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University of Minnesota
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School of Social Work
105 Peters Hall
1404 Gortner Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55108
Voice: 612-625-1220

FAQs About Graduate Student Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid is an important, at times confusing, process. These questions and answers will help graduate students fill out the necessary financial aid applications.

Questions

Answers

  • What forms do I need to fill out for financial aid?
    • Any social work graduate student applying for financial aid administered through the School of Social Work must complete the 2012-2013 SSW Graduate Student Financial Aid Application Form. The names of the funds and eligibility criteria are listed on this PDF document.
    • M.S.W. students applying for Child Welfare and Title IV-E funds must also complete the Child Welfare application. You should submit that completed application directly to the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare.
    • Students applying for financial aid through the University of Minnesota should look on the University’s One Stop Student site for information about applying for financial aid.
    • Students applying for graduate assistantship positions should respond to separate announcements for the graduate assistantship positions with the materials requested in the position announcement. Completing the 2011-2012 SSW Student Financial Aid Application Form does not make you eligible to be considered for a graduate assistantship. The School of Social Work notifies all active students about graduate assistantships available in the school as positions become available, and these job announcements are also posted on the SSW website. Some graduate assistantships are available outside of the school, and we encourage students to visit the University’s Graduate Assistant Employment page to learn about those opportunities.
  • Line 6 asks me to list SSW funds for which I am applying. How do I know what to list there?
    • The various funds for 2012-13 are listed in this document (PDF). In response to Question 6, simply list the funds for which you meet the eligibility criteria and want to be considered.
    • You can state that you are applying for a graduate assistant position, but these opportunities have separate application procedures.
  • Line 12 asks me to estimate my gross income from September 2011 through September 2012. I don't have any idea. What should I write down?
    • Make the best estimate that you can, and enter that figure. We understand that it is an estimate.
  • Line 15 asks me to list Total Family Resources, including the amount  of financial aid for which I have applied, along with the amount actually received. I don't yet know how much I've received. What should I indicate?
    • You likely have some of the information requested here, and are unsure about other amounts. Fill in what you can-whether amount applied for or actual amount. If unknown, simply write that in the space provided.
  • When will I hear about financial aid decisions?  
    • Financial aid decisions are made beginning in May and continue into the start of the academic year, depending on fund availability.
    • Graduate assistantships have separate application procedures, with varying deadlines and requirements that will be listed in the job postings.