During Financial Aid Awareness Week, computers will be set up in the lobby of the office at 1714 College St., and representatives from the office will available to give students one-on-one help in completing financial aid applications.

“One of the primary intents of the awareness week is to encourage students to complete the application process early for their benefit, as well as ours, so that they will know what kind of assistance they’re going to get in a timely fashion and so they can look for other resources if we cannot meet their needs,” said Ed Miller, director of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. “Our primary goal is making sure that students have hands-on assistance in completing financial aid forms correctly and in a timely fashion.”

Aid is available for returning undergraduate and graduate students who now have financial aid and for students who are interested in applying for aid for the first time.

“There may be students who might need assistance who haven’t needed it in the past,” Miller said. “We want to make sure that any student who is eligible for aid and needs aid goes through the proper process.”

Students must apply for financial aid each year. “Students don’t have to come to our office to complete financial aid forms, but the purpose of the open house is to raise awareness that this is the appropriate time, during the month of February, to get all applications completed by our priority deadline, which is April 1,”Miller said. “By completing that priority deadline, students will be considered for all programs and the most attractive programs for which they are eligible.”

About eight-tenths of USC aid applicants file for financial aid online. “Students don’t have to apply online,” Miller said, “but by using the Web version, it cuts down on the chances that the student will make a mistake and decreases the turn-around time of the document so that it gets back to the University much, much quicker.

“During the 2003–04 financial aid year, we assisted more than 20,000 students in receiving some kind of aid, amounting to about $210 million. We have a lot of students taking advantage of a lot of opportunities here at USC.”

Students who stop by the office during February to apply for financial aid or can provide proof that they applied during the month will be eligible for prizes. Light refreshments will be served during the open house.

“We want financial aid awareness to be at the highest level and encourage students to be very expedient about getting their forms in because we want students to get the most attractive awards they can get and to get all the assistance they can get and know about it in a timely fashion,” Miller said.

For more information, call the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office at 7-8134.

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