Loan Counseling

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A. Entrance Counseling

Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program

First time Federal Subsidized Stafford/Unsubsidized Stafford Loan borrowers must complete an Entrance Counseling session prior to a loan request being processed. Counseling sessions can be completed via the Internet. You should go to MappingYourFuture.org and click on Student Loan Counseling Interview; then select the Stafford Entrance box. You should then follow the on-screen instructions. The Financial Aid Office will receive an electronic confirmation when the online session has been completed. You may also complete the Entrance Counseling requirement at the Financial Aid Office.

At the conclusion of the on-line counseling session, you may contact the Financial Aid Office in the Student Services Building, or at 1-808-974-7323, with any questions.

GradPLUS Loans

First time Graduate PLUS Loan borrowers must complete an entrance counseling session prior to a loan request being processed. Counseling sessions can be completed via the Internet. You should go to http://MappingYourFuture.org and click on Student Loan Counseling Interview then select the “Grad Plus” box. You should then follow the on-screen instructions. The Financial Aid Office will receive an electronic confirmation when the online session has been completed. You may also complete the Entrance Counseling requirement at the Financial Aid Office.

At the conclusion of the on-line counseling session, you may contact the Financial Aid Office in the Student Services Building or at 1-808-974-7323 with any questions

Federal Perkins Loans

First time Federal Perkins Loan borrowers mustcomplete an entrance counseling session prior to receiving the loan funds. Counseling sessions can be completed via the Internet. You should go to MappingYourFuture.org and click on Student Loan Counseling Interview; then select the Perkins Entrance box. You should then follow the on-screen instructions. The Financial Aid Office will receive an electronic confirmation when the online session has been completed. You may also complete the Entrance Counseling requirement at the Financial Aid Office.

At the conclusion of the on-line counseling session, you may contact the Financial Aid Office in the Student Services Building, or at 1-808-974-7323, with any questions.

SHEL Loans

First time SHEL borrowers must complete an entrance counseling session prior to receiving the loan funds. Counseling sessions can be completed via the Internet. You should go to http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/studentaffairs/finaid/ and click on Student Loan Counseling Interview then select SHEL Entrance Counseling. You should then follow the on-screen instructions. The Financial Aid Office will receive an electronic confirmation when the online session has been completed. You may also complete the Entrance Counseling requirement at the Financial Aid Office.

At the conclusion of the online counseling session, you may contact the Financial Aid Office in the Student Services Building, or at 1-808-974-7323, with any questions.

B. Exit Counseling

Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

Prior to graduation or withdrawing from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, borrowers of Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans must complete an exit counseling session. You may complete this requirement via the Internet. You should go to MappingYourFuture.org and select the Student Loan Counseling Interview-Stafford Exit box. You should then follow the on-screen instructions. The Financial Aid Office will receive an electronic confirmation when the online session has been completed. Also, you may attend one of the exit sessions conducted by financial aid office staff members.

At the conclusion of the counseling session, you may contact the Financial Aid Office in the Student Services Building, or at 1-808-974-7323, with any questions.

GradPLUS Loans

Prior to graduation or withdrawing from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, borrowers of Federal Graduate PLUS Loans must complete an exit counseling session. You may complete this requirement via the Internet. You should go to http:/MappingYourFuture.org and select the Student Loan Counseling Interview-GradPLUS Exit box. You should then follow the on-screen instructions. The Financial Aid Office will receive an electronic confirmation when the online session has been completed. Also, you may attend one of the exit sessions conducted by financial aid office staff members.

At the conclusion of the counseling session, you may contact the Financial Aid Office in the Student Services Building or at 1-808-974-7323 with any questions.

Federal Perkins Loans

Prior to graduation or withdrawing from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, borrowers of Federal Perkins Loans must complete an exit counseling session. You may complete this requirement via the Internet. You should go to MappingYourFuture.org and select the Student Loan Counseling Interview-Perkins Exit box. You should then follow the on-screen instructions. The Financial Aid Office will receive an electronic confirmation when the online session has been completed. Also, you may attend one of the exit sessions conducted by financial aid office staff members.

At the conclusion of the counseling session, you may contact the Financial Aid Office in the Student Services Building, or at 1-808-974-7323, with any questions.

SHEL Loans

Prior to graduation or withdrawing from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, borrowers of SHEL Loans must complete an exit counseling session. Counseling sessions can be completed via the Internet. You should go to http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/studentaffairs/finaid/ and click on Student Loan Counseling Interview then select SHEL Exit Counseling. You should then follow the on-screen instructions. The Financial Aid Office will receive an electronic confirmation when the online session has been completed. You may also complete the Entrance Counseling requirement at the Financial Aid Office.

At the conclusion of the counseling session, you may contact the Financial Aid Office in the Student Services Building, or at 1-808-974-7323, with any questions.

Selecting a Federal Stafford Loan Lender

It is your responsibility to choose a lender for your student loan. The Financial Aid Office can not do so for you. For previous borrowers, it is best to stay with the same lender even if it is not listed below.

UH Hilo does not recommend or endorse any lender(s). Students may select any lender that participates in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program.

Please Read Carefully Before Choosing A Lender

Borrower benefits vary from lender to lender. Some lenders offer ‘up front’ benefits like zero origination fees, some offer ‘back end’ benefits like interest reductions for a certain number of on time payments, and some lenders offer both. Students benefit from up front borrower benefits immediately. Back end benefits can offer considerable savings but only if the borrower meets the terms and conditions for receiving the different borrower benefit. Therefore, UH Hilo strongly recommends that you visit different lender websites to investigate the different borrower benefits and select the lender that offers the borrower benefits that best meet your needs.

When selecting a lender, borrowers should also consider the following:

Does the lender provide good customer service?
Does the lender provide a toll free customer service/assistance telephone number that is available 24 hours, 7 days a week?
Does the lender have a reputation for good customer service and problem resolution? Ask your friends, relatives, and other students who have used the lender.
Ask your family, friends, and/or other students about the any prior business dealings (student loans, consumer loans, etc.) they have had with the lender or the lender’s parent company.
Are there any consumer complaints to the State Attorney General or the Better Business Bureau about the lender?
Does the lender sell its student loans to other entities? If the lender sells its loans, when, under what conditions, and to whom does the lender sell its loans?
What is the lenders default rate? The lender’s default rate can be a reflection of how well the lender services its loans.

Lenders that UH Hilo students have used in the past year (listed in order of volume):

Lender Name