Financial Aid is preparing to help students in Spring 2015

11/19/2015

Meghan McDonnell
Staff Writer

The Bridgewater State University (BSU) Financial Aid Office is very important to many students, although it is often confused with Student Accounts.

“I am assuming they [Financial Aid] deals with student’s money and give aid to those who cannot afford school,” said BSU sophomore Kayla Donnely.

According to Student Account’s website, “Student Accounts handles all student tuition and fee charges and the collection of those charges.” Student accounts is listed as being responsible for refunds or disbursements to students.

On the other hand, Financial Aid is essentially a liaison between the federal aid that may be granted to a student and how they can apply that aid to their bill here at BSU.

The goal of the office is to assist you in affording your education and this is done in different ways.

In a statement written by the Director of the Financial Aid office, Janet Gumbris, the funding of students education “is accomplished through the awarding of grants, loans, and student work programs and by providing you with a supportive and comfortable environment where counselors are willing to work with you in obtaining the necessary funds you may need to attend BSU.”

The main service the office provides is help filling out a student’s FAFSA (free application for federal student aid) form, which is available with an appointment.

It was a general consensus between everyone in the office that the greatest tip they could give any student is to get your FAFSA form in by the March deadline so they can give you the best aid possible.

The office even has pens made up to remind students of this deadline.

Financial aid office stressed that they cannot help students unless their FAFSA has been properly filled out. Then, students may qualify for the programs that Financial Aid offers.

The office of Financial Aid is located on the second floor of the Welcome Center on west campus. They are open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Meghan McDonnell is a Staff Writer for The Comment newspaper.