Financial Aid Packaging

1. Prior to financial aid award packaging the student must have a completed financial aid file (need analysis document, GWUSOM Application for Financial Aid and tax returns, as well as appropriate loan applications) on file in the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
2. The student is assigned a student financial aid budget according to which year he/she is expected to enroll (MSI, MSII, MSIII, or MSIV).
3. The student's expected family contribution (EFC) is obtained from the need analysis document (SAR).  This data is transmitted electronically to the school based upon the student's request on the FAFSA application. [GWUSOM's Title IV code is E00197.]
4. The student's unmet need is determined by subtracting the EFC from the student financial aid budget.
5. The student must apply for all federal loan programs, private loans and/or scholarships.

   * It is the student's responsibility to obtain the application and submit it for prompt processing. Applications are processed by class beginning in early May of each year starting with the fourth year class and working down to the first year class.

6. GW's Office of Student Financial Aid Office will then package in the following order:
   1. Institutional (GW Based) Aid, including Perkins
   2. Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
   3. Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
   4. Federal GradPLUS or other private alternative loans
   5. Primary Care Loan (for those providing parental information on the need analysis document). This involves a service commitment requirement and is awarded last.
7. After packaging is done, the student will receive a Notice of Student Financial Assistance which must be accepted/rejected/adjusted within the on-line system. (No aid is disbursed without the student response via the on-line system.)
8. Financial aid is processing continually throughout the year. If changes in the original financial aid package are made during the year, the student is sent a new Notice of Student Financial Assistance.