The objective of the HMS financial aid program is to assist eligible students and their families in managing a financial plan for obtaining the Harvard medical degree. Financial need, as determined by a national need analysis formula, is the only consideration in determining how much total aid an individual receives; a student's financial aid package is then constructed using the funds available at the time the application is completed. For the 2008-2009 award year, HMS students wishing to be considered for HMS scholarships and low-interest loans are required to file the HMS Application for Financial Aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and either the Need Access Application (incoming students) or the College Scholarship Service Financial Aid Profile form (returning students), along with copies of student/spouse and parent 2007 federal tax returns.

Each student applicant is assigned by alphabetical designation to a Financial Aid Officer. Although many students become acquainted with their Officers during the application process prior to entering HMS, the first required meeting between incoming students and Officers takes place during early fall when loan recipients have a entrance loan counseling interview. Entrance counseling is the first module in HMS’s debt management/personal finance program. In the second year, group meetings are held; in the third year computer-generated debt management profiles are mailed to each student; and in the fourth year a financial planning seminar is held (to which all students are invited) as well as individually scheduled exit loan interviews prior to graduation. Throughout each year, students remain in contact with the Financial Aid Office staff to work out the details of their financial aid processing.

The Financial Aid Office maintains a small library of outside scholarship directories and a bulletin board listing of part-time employment opportunities. The Office also prepares a number materials which describe financial aid programs, policies and procedures. Students and applicants are welcome to stop by the office on the second floor of Gordon Hall to have any general questions answered.

Click on the links below for an introduction to our programs. More detailed information is available in the HMS Financial Aid Guidebook.

									Financial Need - how aid eligibility is determined
									Financial Aid Resources - summary of available aid sources
									Financial Aid Packaging - how financial aid awards are constructed
									Application Procedures
									For More Information