Financial Aid Applications

Financial Aid Applications may be submitted beginning in January, however tax returns should be prepared first. Please complete the online applications:

• Financial Aid Application for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
  and
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The FAFSA school code number for the School of Medicine is E00459. Paper FAFSA forms are available from Student Financial Services. Medical students applying for Vanderbilt need-based funds must include parental information on the FAFSA. Students who are only applying for federal funds do not have to include parental information.

The priority deadline is March 1; however, applications may still be submitted and will be processed after this date. No action will be taken on applications until your file is complete.

If you are unable to complete the tax returns prior to completing the FAFSA, you may estimate; however, you will be required to correct the FAFSA once the tax returns have been completed. Awards will not be processed until tax return information is accurate. The only exception is if you filed an extension. A copy of IRS form 4868 Application for Automatic Extension of Time must be provided in order to process the award. Once the tax returns have been filed, the FAFSA must be corrected. If the actual is significantly different from the estimate, the award may be adjusted.

Once you have submitted the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA and it has been processed, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal processor. If you provide your email address, you will receive the SAR electronically in as quickly as 24 hours after processing your FAFSA. If you do not receive the SAR, you should check on the status of your application. You may do so by calling 800-433-3243 or check online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You will need to review the SAR for accuracy. If the FAFSA information is complete, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be printed in the upper right hand corner of the first page. This is actually the student/spouse contribution. If there are any corrections that need to be made, please make the corrections online. If there are no corrections, keep the SAR for your records. Student Financial Services will receive the SAR electronically from the federal processor.

Medical students that are applying for institutional need based funding should note that the parental contribution used to determine eligibility is not printed on the SAR. Student Financial Services must calculate the parental contribution.