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The Financial Aid Application Process
Financial aid is awarded on an annual basis. Each year a student is required to complete the financial aid application process anew in order to be considered for aid. Application materials are mailed to admitted students and to all waitlisted admissions candidates as well as to all continuing students.
TWO PATHWAYS TO FINANCIAL AID
There are two different application options to choose from when applying for financial aid.
Option I - All Programs
This option is for students who wish to be considered for all forms of financial aid, including the Harvard Medical School Loan Programs,Harvard Medical School Scholarships, the Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan Programs, the Federal Perkins Loan Program, the Federal Work-Study Program, the US Department of Health and Human Services student assistance programs, and the Harvard-Citibank HELP Loan. Detailed descriptions of these programs can be found later in this guidebook.
Students who select this options must provide the Financial Aid Office with parental financial information from both biological parents. In the event that a biological parent is deceased or whereabouts unknown, the applicant should submit third-party documentation of tehse circumstances so that s/he can be considered for a waiver of this requirement.
Option I applicants are required to submit the following materials:
- Harvard Medical School Financial Aid Application. Required of all applicants for Financial Aid.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All aid applicants who are U.S. citizens and permanent residents must complete the FAFSA. Be sure to list "Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, Code # E00472" in the College Release and Certification section.
- College Scholarship Service’s (CSS) Financial Aid Profile. Required of all applicants for HMS scholarships and low-interest loans. All sections (student and parent) must be completed. The HMS code number is 3445.
- College Scholarship Service’s (CSS) Divorced/Separated Parent's Statement (if applicable). If the student’s parents are divorced/separated/never married, the student’s custodial parent should complete the parent sections of Profile form; the non-custodial parent must complete a CSS Divorced/Separated Parent’s Statement (available from the Financial Aid Office upon request).
- Student's 2002 Federal Income Tax Return and W-2 Forms. Submit a signed copy of all pages, schedules, and W-2 forms. If the student will be married by August prior to the start of the award year, a copy of the spouse/prospective spouse's tax return is also required.
- Parent's 2002 Federal Income Tax Return and W-2 Forms. Required of all applicants for HMS scholarships and low-interest loans. Parents must submit a signed copy of all pages, schedules, and W-2 forms. In cases of divorced/separated/unmarried parents, tax forms for the biological parents are required. Be sure to write the student's name and social security number at the top of all returns.
- Background Information Sheet (incoming students only). This data sheet is collected from incoming students to assist us in complying with the restrictions carried by some of our endowed scholarship funds. Responses on this form have no impact on eligibility for scholarship assistance from HMS; the information is used solely to identify an appropriate fund source for any scholarship funds awarded to you.
OPTION II – Federal Aid Only
This is the option for students who are seeking assistance from only federal and private financial aid programs. Students who select this option do not have to provide parental information and are not considered for Harvard Medical School institutional loan programs and/or scholarship funds.
These programs include the Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Programs, the Federal Perkins Loan Program, the Federal Work-Study Program, and the Harvard-Citibank HELP Loan. Detailed descriptions of these programs can be found later in this guidebook.
Option II applicants are required to submit the following materials, as described above:
- Harvard Medical School Financial Aid Application
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Student's 2002 Federal Income Tax Return
- Student's 2002 W-2 Formds
- Background Information Sheet (Incoming Students Only)
Award Notifications
Award decisions are made upon submission of all financial aid application materials. Preliminary award letters are sent to entering students on a rolling basis beginning in early April. Detailed award letters are mailed to all students in early July.
Each award letter recipient is required to acknowledge the aid award by signing the included acceptance statement and returning the letter to the Financial Aid Office within two weeks of the receipt of the award.
In addition, students are instructed to amend the award letter to indicate any outside financial aid awards not yet showing on the letter. Similarly, if the student elects to decline any portion of the recommended loan amounts, s/he should change revise the pre-printed loan amounts printed on the letter.
Students who know they will need additional loan assistance to cover some or all of the expected family contribution will have the opportunity to make their requests when final award letters are mailed in July. These requests will first be met with funds Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan program to the extent permitted by federal borrowing limits and then, if necessary, with funds from the Harvard-Citibank HELP Loan, a private, market-rate educational loan source. A more detailed discussion of student loan terms and conditions can be found in the Financial Aid Resources section of this guidebook.
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