Frequently Asked Questions

You can retrieve your password by supplying the correct answer to the hint question you selected when you set the password. Click on "My Applications" and enter the Need Access ID and date of birth of the applicant. Select the form you would like to access and you will be asked for your password. Here, click "Forgot Your Password?" and supply the answer to your hint question. You will receive an e-mail with your password.

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If you want to change your password or password recovery e-mail address, click on "My Applications." From the Main Menu, select your application and the password page appears. Enter your current password and click in the link below to delete the current password. You will then be prompted to enter a new password and password recovery e-mail address.

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If you cannot remember your password and you can't remember the answer to your password recovery question, click on "My Applications." From the Main Menu, select your application and the password page appears. Click in the section below to request a temporary password. A temporary password will be e-mailed to you using the e-mail address you supplied when you originally entered your password. You will then be able to use this temporary password to regain access to your information and establish a new password. If your e-mail address has changed or is undeliverable, contact Access Group at needaccess@accessgroup.org.

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For security protection, we are required to limit the number of password attempts. If you have made too many attempts, you will be locked out for 1 hour. You may return at that time and try again. Also, you can retrieve your password by supplying the correct answer to the hint question. See first question for more detail.

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1. Schools instruct Access Group what financial data they want collected from their applicants.
2. The Need Access Application directs you (the applicant) to select the school(s) where data should be sent. The questions that appear depend upon the school(s) selected.
3. Access Group processes your Need Access Application and transmits your financial data to the school(s) selected.
4. Financial aid administrators at the selected school(s) assess the data and determine your eligibility for institutional funding.

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If you have selected a school that requires parent information, you will be asked to provide your parents' financial information on the Need Access Application. Your school requires this information to better determine eligibility for institutional funds (grants, scholarships). If you do not provide this information, there is the possibility that you may not be considered for those funds. You can use the "Special Circumstances" section on the application to provide any further explanation about your situation.

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You will need to provide an estimate of your income and assets for the coming year and enter that amount for the need analysis to be calculated. If you feel that you need to explain further, enter your explanation in the "Special Circumstances" section in the application.

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We recommend completing your income tax forms before completing the Need Access Application. However, if this is not possible, you can select "Estimated IRS 1040 Form" or "Estimated IRS 1040A or 1040 EZ Form." Your school may request a final version of the tax form to verify and update your data.

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If you need to complete a Need Access Application for additional schools after you've submitted your information to Access Group, click on "My Applications" then select the application year. You will be prompted for the Need Access ID and date of birth of the applicant. Select the "School Selection" link and add more schools to the list. Please check the application carefully. You may be required to answer additional questions. (Certain schools require more information than others. Please complete all the questions required for each school you've selected). IMPORTANT: You must submit the application again by choosing "Resubmit Application," or the additional schools won't receive your information. No payment is required for resubmitted applications.

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You will need to contact your school(s) to obtain the deadline for your Need Access Application. Access Group is now accepting 2010-2011 Need Access Applications. We will continue to accept 2010-2011 applications through June 30, 2011.

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Applications are processed and available for schools within 24 business hours. You can check your application status by clicking "My Applications" then select "My Account." You will be transferred to Access Group's Web site where you will need to create a new User ID and password if you do not already have one on this site. This is a different login than the Need Access application.

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On the Need Access homepage, click on "My Applications," select the application year you would like to update, and login using your Need Access ID and applicant's date of birth. Select the form you would like to update and enter the password. Please check the application carefully. (Certain schools require more information than others. Please complete all the questions required for each school you've selected). IMPORTANT NOTE: You must resubmit the application by returning to Main Menu and clicking "Resubmit Application" to ensure your information is receive by your selected school(s). No payment is required for resubmitted applications.

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On the Need Access homepage, click on "My Applications," select the application year you would like to print, and login using your Need Access ID and applicant's date of birth. On the main menu there is a section called "Print Application Data." Select a form and you will be prompted for your password. You will be presented with all the data you have completed. Use your browser print function or click on the "Print" icon.

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Need Access applications can only be submitted using the online application. However, you can download paper worksheets to assist you in completing the online application.

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On the NeedAccess homepage, click on "Apply Now," select the new application year, and login using your Need Access ID and applicant's date of birth. Based on this login data, we will recognize that you are a returning applicant and we will pre-populate many of the fields from your previous application. This will greatly reduce your time in completing this application. Be sure to review the data carefully to ensure that you update any fields with new information.

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Yes. If you're a new Need Access applicant, your processing fee is $28.

If you’re a returning Need Access applicant, your processing fee is $15.
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No. You do not need an account. Click "Continue" on the first page to go to the payment page. Complete the information required and click "Review order and continue."

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We have put in place multiple systems and practices to protect our systems and data. Our Web sites, servers and network appliances conform to ISO 27002 (formerly 17799) standards. In addition to our state-of-the-art intrusion detection systems, we have a trained incident response team and have established thorough procedures to deal with computer and data security incidents, which are tested regularly by internal and external audits.

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E-mail us at needaccess@accessgroup.org or call us toll-free at 800-282-1550, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET with your Need Access questions.

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