PLEASE READ ALL OF THE CONTENT FOLLOWING THIS WELCOME LETTER

*THE DEADLINE FOR PRIORITY PACKAGING & SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY IS MARCH 1 of every year!

We are happy you have considered the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as your next academic endeavor. Please take the time to read all of the information provided. It is a valuable resource for the federal and College financial aid processes and will offer the tools you need for financing your medical education.

It is the intention of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Financial Aid Office to help you find a suitable method of funding your medical school education. The purpose of this letter is to help you to begin thinking on the right track regarding financial aid and address important issues for your consideration regarding financial aid.

The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine has a Financial Aid Office that is independent from the central campus USF Financial Aid Office. All aid applications, inquiries, and correspondence must be sent directly to the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Financial Aid Office:

USF Health Morsani College of Medicine

Financial Aid Office, MDC Box 4

12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

Tampa, FL 33612

This is particularly important if you are expecting scholarship funds from any outside agency such as a hometown hospital, church group, etc. Be sure to notify the agency to send award checks to the above address. If paperwork or checks are sent to the central campus Financial Aid Office, it will run the risk of not reaching the Morsani College of Medicine Financial Aid Office at all.

"Financial aid" does not mean grants or scholarships exclusively. Loans (frequently high interest loans), employment, and making an effort to reduce spending all fall under the heading of financial aid. Financial aid officers in medical schools across the country have become more "financial and debt management counselors” than "financial aid counselors". The USF Morsani College of Medicine has limited grant and scholarship funds which are not sufficient to offset the fact that you may need to take out loans to pay for your medical education. There are several loan programs available for DPT students. Our office will help you with the application for those loans, advise you on the "best" loan programs available, and counsel you on how to keep your borrowing to a minimum.

Fortunately, we still have a low tuition compared to other medical schools in this country. Even with that said our students HAVE HAD TO: 1) make adjustments in their life styles to allow for serious cuts in their spending; 2) work during the summers and save money to help pay for their education; 3) receive financial assistance from parents, grandparents, etc.; and 4) have their spouse obtain employment to help with expenses. We call this "self-help" and we do not think it is asking too much for each student to provide some "self-help" in order to obtain their medical education.

Paying for your medical education is an issue that requires immediate and serious attention from you and your entire family. The financial aid funds available for DPT students are almost exclusively federal funds and are therefore subject to rather strict federal guidelines with regard to student qualification. This office must adhere to and enforce the federal guidelines. The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine has adopted most of the same federal policies for awarding their limited institutional funds. The policies are based on the assumption that your medical education is a priority for you and your family; therefore, paying for your medical education will likewise be a priority. We are very sensitive to the fact that professional students would like to be "independent" of their families; however, you cannot be "independent" if you are simply transferring your financial dependence from your family to the Federal Government, or to this school. We also understand that students do not wish to burden their families, even when they are willing and able to help financially. Remember the loans you borrow now must be repaid. By making every effort to obtain family support, living on a frugal budget, and keeping your borrowing to a minimum you will be rewarded by having low monthly payments once your repayment begins. Keep in mind for every one dollar borrowed now may result in three dollars being repaid.

More detailed information about the financial aid programs can be found under the “Sources of Financial Aid” link on the DPT Homepage.

You will be receiving correspondence from the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Student Affairs Office under separate cover, which will provide you with information about the curriculum, student health issues, tuition, and other items of interest.

We welcome you to the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine family and look forward to working with you in the coming years.

Sincerely,

Michelle Williamson

Director of Financial Aid

Morsani College of Medicine

The Financial Aid Application Process: Instructions for DPT Students

The following forms must be completed in order to determine your eligibility for USF Health Morsani College of Medicine loans and scholarships. Your application for financial aid will not be processed until all documents have been received by the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Financial Aid Office.

If you are applying for:

• Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan (UFDL)

• Federal Graduate/Professional PLUS Loan (Grad PLUS)

Please complete the following steps.

1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): A FAFSA must be completed for all financial aid programs. This can be done on line:

FAFSA web page

Request a FSA ID

NOTE TO ALL APPLICANTS:

a.) If you have not completed your 2012 tax return you may provide estimated information on the FAFSA to meet the deadline. As soon as your 2012 tax return is completed you will need to update your FAFSA online. Financial aid awards will be adjusted if needed.

b.) Please complete the FAFSA according to the instructions that are provided. An incorrect or incomplete application will delay the financial aid process.

c.) When identifying USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the school you will be attending use E00568 as the school ID. This will insure that the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine will receive your FAFSA data.

2. Financial Aid Award Notice – You will be notified by e-mail when your financial aid eligibility is determined

3. Federal Loan Master Promissory Note(s) – Instructions will be provided about how to complete the loan application & promissory note when a loan is accepted

4. Verification - If your file is selected for “Verification” you will be notified by email and must respond quickly. Financial aid files pending verification are considered incomplete.

Florida Residency for Tuition Purposes

Effective July 1, 2009, non-residents students who come to Florida and enroll in a Florida post-secondary educational institution will not meet the Florida residency requirement for instate tuition, regardless of the length of time enrolled. You must obtain Florida residency 12 months prior to your first day of class. More information is provided below.

Link to SPTRS Website