Many schools and public libraries have books and reference materials on financing your education. These include "how-to" guides that describe the financial aid process and directories of funding sources that offer detailed information for private scholarships, grants, and loans. In addition, online sources can provide up-to-the-minute data and resources.

• Sites to Complete Requirements for Federal Aid
• General Financial Aid Information
• Scholarship Searches/Services

Sites to Complete Requirements for Federal Aid

The following links allow you to complete federal student aid requirements online.

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Web
  This site is the first step to apply for or renew your need-based federal financial aid.
• Direct Loans MASTER PROMISSORY NOTE (MPN)
  All first-time borrowers of the Stafford Loan Program and the Parent PLUS loan program are required to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). Click on the link and you will be guided step-by-step through the process. You will need your Department of Education PIN to e-sign the MPN. If you do not have a pin, or have lost it, go to www.pin.ed.gov to obtain one. The MPN is good for 10 years; therefore, you will not need to sign another MPN in your subsequent years at Berklee. The Office of Financial Aid encourages all Stafford and PLUS loan borrowers to complete a MPN online; however, if you prefer to complete a paper MPN, one can be obtained by contacting the Office of Financial Aid
• Mapping-your-future.org
  All first-time Stafford and Perkins Loan borrowers at Berklee are required to complete entrance loan counseling. You may fulfill this requirement by clicking on the link above or by attending group counseling sessions at orientation. All Stafford and Perkins Loan borrowers are also required to complete exit loan counseling immediately prior to completing your Berklee education, dropping below six credits, or taking a semester off (excluding summer). You may fulfill this requirement by clicking the link above or by attending group sessions at the end of Fall and Spring semesters.
• ECSI (Educational Computer Systems, Inc.)
  This site enables Perkins Loan borrowers to sign a Perkins Promissory Note and complete Perkins Entrance and Exit Counseling. A borrower can also view his/her Perkins Loan account, and download other forms, such as deferment forms, forbearance forms, and exit repayment schedules.
• Department of Education's Interactive Site
  This site includes many features, such as Borrower Account Information, Interactive debt calculators, entrance and exit counseling, deferment and forbearance forms, and various Direct Loan tools.

General Financial Aid Information

• Private Alternative Loan Entrance Counseling session
  Private alternative loan counseling session educates borrowers about private credit based loans. The Office of Financial Aid highly recommends completing this session before applying for any private credit based education loan.
• www.studentaid.ed.gov
  The Department of Education's comprehensive financial aid information site for students.
• Finaid.org
• Department of Education
• The Student Guide
  A comprehensive resource on financial aid published by the U.S. Department of Education. Updated each academic year, The Student Guide tells you about federal student aid programs and how to apply for them.
• Funding your Education
  A Department of Education guide about funding higher education available in both English and Spanish.

Free Private Scholarship Search Services

• FastWEB
• SRN Express
• Wiredscholar
• The College Board's fundfinder
• The Commumity Foundation of Western Massachusetts
  This website includes scholarship applications and information for residents of western Massachusetts.
• BrokeScholar.com