I've been approved and the negotiation date is May the 3rd. But since payment is due on May the 1st, I'm wondering if anybody who has had prior experience with this can let me know what they did. I'll be calling up the SFAS tomorrow but any present advice would be appreciated.

Im actually going in tomorrow morning to sign some papers with SFAS, and one of the things I need to ask them about is this exact thing. I wont have any answers til then, but can tell you what they told me when I get home.

I had this issue. They said you have to pay upfront and OSAP will basically "reimburse you". When confronted with the fact that I cannot just "pay up front" and asked what to then do, I was met with blank faces and remarks.

I can't help you since this'll be my first time getting summer OSAP too, but I can tell you the Registrar isn't as strict with payments as you may think. I actually think I've submitted all three of my payments (fall/winter first year, spring first year, fall/winter this year) close a week late and and I haven't been dinged with the late payment fee once.

That being said, I don't recommend being a month late or anything, but if the OSAP release date is the 3rd and payment due date is the 1st, I wouldn't worry too much. They'll understand if it's made known you're getting summer OSAP and I'm not even sure the Registrar's office is open on a Saturday anyway.

I guess this only applies if OSAP is covering the full cost of your tuition though.

Edit:

Originally Posted by dmzz

I had this issue. They said you have to pay upfront and OSAP will basically "reimburse you". When confronted with the fact that I cannot just "pay up front" and asked what to then do, I was met with blank faces and remarks.

This is new to me.

The payment agreement said I didn't owe any money so I thought I didn't even have to write a cheque this term.

I guess I'll wait for more responses but I probably won't end up writing one anyway.

Yeah I don't have $2600 lying around and I remembered that last year, I paid the balance that OSAP wasn't covering a day late and they returned the $35 extra I paid to cover the late fee. I was just hoping that this was the case now, since OSAP is covering the whole amount.

Here is a link to the the studnet accounts website that explains the payment options...esp that you do not need to pay up front if you have OSAP

http://www.mcmaster.ca/bms/student/p...s_s ummer.pdf

Thanks, Theresa

I just talked to both SFAS and Student Accounts, and was told that if you're collecting from any government subsidy (OSAP, CSL, etc) there should be no issue with late payments or any other nonsense, and if you are charged a late fee of any kind, to go talk to student accounts to get it fixed.

i have a question...if i make 12,000 in the summer do I only claim 6,000 when filling out OSAP? do they assume a base level of 6000?

Originally Posted by manu

i have a question...if i make 12,000 in the summer do I only claim 6,000 when filling out OSAP? do they assume a base level of 6000?

As far as Im aware, you have to state what you make. If you make 12k, you put 12k on the form.

So uh...do we have to pick up OSAP and stuff again? I was expecting an email telling me to get in line or something, but I haven't gotten anything.

Originally Posted by Entropy

So uh...do we have to pick up OSAP and stuff again? I was expecting an email telling me to get in line or something, but I haven't gotten anything.

It doesn't say on the website, so you should contact SFAS for information: sfas.mcmaster.ca/office.html

Originally Posted by Entropy

So uh...do we have to pick up OSAP and stuff again? I was expecting an email telling me to get in line or something, but I haven't gotten anything.

Ya me neither :S

Yup, you have to go to the SFAS office in Gilmore Hill to negotiate your funding.

Originally Posted by goodnews.inc

Yup, you have to go to the SFAS office in Gilmore Hill to negotiate your funding.

Wow Gilmore Hill where is that (haha joking)...so is it going to be like before except its going to be in their office?

Heading to the SFAS tomorrow... wish me luck