Applications

In anticipation of your interest in student financial aid for the 2005-06 academic year, the application procedures for the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences are described below:
 

Statement of Educational Purpose

All applicants must sign and date a statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) indicating that the funds they receive will be used only for expenses related to attendance at the University of North Dakota.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Complete and mail a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1st; if you are filing for financial aid for the first time, OR if you filed a FAFSA last year and receive a Personal Identification Number (PIN), you will need to use Renewal FAFSA on the Web.  Website:  http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.    DO NOT complete both forms. Electronic filing is not only faster, but has a dramatically lower error rate than the paper version.  You can also print off a "FAFSA on the Web Pre-application Worksheet" if you plan to use the web to apply for financial aid.  The worksheet is made up of application questions in the same order as you would see them in the FAFSA on the Web.

You can also complete the FAFSA electronically using either 1:  FAFSA on the web = http://www.fafsa.ed.gov  or 2: Request a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in preparation for filing your 05-06 Renewal FAFSA = http://www.pin.ed.gov or

We recommend that you submit the parental data on the FAFSA application even though, as a medical student, you will be classified independent, for financial aid purposes, providing it ensures that you will be considered for every type of aid available, i.e. Primary Care Loan* (PCL), Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS).

If you submit parent financial information, a copy of the parent's 2004 tax return must also be submitted to the medical school student financial aid office. If the parent did not and will not file a 2004 US Income Tax Return, a statement of non-filing must be signed and submitted to the medical school-SFAO.
 

The FAFSA must always be signed by the student and at least one parent if parental information is submitted. Complete your Renewal FAFSA on the Web or FAFSA as soon after January 1, 2005 as possible. If you have not yet filed your 2004 income tax return, it is permissible to provide estimated data.

2005-06 UND medical students should submit their FAFSA application directly to: FEDERAL STUDENT AID PROGRAMS, P.O. BOX 7001, Mt. Vernon, IL., 62864-0071. Within four weeks, you will receive a green Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail with processing results. Please check online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or call 1-800-4-FEDAID (1-800-433-3243) to check on your application. If there are corrections to be made, do so, sign it and return the corrected SAR to the Medical School Student Financial Aid Office for processing.

Federal Stafford Loan

Stafford Loan eligibility requires a financial needs test (FAFSA). This needs test will determine the dollar amount you and/or your parents can be expected to contribute toward your educational expenses. The Financial Aid officer must subtract your family contribution and your other financial aid from the cost of education to determine your eligibility for a Federal Stafford Loan.  Students should be aware that some loans are now dependent on either their credit worthiness or obtaining a co-signature.  Before you will be considered for other loan programs, your eligibility for a Federal Stafford Loan will be determined in order to insure optimum consideration for the best combination of loan assistance.  If your Stafford loan application is processed electronically, the master promissory note will be mailed to you by your lender. If your Stafford loan application must be processed manually (paper), an application/master promissory note is available through your lender.

Statement of Registration Compliance

All applicants must answer a statement on the FAFSA before Federal Stafford Loan/Federal Perkins papers are processed or financial aid awards are granted.

*Funds awarded from these programs require students to agree to a service commitment in primary care.
 

Suspension of Eligibility for Drug Convictions

All applicants must answer a statement on the FAFSA before Federal Stafford Loan/Federal Perkins papers are processed or financial aid awards are granted.

A new law suspends federal student aid eligibility for students convicted under federal or state law of possession or sale of drugs (this does not include alcohol or tobacco).
 
 

Changes in Financial Situation

Students are required to inform the Student Financial Aid Office of any additional financial aid received after completing financial aid applications.

Eligibility to receive financial assistance is based on the previous year's income. Therefore, eligibility to receive financial aid for the 2005-06 school year is based on 2004 information. However, if your family's financial situation has recently changed for the worse, you should contact the Student Financial Aid Office.
 
 

Award Process

Each applicant will be considered for all financial aid and will be granted the aid which suits his/her needs according to availability of funds. It is often necessary to combine types of aid to make up a financial aid "package" (loans, scholarships) in order to be of maximum assistance to the applicant.  Because total resources available are not insufficient to meet the total calculated need, it is necessary for medical students to supplement their award packages often through Unsubsidized Federal Stafford/ or MAL/ALP loans. However, we will recommend application for these programs to you only after having considered all primary loan programs and family assistance.
 

Award Notification

Students who have correctly completed and submitted their application materials by March 15, 2005 should receive an award notification in June which will indicate their eligibility for aid. Recipients of financial aid must accept or reject the aid offer within 10 days after receiving notice of the award; otherwise, the award will be automatically cancelled.
 

Late Applicants

Late applicants, as well as those who incorrectly fill out their application materials, may experience a considerable delay in receiving notification of their eligibility and subsequent delivery of any remaining financial aid funds.
 

Satisfactory Academic Progress

To be eligible to receive financial aid, medical students must meet the following minimum standards as established by the University.

1. Academic standards - Students must maintain satisfactory academic performance standards and must be eligible to re-enroll in the next academic term. Satisfactory progress is determined by annual and/or individual review by the School of Medicine and Health Sciences Student Performance nd Recognition Committee. The students must complete a full academic load as approved by the SPRC with satisfactory grades each semester or complete successfully full-time coursework at another institution as prescribed by the SPRC.

2. Rate of progress standards -
a) Students must complete their program of Study within the maximum number of attempted credit hours-medical 218;
b) Students must successfully complete two- thirds (67%) of the cumulative credit hours attempted each year.

A more detailed Summary of the Standards of Satisfactory Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility may be obtained from the School of Medicine and Health Sciences Student Financial Aid Office.
 

Overfunding/Substitution of Aids

If we are notified that you will be receiving a Gabriel Brown loan, NHSC Scholarship or other aid, it may be substituted in your award package. Also, all awards funded from federal sources are payable subject to the availability of federal funds.

Students Who Marry After Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Students who will be married after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must complete the FAFSA as a single student and may NOT complete a second FAFSA after they are married. For financial aid purposes, their status will remain as it was the day they completed the FAFSA.
 

Repayment Due and/or Defaults

Federal regulations stipulate that any student who is in default for the repayment of a grant or loan (whether it be through the institution, an outside lending agency or a state agency) is not eligible to receive funds which are obtained from the federal government.
 

Employment

The School of Medicine and Health Sciences stipulates that first-year medical students should not plan on or undertake employment.

College work-study is a form of federal aid, based on financial need, which provides jobs for students who must meet their educational expenses. Wages are paid primarily from federal funds allocated to the university.

Wages for institutional employment are paid from state-appropriated funds allocated to the individual departments within the University. Financial need is not a requirement.

The UND Office of Student Financial Aid arranges college work-study programs and institutional employment.

In arranging a job and determining how many hours a week you may work under this program, the Financial Aid Office will take into account: (1) your need for financial assistance (2) your class schedule and (3) your health and academic progress. In general, the salary you receive is at least equal to the current minimum wage.

Since college work-study is a form of federal financial aid, it is required that you complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid to receive consideration for this program.