ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY Stay Connected! You will soon receive an invitation to join our special Facebook Group for Accepted Students only. We look forward to seeing you on THE HILL! Check your email often. www.aamu.edu Campus Tour Scholarship Application Office of Undergraduate Admissions P.O. Box 908 Normal, Alabama 35762 Phone: 256-372-5245 Fax: 256-372-5249 Toll Free: 800-553-0816 “Service is Sovereignty” 1 Congratulations and Welcome to the AAMU Bulldog Family! You have worked hard, and though high school will soon be behind you, another critical step of your educational journey lies ahead. We are therefore honored, and appreciative, that you chose Alabama A&M University for such a special part of your journey. Please know that we still believe in dreams at ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY and work daily to inspire excellence in our students. To that end, we ask that you take time and read this booklet thoroughly. Our goal is to assist you as much as possible with your educational transition. However; it is imperative that you and your parents or guardians participate in the process on all levels. This booklet will serve as your step-by-step guide to a successful beginning for the Fall 2013 Semester. Also, we have determined that securing adequate funding for college is a number one concern for most students. As such, we strongly encourage you to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid as soon as possible. January 01, 2013 is the ideal date to complete the application. We also encourage you to apply for as many outside scholarships as possible. See the Q&A section for more details. Finally, Alabama A&M University, affectionately called “The Hill”, is a vanguard institution because of its founder, students, faculty, staff, alumni and soon, because of more students like you. ~ Welcome! Venita Clisby King AVP Enrollment Management Director of Admissions “You have a place on THE HILL, where the lights shine bright!” 256-372-5000 Academic Advising 256-372-5646 Athletics Department 256-372-8057 Bookstore 256-372-8825 Business Office/Office of the Comptroller 256-372-5200 Cashiers Office 256-372-4883/4884 Collections 256-372.5195 Disabilities/Veterans Affairs 256-372-4263 Financial Aid 256-372-5400 Health Center 256-372-5600 ID Card Office 256-372-5182 Office of the Registrar 256-372-5254 Post Office 256-372-5641 Registrars Office 256-372-5254 Residential Life and Housing 256-372-5797 ROTC 256-372-4023 Testing Department 256-372-5653 Ticket Office 256-372-4059 Tutoring 256-372-5487 Undergraduate Admissions 256-372-5250 University College 256-372-8454 ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY Enrollment , FAFSA, Housing, S.O.A.R. & Tuition & Fees Payment ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY Enrollment , FAFSA, Housing, S.O.A.R. & Tuition & Fees Payment Office of Undergraduate Admissions Campus Operator 2 “Service is is Sovereignty” “Service Sovereignty” 77 Please understand that federal financial aid is used to help you cover the cost of your education. Rarely does it cover your entire bill. You must be prepared to cover your remaining balance if you don’t have enough funding through personal resources . You may also consider the no-interest installment payment plan administered through our business office. The key is to start early! Step 1 ENROLLMENT FORM AND FEE It is imperative to confirm your intent to attend AAMU. To do this, complete and submit the Enrollment Response Form. The non-refundable $100 Enrollment Response Fee must also be submitted. We suggest that you visit and register with free scholarship search engines like Cappex.com and FastWeb.com. Also, visit the websites of major companies and type in the word “scholarship” and see what you find. There are also many scholarship options listed on our website. Just visit the Financial Aid page and click “Scholarships”. Step 2 FAFSA Complete the FAFSA as soon after January 1, 2013 as possible. Completing the FAFSA in a timely manner may mean the difference in you receiving limited federal funds (i.e., FSEOG Grant, Federal Work-Study) and not. Step 3 CAMPUS HOUSING You must complete and return the Housing Application Form to reserve your campus housing. Freshmen students MUST reside on campus. Please also know ALL UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS that include room and board awards require on-campus housing. Normal Hills apartments are considered to be “Off-Campus” housing. Step 4 STUDENT ORIENTATION AND REGISTRATION “S.O.A.R.” S.O.A.R. provides an opportunity to become acquainted with the campus, administrators and student leaders. During this period, you will take your COMPASS test to determine your readiness to enroll in college level courses. Also, while attending SOAR, you will meet with an academic advisor to create your class schedule. You may register online to attend. Step 5 PAYING TUITION & FEES You, your parents or guardians are ultimately responsible for your tuition and fees. However, the university offers Payment Options for your convenience: Option 1: Pay balance in full with cash, check, money order, VISA or MasterCard. Option 2: Pay balance with a combination of Financial Aid and cash. Option 3: Pay balance monthly using Tuition Management Services (TMS). Contact the AAMU Financial Aid Office for assistance with options 2 and 3. What happens if I don’t have enough money to cover my bill? I completed my financial aid, but was told I was selected for verification; What exactly does that mean? Verification means that the federal government selected your financial aid application to be verified for accuracy. The Office of Financial Aid must then collect certain documents before your file can be fully processed. Nothing further can be done until you complete the verification. Is there a deadline for submitting financial aid information? We don’t have a deadline, but we do have a priority date of March 1 of each year. Meeting this deadline positions you to be offered the maximum financial aid package for which you are eligible, as many funds are categorized as firstcome-first serve. What is the latest that I can pay my tuition and fees? Your tuition and fees must be paid before you begin classes. Starting and finalizing your Financial Aid process early is the key to meeting this timeline. Don’t forget that you will have payment options. Inquire early! Who is my Point of Contact should I need assistance before arriving to campus? Your Admissions Assistant will serve as your Point of Contact. You should have already received emails from them by now. Email them with your concerns. ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY Enrollment , FAFSA, Housing, S.O.A.R. & Tuition & Fees Payment ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY Enrollment , FAFSA, Housing, S.O.A.R. & Tuition & Fees Payment Office of Undergraduate Admissions 6 “Service is Sovereignty” 3 What is the absolute first thing I should do after being accepted? First, smile and congratulate yourself and then submit your completed Enrollment Form as soon after as possible. This is a critical step! Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour: In-State~$233, Out-of-State~$466 *All costs listed are subject to change. 15 Hour Semester Estimated cost for a Full-Time Undergraduate Freshman with 15 hours per semester/Cost for fewer or more hours will be reflected accordingly. ALABAMA RESIDENT OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENT Students are advised to bring bed linens or a sleeping bag, adequate clothing, medications, toiletries, and other necessities needed for a trip away from home. However, on-campus housing is only available for students attending S.O.A.R. Option 1 includes housing accommodations. Telecommunications equipment includes extended basic cable and wireless Internet access. $3,495 $6,990 Mandatory Fees $750 $750 Residence Hall Room + Dorm Fees $1,341 $1,341 Meal Plan @21 Meals per Week $1,432 $1,432 Parking Decal/Shuttle Fee (Per Year) $90 $90 Books and Supplies/Estimate $900 $900 Total $8,008 $11,503 Yes. However, there are remote options. Contact the Academic Advising and Testing departments for specific details regarding remote options. What should I bring to S.O.A.R.? Option 1 Tuition Do I have to attend the Student Orientation And Registration? How can my best friend and I become roommates at AAMU? First, you both must be accepted to the university and have paid the Enrollment Response Fee before making the request. Then follow the guidelines provided by our Office of Residential & Housing. The process is online and quite simple. How will I know how much I’ve been awarded from Financial Aid? After successfully completing your FAFSA, you will receive an Award Letter from the AAMU Office of Financial Aid. The letter will detail the amounts of specific aid for which you are eligible. You and your parents must select the aid that you are willing to accept, as it is not a guarantee of aid and not automatically applied to your account . The Award Letter will include instructions about how to accept your offer. Option 2: Commuter Student Only Do you offer R.O.T.C.? Option 2 Does Not Include Housing Accommodations. Tuition $3,495 $6,990 Mandatory Fees $750 $750 Parking Decal/Shuttle Fee (Per Year) $90 $90 (Optional) Commuter Meal Plan @ 80 Meals per Semester $394 $394 Books and Supplies/Estimate $900 $900 Total $5,629 $9,124 Yes, we have an excellent Reserve Officers Training Corps program. I am the first to attend college in my immediate family, are there many other students like me? Yes, indeed. I do not have a car, how will I get around? We have our own Bulldog Transit System and provide on-campus and limited off-campus transportation. It’s great! Office of Undergraduate Admissions ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY Enrollment , FAFSA, Housing, S.O.A.R. & Tuition & Fees Payment 4 “Service is Sovereignty” 5