Step 1

Be sure you have submitted your SSN in LEARN. Login to LEARN and navigate to “Financial Aid Billing→New Student Onboarding Forms” and complete the “U.S. Social Security Number or Tax ID Number Information” form. 

Step 2

1. Students applying for Federal Student Loans will need to complete the FAFSA® every year. Our school code is G04762.   
   WCM collects student and/or student’s spouse information from the FAFSA application.
2. Students applying for institutional need-based aid will also need to compete the CSS Profile every year. Our school code is 2279.  
   WCM collects student and/or student’s spouse and parental information from Profile applications.  

Once FAFSA and CSS Profile applications are received for need-based applicants, the Financial Aid Office will direct you to submit via LEARN→ NetPartner, parental and student/spouse’s prior year W2 forms and federal tax returns including all schedules. Additional documentation may be required.  

Current Students Application Deadline: January 15 
New Students Application Deadline: March 15 

Waitlisted students are encouraged to complete the aid applications and submit additional information when directed by the Office of Financial Aid.  

The Financial Aid Office may request additional documentation including:  

• CSS Profile for Noncustodial Parent Form
• Financial Statement for Parent(s) Living Abroad
• Monthly Living Expense Form
• Scholarship Matching Questionnaire
• Sibling Enrollment Verification Form 

Step 3 (for First-Time Borrowers)

Complete your Federal Unsubsidized Loan application Loan Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note (MPN) at studentaid.gov; select “Joan and Sandford Weill Med College” to ensure application is received by WCM.  

Step 4

If applicable, complete your Federal Graduate PLUS Loan Application at studentaid.gov by consenting to credit-check and complete the PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note. 

Once your completed PLUS loan application is received, the Financial Aid Office will update your student account within 48 hours.

Once aid applications and required documents are received by the Financial Aid Office, financial aid offers will be emailed to students. Students can also review, accept, adjust, or decline their financial aid award offers via LEARN→ NetPartner. 

When calculating an MD student’s financial need, the Financial Aid Office uses a standardized analysis formula to determine the total family contribution. Financial disclosure is made via several financial aid application documents, including the US Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Board's CSS Profile Application. 

These two national application processes perform needs analysis to determine: 

• Student Aid Index (SAI) - The information provided on the FAFSA is evaluated by the federal government using its Federal Methodology need analysis formula. This formula determines the Student Aid Index (SAI) that is used to determine eligibility for federal student aid only.
• Institutional Expected Family Contribution (EFC) - The information provided on the CSS Profile is evaluated by the College Board using the standardized institutional needs analysis formula. This formula determines the expected family contribution that is used for the purpose of awarding institutional WCM scholarship/grant.

Once financial need has been determined, the Financial Aid Office constructs a ‘package’ or combination of financial aid resources. The sources of aid are based upon program eligibility criteria, availability of funds, and the student’s financial need. Aid packages may consist of scholarship funds and unsubsidized loans.  

WCM meets the full calculated financial need of students by providing a WCM Scholarship to cover the gap between Cost of Attendance and the family’s institutional EFC.  

Students who qualify for a WCM Scholarship will also receive a WCM Health Insurance Scholarship if enrolled in WCM’s health insurance plan. 

All MD applicants are encouraged to seek additional sources of funding. Outside scholarships generally are first applied toward replacing the calculated parent contribution. After the parent contribution has been fully replaced, a dollar-for-dollar adjustment is made to the aid package. When making this adjustment, the outside scholarship will be used to decrease the loans in the aid package, beginning with least favorable loan. Only if the outside award exceeds the total amount of student loans would the WCM scholarship be decreased. 

A student who feels that exceptional family circumstances have not been fully considered in the review of their application may discuss those concerns with a Financial Aid Counselor. Changes in circumstances and income must be carefully documented.  

Examples of exceptional family circumstances may include: 

• Income Adjustments
  • Significant reduction of income due to change in employment (hour/wages)
  • Significant loss of income due to unemployment
  • Divorced marital status changes (for applicable married students) after application(s) submissions
  • Death of wage earner (parent or spouse for applicable married students) after application(s) submissions
• Excessive medical, dental, or nursing home expenses for a household member not covered by insurance 

Students who wish to appeal for review of their need-based WCM scholarship should contact the Financial Aid Office and submit the “Petition for Special Circumstances/MD Appeal” form along with supporting documentation in LEARN→ NetPartner. 

The appeal application is open from August 1 to September 30. Appeals are reviewed and adjudicated by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. 

The Office of Financial Aid will inform students of their appeal status after September 30.  

Appeals for increases to the standard student budget or Cost of Attendance are rarely granted. When this is the reason for the appeal, the student expenses above the standard budget must be well-documented; receipts are required. 

Students who wish to appeal for an increase to their Cost of Attendance should submit the “Petition for Special Circumstances/Budget Increase” form and supporting documentation in LEARN→ NetPartner.