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Check Your Estimate

Assuming your registration is the same for the fall and spring semesters and that you will waive the health insurance, doubling your fall bill is a good way to get a second estimate of what you will need for the year. If you are taking summer classes don't forget to include them in your estimate as well.

Complete Entrance Counseling

All recipients of Direct Federal loans, including PLUS loans, are required by federal regulations to complete Entrance Counseling. You must complete the interview before Boston College will credit loan funds to your account. This online Entrance Counseling will provide you with information concerning your student loan, including your rights and responsibilities as a borrower, interest rates and other loan details, and who to contact if you have questions. Use your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID to sign in to the website below to complete your inteview.

1. Sign into studentaid.gov using your .
2. Choose "Complete Loan Counseling (Entrance, Financial Awareness, Exit)".
3. Click "START" nex to "Entrance Counseling (Required)".
4. Select Boston College as your school and click "NOTIFY THIS SCHOOL".
5. Indicate your student type (graduate).
6. Follow the remaining prompts and instructions on each page.
7. The system will display a "you have successfuly completed entrance Counseling" message and send you an email when you have finished.

This process will take approximately 30–45 minutes and it is generally advisable to have your award letter and bill on hand for reference.

Sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN)

Recipients are also required to sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) prior to the first disbursement of any Direct Federal loans. Failure to sign the promissory note will result in cancelation of the loan. Please note that Stafford Loan MPNs are generally valid for up to 10 years and typically only need to be signed once. PLUS loans, however, must be signed for each year. To sign your MPN, please follow the instructions below.

1. Sign into studentaid.gov using your .
2. Choose "Complete Loan Agreement (Master Promissory Note)"
3. Click "START" next to your loan program type. (Careful! Graduate students signing for their Graduate Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loan still need to select "MPN for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans" from the list of Direct Loans.)
4. Follow the onscreen instructions and prompts on each page
5. Enter your name and click "SIGN & SUBMIT"
6. You will know you have finished when you reach the "Confirmation" screen and receive a confirmation email

This process will take approximately 15 minutes and you will need several pieces of information:

• The borrower's FSA ID
• The borrower's driver's license number
• The names, completed addresses, and phone numbers for two references living at two separate addresses. One should be a family member.

Pay Remaining Balance

Once you know how much is needed for each semester and therefore the year, implement your plan. This may include taking the following actions:

• If needed, set up your payment plan
• Apply for your loan for the year
  • Note: Do not apply for a Federal Direct Grad PLUS loan until after July 1 if you are starting in the fall. The credit check for the Federal Direct Grad PLUS loan is valid for 180 days and credit must still be valid when classes start for the semester. The credit decision for the Federal Direct Grad PLUS loan typically takes about 24–48 hours. It is recommended that you submit your application approximately two weeks before the bill due date.
• Send us copies of your outside scholarship award letters each year
•  if applicable