Frequently Asked Questions
General
Scholarships and grants are gifts that you don’t have to repay. Find information about opportunities through Meharry and external sources.
When should I apply for aid?
Students should complete a “new” Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), beginning as early as October 1st every academic year while enrolled at Meharry Medical College.
Do I have to consent to the Federal Tax Information (FTI) on the FAFSA?
You MUST consent for the exchange of Federal Tax Information (FTI) directly from the IRS to be eligible for federal student aid
What is the IRS FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX)
The IRS FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX) is the Internal Revenue Service system that will allow students who have filed a federal tax return to securely transfer their income and tax data from the IRS to their FAFSA application.
I have completed and submitted my FAFSA, what happens next?
You will receive confirmation from the U.S. Department of Education that your FAFSA application has been processed in the form of a FAFSA Submission Summary, formerly known as the Student Aid Report (SAR). Once you have been officially enrolled at Meharry Medical College, the Office of Student Financial Aid will begin to process your FAFSA information. We will notify you by email if additional documents are needed. After Financial Aid begins to process your FAFSA information, the student should check their Workday student portal for updates.
What is Verification?
Verification is the process of checking the information reported on your FAFSA application for accuracy. If your application is selected, our office is required to collect certain documents, such as IRS tax transcripts and/or worksheets from you and your spouse, if applicable. Information from these documents will then be compared to information from the student’s FAFSA entries.
I received an outside scholarship. Should I report it to the Office of Financial Aid?
Yes. If you are receiving federal financial aid, you must report the scholarship to the Office of Financial Aid and the Treasury Management Department.
The Office of Financial Aid will adjust your financial aid package, if necessary.
If you have borrowed the maximum in student loans, it is likely that your student loan eligibility will be reduced and replaced with scholarship funds.
This reduces the amount of money you will have to repay when you leave school or graduate.
What should I do if I have not received an offer letter from Financial Aid?
We only send offer letter email notifications to students who have been “officially” enrolled in their program. If you are enrolled and have not been contacted by the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarship Management, please check your Workday student account for any “action items” needed and provide. If you have no missing action items, please call or email our office to verify that we have received a completed Financial Aid file. You may also be required to submit further documentation before you receive an offer letter.
Where do I get my 1098-T Form for my federal tax return?
Treasury Management/Student Financial Services will send 1098-T Form to students, annually, by January 31st. For additional information on your 1098-T, contact Treasury Management/Student Financial Services at (615) 327-6220 or visit their webpage for more information. Division of Finance – Meharry Medical College
I have questions about the student health insurance and/or insurance wavier. Who should I speak to?
You may send an email to studentinsurance@mmc.edu or call (615) 327-6650 with your student health insurance questions.
Who do I contact regarding the Wavier Code for the Secondary Application?
You may contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@mmc.edu for more information.
Who do I contact regarding my housing charges?
You can contact Campus Housing at (615) 327-5751 or email their department at campushousing@mmc.edu for more information.
Federal Work Study
What are some benefits of FWS?
- It can help lower the overall student debt for students.
- It provides part-time employees in departments across campus at minimal cost to the employer.
- It allows students to earn money to help pay for educational expenses.
- It provides opportunities for students to serve the community and to work in areas that are related to their course of study.
- FWS employers are flexible and willing to work around student class schedules.
- It provides beneficial experience and training, networking, and references that build up student resumes.
- It can provide opportunities to develop students’ professional skills, like communication, time management and interpersonal skills.
- It can lead to career opportunities for students.
Are FWS earnings extra money on top of my loans and scholarships?
No. In most cases, when a student is already awarded up to their entire COA, their loans will be lowered by the amount of the FWS award they accept. If a student is not awarded up to their entire COA, the FWS award will help fill the gap. This even exchange of loan money for earned FWS funds will lower the amount of loans students will owe over time, helping them towards their goals of financial wellness.
How do I know if I am an eligible student?
To be eligible you must:
- Not be a first year medical or dental student and cannot already be an employee of Meharry.
- Be enrolled at least half-time in an in-person or on campus degree program that does not already receive grant funding.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by Meharry Medical College.
- Demonstrate financial need as determined by your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
Are FWS earnings taxable?
Yes. Because FWS students are earning wages in exchange for services, they are taxable. However, they are exempt from FICA taxes (Federal Insurance Contribution Act). Please go to the attached link for more information.
Is Work Study Taxable? What Students Need to Know – Accounting Insights
How do I apply for a FWS job, and can I apply to more than one?
Yes, you can apply to more than one position, but you can only hold one position at a time. Once you have been identified as eligible and accepted the FWS offer, you can look for jobs to apply for in our internal job posting site for student workers.
Student Loans
What’s the difference between federal and private student loans?
What are the interest rates for Alternative (private) loans?
Interest rates vary from lender to lender. Some lenders may require students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). It is the student’s responsibility to understand the lender’s criteria when borrowing a private loan.
What are the interest rates for Direct Loans? Are there any fees associated with my loans?
All Direct Loans have origination fees assessed by the Department of Education (DOE) at the time of disbursement. The DOE will disburse to Meharry the net amount of your borrowed loan (the total minus the origination fee) each semester. These fees change annually on October 1st. Direct Loans have fixed interest rates, but the interest rates for any new loans change each year on July 1st.
Please visit Federal Interest Rates and Fees | Federal Student Aid for more information on the current interest rates and origination fees.
My loan servicer says I need to send them a deferment/enrollment/graduation verification form. Who do I contact?
You may contact the Registrar’s Office at (615) 327-6466 or email their department at recordsdepartment@mmc.edu for more information.
What if my Graduate PLUS loan is denied due to the result of my credit review?
If your Graduate PLUS loan is denied, you will receive a notification from Applicant Services. You may either obtain an endorser, or you may choose to document extenuating circumstances relating to the reason you were declined.
If you choose to have an endorser co-sign the Graduate PLUS loan application, the endorser can complete the application through Endorse a PLUS Loan | Federal Student Aid.
Following the approved Endorsed Plus Loan application the graduate or professional student must complete the PLUS Loan Credit Counseling through Federal StudentAid.
If you believe you have extenuating circumstances, you may contact Student Loan Support Center at 1-800-557-7394, and they will guide you through the process.