Medical Students Applying for Student Aid
Please complete the following steps for the application process:
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Complete the FAFSA [for federal student loans]
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Complete the Need Access [for need-based aid]
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Mail copies of your 2011 income tax returns [for you, your spouse & your parents] to the Financial Aid Office [for need-based aid]
Incoming students must submit this information no later than March 15th.
Returning students must submit this information no later than April 15th.
Forms will not be available on the websites until January 1st.
Detailed information for each step is listed below.
Step 1:
Complete the 2012-2013 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) - Not available until January 1, 2012.
Entering students should submit the FAFSA no later than March 15 to insure that the results reach the Financial Aid Office in adequate time.
Returning Students should submit the FAFSA no later than April 15. Returning students are required to fill out forms each year to be eligible for aid.
The FAFSA is available online. (Completing the online form is faster and prevents many of the common errors associated with the traditional paper form.)
The WFUSM School Code is E00524.
Parental financial information is not required on the FAFSA for graduate/professional students.
Your SAR (Student Aid Report) will arrive about 4 weeks after you submit the FAFSA. The SAR indicates your expected family contribution, which is used to determine your eligibility for federal student loans. The SAR also lists the information you reported on the FAFSA, so that you can check your information for accuracy. If no corrections are needed, keep the SAR for your records. If you listed the WFUSM school code in the college release section of your SAR, we will receive your information electronically.
Step 2:
Fill out the Need Access (need analysis form) as soon after January 31 as possible.
New students should submit the Need Access form no later than March 15 to insure that the results reach the Financial Aid Office in adequate time.
Returning students should submit the Need Access form no later than April 15 to insure that the results reach us in adequate time. Returning students are required to reapply each year to be considered for need-based aid.
Estimating financial data is acceptable if 2011 tax documents are not available at the time you are completing the form. Parental financial information is requiredon the Need Access form for all students applying for need-based scholarships and grants from WFUSM’s need based resources.
Step 3:
A signed copy of student/spouse and parents’ 2011 Federal Income Tax returns & W-2 forms must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office. If an extension is being filed, a copy of the extension form and a copy of 2010 returns are required until the return is filed. Once filed, you must send a 2011 copy to the Financial Aid Office.
What to expect after applying:
Receive award notification: Incoming students will receive their email in mid-April and Returning Students will receive an email in mid-May.
Review awards online and accept or reject loans offered accordingly. Note: Whatever total amount you accept will be split into two equal disbursements.
Submit your awards online within 14 days of reciept. The Financial Aid Office will certify your eligibility for the loans you have accepted and send the certification to the Department of Education.
Read, complete and electronically sign your MPNs (Master Promissory Notes). One MPN must be completed for the Stafford loans. If you also accepted the Graduate PLUS loan, you must complete a seperate MPN. The MPN link is provided once you submit your financial aid. If you did not complete the MPN when you clicked submit, you can access the MPNs here. [The green "Sign In" link will be on the right - the link is not available on some internet browsers. So, if you do not see the link, try logging on using Mozilla or IE 7]
Wait until orientaton to receive your loan money. Your loans will be credited towards tuition but if you accepted additional money to pay for living expenses, you will receive a refund check during the first couple of days you are here.