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Financial Aid FAQs

  1. The priority deadline for summer financial aid is February 15, 2013. If I don't have my application completed by that date, will I still be eligible for summer financial aid?
  2. I plan to apply for summer and fall/spring financial aid. Which FAFSA form do I complete?
  3. How do I estimate the number of credits I'll be taking each semester?
  4. I haven't received my W-2 form. How do I estimate my taxable income?
  5. The Boston College Graduate Financial Aid application asks me to list the sources and amounts of assistance I expect to receive this upcoming academic year. I received a scholarship from the GSSW last year. Can I expect to receive the same amount this year?
  6. I plan to apply for a graduate assistantship for the upcoming academic year. What should I list as the expected amount of the stipend and tuition remission?
  7. The Boston College Graduate Financial Aid application asks for "untaxed" income. How do I complete that section?
  8. How do I decline aid on my award?
  9. What should I do if I will be taking more (or less) credits than I originally said on my application?
  10. How do I apply for a graduate assistantship?
  11. How do I find information on non-BC scholarships?
  12. What options do I have if the aid I received is not enough?
  13. Do I have to apply for financial aid each year?
  14. I missed the deadline for applying for aid. Can I still apply now?
  15. Do international applicants receive financial aid?
  16. Is it possible for graduate students to be eligible for financial aid for the summer?
  17. Is it possible to earn my Federal Work Study award at my GSSW field placement agency?
  1. The priority deadline for summer financial aid is February 13, 2013. If I don't have my application completed by that date, will I still be eligible for summer financial aid?
    You may still be eligible for summer federal financial aid (Federal Direct Stafford Loan and/or Federal Work-Study) if you submit your application after the priority deadline, however Federal Work-Study funding may be limited or not available. Therefore, you should plan to send your completed and signed Boston College Graduate Financial Aid Application/Validation form (this and other Student Services Forms are available at the Office of Student Services website) to the Boston College Financial Aid Processing Center in Randolph, MA, and complete your FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov by that priority deadline.
  2. I plan to apply for summer and fall/spring financial aid. Which FAFSA form do I complete?
    You only need to complete the FAFSA for the upcoming academic year.
  3. How do I estimate the number of credits I'll be taking each semester?
    The total number of credits for the MSW degree is 65 credits. The total number of credits for the PhD degree is 51 credits. The number of credits per semester varies by program. Please review the curriculum plans to see how many credits you would be taking each semester.
  4. I haven't received my W-2 form. How do I estimate my taxable income?
    If you earned income last year, look at your last paycheck for the year-to-date totals.
  5. The Boston College Graduate Financial Aid application asks me to list the sources and amounts of assistance I expect to receive this upcoming academic year. I received a scholarship from the GSSW last year. Can I expect to receive the same amount this year?
    The annual GSSW financial aid budget is contingent upon university resources, and the amount of that budget will determine the number and amount of individual financial aid awards. Although individual financial aid awards are not finalized until the summer, the School generally renews the amount of scholarship awarded in the previous year as long as the student has maintained satisfactory performance and there has been no change in financial status and number of credits to be earned. If you received a GSSW scholarship last year, you do not have to apply again.
  6. I plan to apply for a graduate assistantship for the upcoming academic year. What should I list as the expected amount of the stipend and tuition remission?
    Graduate assistantships offered through the GSSW award a student a total of $7,000 for the academic year—$4,000 in tuition remission and $3,000 in a stipend ($375 monthly). The amounts of tuition remission and stipends vary for other assistantships in other departments.
  7. The Boston College Graduate Financial Aid application asks for "untaxed" income. How do I complete that section?
    You only have to list wages earned last year if you do not expect to file a federal income tax return. You should enter the amounts of income received but not required to be reported on federal income tax returns (e.g., workers' compensation, untaxed contributions to retirement/pension plans).
  8. How do I decline aid on my award?
    If you wish to borrow less than what you have been awarded, you must notify the Boston College Office of Student Services in writing or through the "Financial Aid Notification" in Agora Portal of your intent to cancel or reduce your loan. Click the "Edit" button to reduce the amount of your award, then click "Continue" to submit the request to your Financial Aid counselor. Since these changes are done manually and not electronically, please allow up to two weeks for them to be processed.
  9. What should I do if I will be taking more (or less) credits than I originally said on my application?
    Send a letter to Graduate Financial Aid at Boston College Office of Student Services stating the change in number of credits being taken.
  10. How do I apply for a graduate assistantship?
    There is a separate application for GSSW assistantships. The application form will be distributed in March by the GSSW. In addition, there are opportunities for assistantships in other departments on campus.
  11. How do I find information on non-BC scholarships?
    For external scholarships, view the GSSW online scholarship database.
  12. What options do I have if the aid I received is not enough?
    Graduate students may consider applying for the Graduate or Professional Student PLUS loan or Alternative loans to fill the gap between the aid offered and their budget. Information on the PLUS loan and Alternative loan can be found at Graduate Students Financial Aid on the Office of Student Services website. Contact the lender directly to ask about rates and other questions.
  13. Do I have to apply for financial aid each year?
    Yes. Both Boston College and the federal government require students to apply for financial aid each year since it is possible that a student's situation may change from the prior year.
  14. I missed the deadline for applying for aid. Can I still apply now?
    It is still possible to apply for financial aid after the FAFSA priority deadline. In order to be considered for federal financial aid, your application and processed FAFSA must be received by the Office of Student Services before the end of that enrollment period. Refer to "Message to Late Applicants" on the first page of the Boston College Financial Aid Application instructions sheet for specific dates.
  15. Do international students receive financial aid?
    There is no federal financial aid for international students at the graduate level at Boston College. All international students should make arrangements for their college financial obligations prior to coming into the country.
  16. Is it possible for graduate students to be eligible for financial aid for the summer?
    Graduate students who enroll at least half-time during the summer (6 credits in most cases) may be eligible to receive a Federal Direct Stafford Loan for that period. If you are interested in being considered for this loan, or for summer Federal Work-Study, please complete the summer enrollment questions on pages one and two of the Boston College Graduate Financial Aid Application/Validation form. If you do qualify for a Federal Direct Stafford Loan for summer enrollment, you may be required to sign a Master Promissory Note and complete Entrance Counseling.
  17. Is it possible to earn my Federal Work Study award at my GSSW field placement agency?
    Yes, most private nonprofit organizations and government agencies are eligible to participate in off-campus work study. If your agency is interested in participating (there is a financial contribution required by them), contact the Boston College Office of Student Services for details.
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