UNSOM Prospective Applicants: Opportunities for Minority Students: Financial Assistance

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The School of Medicine offers need-based and merit scholarships annually to accepted medical students.

Merit scholarships are awarded by the Admissions Committee after review of accepted applicants’ academic achievements, leadership, clinical experiences, and commitment to providing healthcare to needy communities.

All applicants are eligible and considered for merit and need –based scholarships. The School of Medicine is committed to accepting students representing all of Nevada’s diverse communities and offsetting the cost of medical school

for all students.

Planning for the financial responsibilities of medical school begins when you think about applying. The timeline below his a helpful guide for students in managing finances.

WHEN YOU FIRST CONSIDER APPLYING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL:

1. Minimize student loan debt now.
2. Pay existing consumer debts.
3. Maintain a good credit rating!
4. Save all the money you can.
5. Take advantage of employment opportunities now.
6. Learn now how to manage your money.
7. Keep good records of your undergraduate student loans.
8. Educate yourself about financial aid.

THE YEAR PRIOR TO ANTICIPATED ENROLLMENT IN MEDICAL SCHOOL:

• Apply through the AMCAS program.
• There is a separate application for the School of Medicine's need-based scholarships that will be mailed to you upon admission to the School of Medicine.
• Review the financial aid programs available at the medical schools to which you are applying. Pay particular attention to the scholarships available, considering the average amounts and the criteria used to award them. Ask each school to provide you with information about the average student loan indebtedness of their graduates.
• Designate a folder for each school you are considering, and keep all information relevant to financial aid all information you receive and keep copies of all applications and forms. Keep everything organized.
• Attend a UNSOM Preview and PreMed Tour for an opportunity to learn more about the School, and to speak with faculty and students.
• Now it's time to research private scholarships. A few days searching the Internet could be very rewarding! You are encouraged to register with FastWEB, a free, reputable, scholarship search at www.fastweb.com.
• Get ready to file for Federal Financial Aid immediately after the New Year begins! Check out FAFSA on the WEB at www.fafsa.ed.gov to see what information is needed. It's easy, and the data is edited before it can be submitted - avoiding delays in processing.

THE YEAR YOU PLAN TO BEGIN MEDICAL SCHOOL:

JANUARY
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Please note the FAFSA must be filed each year you are enrolled in medical school. Use estimated income if you haven't completed your taxes, but be as accurate as possible by using pay stubs and receipts for untaxed income. Early FAFSA filers receive an acknowledgment from the Office of Student Financial Services when the FAFSA data is electronically received. Because you are an independent student due to your graduate enrollment status, you do not need to include your parents' income information on the FAFSA.

FEBRUARY
If you haven't yet filed the FAFSA, do so now to receive maximum consideration for grants and work-study. Watch the mailbox for your Student Aid Report from the federal processor! When it comes, review it, and send back corrections. If you have a federal PIN #, corrections can be made on-line. No changes, keep the report!

MARCH
Visit the University's website and check ePAWS to see if your financial aid file is complete. If additional documentation is required, a follow-up request is sent with instructions to access the documents. Respond promptly and pay attention to deadlines! Incomplete files are not offered aid. Files completed early get reviewed early and receive maximum consideration for all funds available for which the student is eligible.

APRIL
The Office of Student Financial Services begins posting of scholarship and aid offers to the ePAWS system. Financial Aid offers of loans, grants, and work-study continue all spring and summer in cycles based on the date the final document is received. If you are moving over the summer, be sure to change your address with the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs at the School of Medicine so you receive all important, time-sensitive mail. Pay attention to any deadlines for responding!

JUNE
People who filed the FAFSA late are receiving their aid offer notification - those are processed all year long. If you accepted a Stafford loan, follow the processing instructions on the Office of Student Financial Services website and information from your lender.

JULY
Complete all required paperwork for your lender and for our office to ensure that your funds will be received in time to pay fees. Keep all copies in your folder.

University of Nevada, Reno
Student Financial Aid, Employment and Scholarship Services
Mail Stop 076
Reno, NV 89557
Toll-free (877) 666-0014
Fax (775) 784-1025
http://www.finaid.unr.edu/