The Pell Grant is offered by the Federal Government to qualifying students attending any eligible school. To qualify for this grant, the student (enrolled in an eligible program) must be a U.S. citizen and not already have earned a bachelors degree. If the student is eligible for a grant, this will be indicated on the Student Aid Report (SAR). All students who meet these eligibility requirements and who wish to be considered for financial aid must apply for this grant. Applications must be made no later than May 1 of the given academic year. Grants of up to $4750.00 are made to eligible students as determined by the guidelines set by the Department of Education. Recipients are notified of the amount of their Federal Pell Grant on their Financial Aid Award letter. Students may be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grants for the duration of time required to complete their first undergraduate course of study.

The FSEOG is a school-administered government grant program. Dependent on available funds as allotted by the Department of Education, grants of a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $4,000.00 are made to students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Similar to the Pell Grant, eligible recipients must be a U.S. citizen and not hold a bachelors degree. Priority for FSEOG is given to Pell Grant recipients. Students may be eligible to receive FSEOG for the duration of time required to complete their first undergraduate course of study.

The Federal Work-Study Program is a school-administered government work program. This program is available to students regardless of whether or not they already hold a bachelors degree. FWS provides students with jobs at an hourly wage commensurate with their skills and the job assignment. Recipients must be U.S. Citizens and demonstrate financial need. Awards are determined by the amount of FWS funds available as compared to need demonstrated. If the FWS Program is of particular interest to you, be certain to contact the office as well to inform them.

Federal Stafford Loans are low-interest loans made by a lender such as a bank or credit union and insured by a State guarantee agency, and reissued by the Federal government. To be eligible for a Federal Stafford Loan, a student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. There are two categories of Federal Stafford Loans: Subsidized and Unsubsidized.

• Federal Stafford Subsidized Loans are low-interest loans for financially needy undergraduate and graduate students. Interest does not accrue on the loan while the student is in school. Professional Workshop or Musical Workshop students in the first year may borrow up to $2625.00 for that academic year; in the second year the student may borrow up to $3500.00. Repayment on a Subsidized Loan begins six months after the student completes the program or leaves school.
• Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loans are low-interest loans for undergraduate and graduate students. Students are responsible for the interest over the life of the loan, including the time when they are enrolled in school. A maximum of $4000.00 can be taken out for each of the two academic years at Circle. Students may elect to pay the interest while in school or defer during the time of enrollment and allow the interest to accrue.

The cumulative maximum Stafford debt (Aggregate Limit) for students in an undergraduate program such as Circle in the Square Theatre School is $23,000.00 in subsidized and $23,000.00 in unsubsidized.

Federal PLUS Loans are loans to parents for college expenses of their undergraduate, dependent children. Parents must be U.S. Citizens and not in default on any other type of loan. Eligible parents of dependent students can take out up to the full cost of attendance minus any other received financial aid (i.e. Pell Grant, FSEOG, etc.). Parents who apply have to pass a credit check. If they don’t pass, they might still be able to receive a loan if they can demonstrate that extenuating circumstances exist, or if someone they know—who can pass—agrees to endorse the loan and promises to repay it if your parents don’t. Generally, repayment begins within 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed (paid out). There is no grace period for these loans. This means interest begins to accumulate at the time the first disbursement is made. Your parents must begin repaying both principal and interest while you're in school.

If a parent finds they are ineligible for the PLUS Loan due to failing a credit check, the student becomes eligible to apply for an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan.

Federal Pell Grants and Federal SEOG are disbursed in the form of a credit to the student's tuition account in equal amounts for the Fall and Spring semesters. Amounts in excess of tuition due are disbursed directly to the student after tuition has been paid in full. FWS funds are disbursed in the form of checks, which are disbursed after the 1st and 15th of each month, made payable to the student for the 75% Federal and the 25% School share of compensation.

All recipients of Financial Aid must maintain satisfactory progress as defined below.

Students must complete the entire curriculum at all levels. There is no allowance for an incomplete participation in any facet of the prescribed curriculum. This encompasses approximately 962 clock hours each year (840 class hours plus a minimum of 122 supervised lab hours of rehearsal and tutorial) over a 32-week period. A student is considered to be making satisfactory progress when regularity of attendance, ability to concentrate and commitment to study are verified by the faculty evaluation of the 481 clock hours of student work at the end of each term for Fall and Spring. Mid-year warnings or probation are issued to students whose work is not satisfactory. The lack of completion of the 481 hour term's work may be the cause for dismissal. Make-up work is arranged only in cases where absence has been unavoidable, as in the case of personal or family illness.

Generally, there will be two disbursements of financial aid for the year and students will be expected to have completed the 481 clock hours for each term prior to the disbursement of any aid. The lack of completion of the 962 clock hours within a 12-month time frame is cause for dismissal of the program and termination of any further financial aid. If, through the process of appeal and/or the completion of the 962 clock hours before the end of the 12-month period, a student is reinstated into the program, eligibility to receive financial aid will also be reinstated. The standard time frame for the completion of the total 1924 clock hours of the program is 24 months, at which time a certificate will be awarded to confirm successful completion.

Rights

1. All Professional and Musical Workshop students have the right to be considered for aid.
2. Those students who qualify for the Federal Pell Grant have the right to receive the full amount as determined by index and enrollment status.
3. Students have the right to complete information regarding financial aid awarded, aid credited to tuition and any obligation such aid may entail.
4. Students have the right to receive detailed truth-in-lending information.
5. All students have the right to receive detailed information in regards to:
   • the School's accreditation;
   • the School's program, faculty and facilities;
   • cost of attendance and refund policy;
   • financial assistance and financial aid personnel;
   • financial aid procedures, deadlines and selection of recipients;
   • how financial need is determined and how much has been met;
   • procedure for review of aid if circumstances have been changed;
   • how satisfactory progress is determined.

Responsibilities

1. To continue to receive aid the student must file the FAFSA or renewal FAFSA by the appropriate deadline each year.
2. Aid recipients must notify the Financial Aid Administrator if they do not plan to continue study at the earliest possible date.
3. Federal Stafford Loan recipients must have an entrance interview and an exit interview prior to leaving the School.
4. Aid recipients must maintain satisfactory progress in the program.
5. All students receiving aid from Federally-funded programs must:
• If male, confirm that the student has registered with Selective Service, if required to do so;
• submit a valid Student Aid Report (SAR) before May 1 of the year for which a Pell Grant is awarded;
• confirm that he or she is not in default on any Federally-funded loan and does not owe a refund of any Federally -funded grant received for attendance at any institution;
• complete the verification process within the deadline given in order to receive aid;
• notify the School if any information has changed since financial aid application was made.
6. All recipients are expected to research, read and understand all financial aid policies and procedures.

If the student owes a refund of Federally-funded aid received at the School, no additional funds may be disbursed until that amount is repaid. Students who have received cash disbursement of Federally-funded aid and who withdraw may be required to repay a portion thereof to the Federal program. These amounts are determined by Federal regulations.

The Patrick J. Patek Scholarship Award

The Patrick J. Patek Scholarship will be awarded as a full or partial scholarship annually to select applicants of the Circle in the Square Theatre School who have shown both artistic merit, as well as financial need. This award is intended to assist students in support of their studies in the theatre school's Professional Training Program.

Students of Czechoslovakian heritage and othr minorities will be given special consideration.

This scholarship is in honor of Mr. Patek's generosity of spirit as a board member and guiding force of the Circle in the Square Theatre School. A determination of the awards recipients and the amount of the scholarship will be based on evaluation by Theodore Mann, Artistic Director and Colin O'Leary, School Director.

Applications for the 2008 summer program and for the fall two-year program commencing September, must be received by June 1, 2008. Auditions are required for both programs.

The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation Scholarship

The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation provide scholarship grants for Circle students in the full time workshops who not only exhibit outstanding ability but also have demonstrated financial need. Their foundation supports myriad artistic philanthropic undertakings including grants for directors, playwrights and actors.

The Jose Quintero Scholarship Award

This award, in honor of the late co-founder of Circle in the Square Theatre and Theatre School and Master Acting Teacher of CITSTS, is presented annually to a faculty nominated student who exhibits outstanding acting ability.