• FAFSA — www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Eligibility for Aid

Policies

• Satisfactory Academic Progress: Undergraduate Programs:
  text
  • BS
• Satisfactory Academic Progress: Graduate Programs
  text
  • MD
  • PhD
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy
  • Masters in Nursing
  • Master's in Physical Therapy

1. FAFSA School code — 002840 TAP codes — 0890 BS; 5540 MS/DPT/MD/Ph.D
   
   
2. When do I need to file?
   If you are a current student, or will enter Upstate in the Summer or Fall semesters, file
   BEFORE MARCH 1st
   
   If you will be entering Upstate in January, file
   BEFORE November 1st
   
   
3. What do I need to file?
   
   The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
   There are THREE ways you can do this:
   
   • File a Renewal FAFSA on the WEB (see instructions below), or
     
   • Use FAFSA on the WEB (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/), or
     
   • File a paper application FAFSA (available from the Financial Aid Office)
     
     You may also need to file a TAP application. There's more information about this below.
     Regardless of how you file, DON'T FILE MORE THAN 1 FAFSA FORM.
     
     
4. How do I get a PIN number?
   
   If you filed a FAFSA for the prior academic year, you should receive a PIN number from the US Department of Education that will let you file your Renewal FAFSA on the WEB (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/). Pins are sent in November and December to the address you listed on the prior FAFSA.
   
   If you did not file a FAFSA last year, or filed but don't receive your PIN number by January 15, you can request a PIN number on the WEB at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
   
   Undergraduate students (BS degrees): Instead of a PIN, you may receive a paper Renewal FAFSA. You may file that, if you prefer, or you may request a PIN number.
   
   Medical Students: If you are applying for Institutional Scholarships or Loans from Upstate,
   you must include your parents' income(s) on the FAFSA.
   
   
5. What if I have special circumstances? How will you know about them?
   
   Send us a letter explaining your circumstances, or request the Optional Upstate Application. You should do this if any of the following applies to you:
   
   • You have special circumstances that you want us to consider, such as high medical expenses, day care costs, loss of income, or something else that may affect your eligibility. Please be sure to include specific details.
     
   • You have a scholarship from an outside organization.
     
     
6. OOPS! I missed the MARCH 1 deadline. Now what?
   
   Don't panic. File your FAFSA as quickly as possible. Applications received after APRIL 1 will be processed in the following order:
   
   Entering students;
   Continuing students.
   See the section below that starts — When do I find out...
   
   
7. How about TAP? What do I need to do?
   
   TAP is linked to the FAFSA. If you file the FAFSA on the Web, follow the on-screen instructions. If you file a paper FAFSA, the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYSHESC) will send you additional instructions on applying. You will be sent an Express TAP Application (ETA) as long as you list one NY school on the paper FAFSA form, or clicked yes when asked if you want to complete the NY state grant questions when filing FAFSA on the Web. Review the ETA to make sure the information is correct, then return it directly to NYSHESC. These forms are generally sent out in March or April, to the address you list on the FAFSA.

   After you file, if you need to make changes in the information you sent to TAP, a change form is available at www.hesc.com.
   

8. Do I have to do all this? I just want a student loan.
   
   Student loans are financial aid, too. If you want to borrow a federal loan, you need
   to start by filing the FAFSA.
   
   
9. I'm a Medical Student. Is my parents' income information still needed?
   
   Parents' information is needed if you are applying for the following aid:
   
   
   • Institutional Loans and Scholarships from Upstate - includes scholarships and loans, and tuition waivers for economically disadvantaged and EOP/HEOP graduates.
     
   • Federal Health Professions Primary Care Loans.
     
     
10. When do I find out how much and what kind of aid I'll receive?
    
    Financial Aid Eligibility letters will be sent out in this order:
    
    By late April

• Entering Physical Therapy Students
  
• Entering Medical Students

By early MAY

• Medical Students, MS 3 and 4

By late MAY

• All remaining ON-TIME applicants.

If your FAFSA is received after April 1, you will be notified on a rolling basis, beginning in mid-late June. Priority in processing late applications is given to entering students. Continuing students who apply late can register and defer tuition, but are charged late registration/payment fees.

Applications for students entering in January will be processed on a rolling basis, as completed, starting in November.