Prospective Students

Loan Entrance Counseling

All students applying for loans must complete Entrance Counseling. Entrance counseling is for first-time borrowers of Stafford Loans. Loan counseling educates students on their rights and responsibilities as a borrower. You may complete your entrance counseling by visiting www.aessuccess.org. The information is downloaded to Community College of Philadelphia within 24 hours. You may also complete entrance counseling in the Financial Aid Office, Room BG-3.

Loan Exit Counseling

Loan exit counseling is conducted for borrowers who withdraw, graduate or drop less than half-time enrollment. You may complete your exit counseling on line at www.aessuccess.org or you may complete your exit application in the Financial Aid Office, Room Bg-3.

DEFERMENT

A student loan deferment is an authorized temporary suspension of repayment that is granted under certain circumstances. Loans in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) allow for deferment in a wide variety of circumstances. A significant number of private loans also allow deferment for several possible reasons. Sometimes deferment may be automatically applied on your behalf, but in most cases you must apply, meet the qualifications, and make arrangements with the servicer of your loans to receive deferment.

Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

If you have a student loan that is a "subsidized" Stafford loan, an added benefit is that you are not required to pay the accrued interest during any approved periods of deferment. The Government takes care of that for you, but for other categories of Federal and private loans, you are responsible for paying this interest. Request a Deferment

FOREBEARANCE

Student loan forbearance is an authorized temporary suspension of repayment that is granted under certain circumstances. Forbearance differs from deferment in that most forms of forbearance are offered at the discretion of the lender or owner of your loans. While all loans in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and a significant number of private loans allow forbearance in a wide variety of circumstances, it is not granted automatically nor is it guaranteed. You must apply, meet the qualifications, and make arrangements with the servicer of your loans.

You remain responsible for paying the daily interest accrual for all loan types during periods of forbearance. Request Forbearance

DEFAULT

Your loan is considered in default status if you fail to pay your loan back according to the terms disclosed in your promissory note results in default. You are in default on your student loan if your payments are 270 past due or if you fail to comply with other term of the loan. For information concerning default student loans you may call or visit their website at www.fsahelp.ed.gov