Medical school is quite expensive, and nearly all students must accept loans to complete their education. It will be beneficial to you to pay off all loans prior to medical school matriculation. As a medical student, your time will be extremely limited; therefore external employment is usually impossible while in school.

The financial aid process for the medical student is similar to the process for the undergraduate. Applicants must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For students under twenty-six years of age, parental information and signatures must be included on the FAFSA to be considered for aid from all sources. All financial aid awards are based on demonstrated need. The Federal Direct Student Loan Program, both subsidized and unsubsidized, the Federal Perkins Student Loan, the Primary Care Loan, the UWSOM Loan, and the Alternative Loan Program are the primary sources of aid. Partial scholarships are available through the UWSOM Scholarship Fund. These awards are need based and require financial information from the student and his/her parents. The FAFSA website is an excellent site with a great deal of information about student aid.

Gather all the documentation you will need before filling out the online  FAFSA  form. The Department of Education school code for the University of Washington is #003798. NOTE: Generally the deadline to complete a FAFSA is in February of the year for which you are applying (for fall admissions). Check the FAFSA website and the UWSOM Financial Aid Office website for more information about deadlines.

To be eligible for full financial aid consideration, a student must submit the FAFSA on time regardless of whether he/she has been accepted to the schools listed on the FAFSA. Remember, filling out the FAFSA only makes you eligible for financial aid.

Once the form is processed, you will be given an offer of financial aid that you can accept or reject. The process is quite lengthy; therefore you should fill out the FAFSA as early as possible. Remember, most financial aid is given as a loan which must be paid back at some point in time. Do not borrow unnecessarily.

Questions?

Contact the  UWSOM Financial Aid Office  for more information about financial aid for Alaska WWAMI students.

Helpful Links

AAMC - Financing Your Medical Education

Federal Student Aid - Repaying Your Loans