New Student Using Loans? Don’t Forget to Complete Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note

Are you a new Goldey-Beacom College student planning to use federal student loans? If yes, please complete Entrance Counseling (EC) and the Master Promissory Note (MPN) on www.studentaid.gov.

Entrance Counseling (EC) and the Master Promissory Note (MPN) are federal student aid requirements for all loan borrowers. These are not just formalities, but important tools to ensure you understand your loan’s terms, conditions, rights, and responsibilities. The EC will teach you about what a loan is, how interest works, your options for repayment, and how to avoid delinquency and default. The MPN is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loan(s).

The Financial Aid Office is here to support you. We typically receive electronic notification within 24 hours after you complete these loan requirements. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us during reasonable business hours. We’re here to help you through this process.

These loan requirements are the same for graduate students who did not use federal student loans during their undergraduate studies and are using loans for the first time at the graduate level. So, whether you are a first-time undergraduate student, a transfer student receiving loans for the first time, or a graduate student, now is the time to complete the loan requirements before next month’s financial aid disbursement. Failure to do so will result in removing your federal student loans, which can create unnecessary panic. We want to avoid this, so please, take the time to complete these requirements now.

Figure 1: A screenshot of www.studentaid.gov, highlighting the portion of the website where students can complete the EC and the MPN loan requirements.