You will receive an email from WCU Financial Aid Office to inform you that your award has been determined. It will contain detailed instructions on accepting or declining any loans or work study you have been awarded. Please read below to find out more information about what needs to be done once you have accepted loans or work study.
Each funding source is different. You are under no obligation to accept one type of fund in order to receive another.
GRANTS - If you have been awarded any grants, they will already be in an accepted status and you do not need to do anything.
SCHOLARSHIPS - If you know of outside scholarships you will be receiving, please complete Form 103 to let us know about these. If you receive scholarships after your award has been determined your award will be adjusted.
LOANS - Please borrow wisely and only accept what you truly need in order to minimize your loan debt.
Loans will be on your My Cat account in an offered status. All loans amounts will be split evenly between fall and spring terms. If you are offered loans, you decide whether you want to accept all, some or none of the amount offered.
Click here for information on the differences between types of loans.
Click here for specific instructions on steps necessary to complete the application of each type of loan accepted.
If you do not accept/borrow all the Federal Subsidized, Unsubsidized or Perkins loan money you were originally awarded. and later realize you need more, contact the financial aid office by email through your Catamount email. If you wish to accept more Federal Direct PLUS loan, your parent will have to go back to studentloans.gov to the “Complete PLUS Request Process” section and request the additional amount. Remember, you are only eligible for an amount up to the original award amount.
WORK STUDY
If you accept your work study award you will receive an email prior to the start of school with instructions on obtaining a work study job. You must obtain a job and complete all hiring paperwork prior to the deadline stated in the email, otherwise your work study award will be cancelled and the funds will be awarded to other students. It will be your responsibility to review the list of available jobs and contact the supervisors for the jobs for which you are interested. The Financial Aid Office does not place students in work study jobs.
Work study cannot be used to pay your bill. You will receive a paycheck on a bi-weekly basis during the semester based on the number of hours you have worked. You can use your work study paycheck for your expenses, or put it aside to assist with your billing charges for the next semester. WCU is unable to hold work study funds in accounts for students.
If you were not awarded work study there are non work study jobs available on campus. Please contact the Career Services Office for additional information.