Entrance Counseling

Entrance Counseling

Federal Direct Loans

• This counseling session provides you with information that will help you understand your rights and responsibilities as a loan borrower, as well as other tools to assist you with managing your loans.
• Once completed your results will be sent electronically to Pacific's Office of Financial Aid.
• Entrance counseling is required for all first-time borrowers of the Federal Direct subsidized and unsubsidized loan(s). 
• Borrowers are only required to complete one loan entrance counseling session for both loans, even if two entrance requirements are in the Financial Aid requirements section of insidePacific. 
• When you complete one entrance counseling session, it will fulfill the requirement for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans.
• First-time borrowers of the Federal Direct Grad PLUS loan will be required to complete a Loan Entrance Counseling session for this loan in addition to one for the Stafford subsidized and unsubsidized loans. 
• Borrowers may choose to complete a PLUS-specific entrance session or a combination Stafford/PLUS entrance session. 
• Entrance counseling is completed online, in about 20-30 minutes, through the U.S. Department of Education Student Loan website at  www.StudentLoans.gov.
• You will need your FSA ID to log into the website.
• What if I forget my FSA ID username or password? 
• Click here for loan instructions.
• New PLUS Loan Counseling is required for borrowers who are denied based on an adverse credit history.
• Must be completed before disbursement of the Direct PLUS Loan funds.
• How to complete:

1. Log in to StudentLoans.gov using your FSA ID.
2. Select "Complete Counseling" on the left-hand navigation bar
3. Select "PLUS Counseling" under "Choose Counseling Type"

Click here for more information about adverse credit and how to obtain a PLUS Loan with an adverse credit history. 

Note:  The entrance counseling requirement is separate from e-signing the MPN and PLUS Counseling does not meet the Entrance Counseling requirement for first-time Graduate/Professional students. 

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 Master Promissory Note (MPN)

• The loans you receive at Pacific are made under a Master Promissory Note (MPN).
• The MPN must be signed and is a legally binding agreement which contains the terms and conditions of your loans. 
• You should keep the MPN and any other loan documents in a safe place. 
• The MPN will be used for all of your Direct loans while at Pacific for up to 10 years.
• You will receive a disclosure statement for each specific loan you borrow at Pacific.
• The disclosure statement includes the loan amount and loan fees.
• The disclosure statement provides information on how to cancel your loan if you do not want the loan.