HOW TO APPLY

There are many steps required to ensure prompt delivery of your financial aid.  

• Complete the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" (FAFSA). The priority filing   date is March 1. Awards made on FAFSAs submitted after March 1 will be subject to available funds. Filing the FAFSA electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov is the preferred method. The electronic FAFSA is faster and apt to be more accurate since handwritten answers are not always legible.
• First time students must apply for admission to Dawson Community College.
• Check over your SAR for possible errors when it is received from the Federal Processor. If there are any errors, send corrections to the Federal Processor as soon as possible, or contact the DCC Financial Aid Office. 
• Read and respond to all correspondence from the Financial Aid Office. DCC verfies most applications, which requires tax documents and additional information to be sent to the Financial Aid Office.  An award cannot be made until these documents are received and reviewed.
• After your financial aid file is complete and reviewed you will receive an Award Letter which will list the aid you are eligible to receive.
• Accept or decline each type of aid offered and return one before the cancellation date listed on the letter.
• If you accept a loan on your award letter, we will forward pertinent loan information to your lender or guarantee agency (most often Montana Guaranteed Student Loan Program).  When MGSLP receives this information, a Master Promissory Note (MPN) is generated for you.  This note needs to be signed and the names of two references given.  You can sign the note electronically by clicking here.  By signing the note, you are promising to pay the amount of the loan back per the lending agreement.  The funds will not be disbursed until the MPN has been completed.
• Keep us informed of any changes in your status, such as changes in your enrollment status (full time to part time, etc.), this includes informing us of any scholarships you may receive that you have not told us about, and changes to your address.  To ensure as few delays as possible, let us know about anything you think may be relevant to your aid status.
• By following these steps, you can help us ensure prompt delivery of your financial aid.  Problems may arise during the course of the financial aid process, but by keeping informed of what is happening and what is expected of you, you can minimize possible delays.