIMINARY Financial Aid Offer email
• Understand what Verification is.
• If selected for Verification:
  • You will receive communication from JMU indicating so.
  • Complete tasks listed on your "To Do" list in MyMadison: https://mymadison.jmu.edu
• Wait until your Financial Aid Offer arrives
• Once you have received an OFFICIAL Financial Aid Offer email:
  • Watch video on Financial Aid Offers
  • Read Financial Aid Offer in MyMadison
  • Accept/Decline student loans offers in MyMadison tutorial (this step does not apply to PLUS loans) Watch the video tutorial 

Direct Parent PLUS, Direct Grad PLUS and Federal Work Study offers cannot be accepted in MyMadison and require added steps to obtain the award(s).

• IMPORTANT: Direct Grad PLUS Loans require a loan application and can only be applied for by a graduate student borrower. If you are an undergraduate, you may pursue a Parent PLUS loan
• Complete Graduate PLUS Loan application (https://studentaid.gov/plus-app/grad/) and pass a credit check
• First Time Borrowers Only:
  
  • Complete Master Promissory Note (https://studentaid.gov/mpn/)
  • Complete Graduate Entrance Counseling (https://studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling/)
• If borrower credit is approved, the Financial Aid Office will accept the amount you entered on the Graduate PLUS Loan application on behalf of the borrower.