Applying for Financial Aid (How To Apply)
To begin the process, you will need to complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This USDE form is designed to determine your eligibility for federal and state financial aid and should be completed as soon as possible after January 1 of the year you plan to begin dental school. There is no charge for acquiring or submitting the form. You can obtain a copy of the FAFSA on the web . The website provides a worksheet and question and answer section. Your college or university may have FAFSA worksheets to help you compile the information needed before you go online. The USDE plans to discontinue the use of paper applications, so it is best to submit the FAFSA electronically.
At about the same time, using the information in Part II of this guide, you should contact the dental schools where you plan to apply and ask if you need to fill out additional financial aid forms or submit other materials. Application requirements vary from school to school. You may be required to submit the FAFSA application, an institutional application or third-party needs-analysis processor form (e.g. CSS Profile or Need Access Form), and tax returns. Some schools may require parental financial information for you to be considered for institutional or need-based financial aid. Parental information is required if you want to be considered for federal Title VII financial aid programs (see glossary).
You must meet schools’ application deadlines to be considered for the most favorable types of financial aid, and each school may have a different deadline to apply. Be aware that meeting deadlines could make the difference in the type of financial aid you receive, so find out what they are and don’t procrastinate!
The financial aid application process may seem complicated. Remember that most dental students receive financial aid, and that financial aid officers at dental schools are prepared to help you.
Things to Know:
(Back to Financing a Dental Education)
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