Your FAFSA form is processed through the Federal Government's Central Processing System (CPS) which calculates your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on your answers to the FAFSA questions. Financial Aid Eligibility is determined through a process called Need Analysis. The Need Analysis formula is as follows:

Cost of Education - Expected Family Contribution = Financial Need

Dependency Status and the Medical Student

All students are considered independent of their parents for financial aid purposes once they reach the graduate/professional level. However, the College requires parental information of all students who wish to be considered for campus-based aid programs. These programs have limited allocations and must be awarded to the neediest students. Because most students are unable to work while attending school and therefore may appear equal when looking at student income and assets, the College looks at the next available resource a student may have, his or her parents. Parental information is used to make a distinction between those students whose parents have the ability to provide financial assistance and those students whose parents are unable to help. As in all other financial aid considerations ability to pay, rather than willingness, is key.