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How to Complete Entrance Counseling for a Federal Student Loan

After you have filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, you will need to complete a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note and go through entrance counseling. Completion of entrance counseling ensures that you understand the obligation you are assuming, as well as your rights and responsibilities as a student-loan borrower.

Although most students complete entrance counseling online, you can request a printed copy from the school you are planning to attend and fill it out by hand, according to the Direct Loan Servicing website. The completed form should be returned to the school.

Department of Education PIN

Instructions

Entrance Counseling
- 1
  Use your Department of Education personal identification number, or PIN, to log into the federal Student Loans website.
- 2
  Click on "Complete Entrance Counseling" in the bottom left column.
- 3
  Read the section entitled "What To Do" and select "Complete Entrance Counseling."
- 4
  Choose the level of the degree you are pursuing: undergraduate, graduate or professional. Then click on "Continue."
- 5
  Carefully read the guidelines and click "Continue."
- 6
  Enter your school and loan information. Select your school from the drop-down menu, enter the appropriate state, and click "Continue."
- 7
  Read all information carefully and thoroughly, and answer the counseling session/quiz questions on Pages 1-16.
- 8
  View and download the Counseling Verification Page.

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