Repayment & future financial planning
This year you will focus on planning for repayment after graduation. You will have opportunity to attend sessions and work with your financial aid counselor to plan out your repayment strategies. Stay tuned to hear more from our office about important information over the course of your final year as a student at Rush.
Steps to apply for aid for M4 year
Students who are seeking any form of financial aid for their M2 year need to complete the following documents.
- Complete the 2022/2023 Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at studentaid.gov. The FAFSA opens on October 1, 2021 in preparation for Fall 2022.
Once you have received your financial aid package, please review and complete the following documents if you are accepting loans:
- Apply for Graduate PLUS Loan online at studentaid.gov (be sure to select to apply as a graduate/professional student)
If you have never borrowed federal loans before, you will also need to complete the following documents as well.
- Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Graduate/Professional Students online at studentaid.gov
- Complete two master promissory notes: one for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan and one for the Direct PLUS Loan
- Direct Loan Entrance Counseling online at studentaid.gov
Types of aid available
Details about the different forms of aid that may be offered to you each year can be found here.
Payment Due Dates
Payment due dates can be found online through the Student Business Office. Please keep in mind that medical students financial aid does not always closely align to the beginning of each semester. It is important to refer to the disbursement date information provided by the Office of Student Financial Aid to know when your individual financial aid is to be disbursed. Our office will work with the Student Business Office to waive any late fees that may be incurred as a result of the disbursements not aligning to the term.
Cost of attendance/budgets worksheets
As you think about your financial aid and budgeting over your final year here at Rush, please refer to the cost of attendance numbers provided below as a guide to support you with budgeting decisions this year. It is important to note, that your M4 year budget looks slightly different then your M3 year did. For this year, you can see your full financial aid for the fall and spring terms of your M4 year as well. On the chart below, you will see your full 4th year of budgeting and aid.
If you are currently enrolled in your M4 year, more than likely you have already received your financial aid package. In the event you have not or have not applied for financial aid yet, please use the following estimated financial aid as a guide to better understanding the funding that may be available to you.
Residency/Interview Expenses
Medical students who are in their 4th year will be offered additional funding to assist with covering some of the cost of your residency/interview expenses. The first 50% of the allocation will be offered in the Summer and the remaining 50% of your residency/interview expenses in your fall financial aid package. Please refer to the cost of attendance/budget worksheets or your financial aid package if it is available to determine the specific allocation.
Application Review/Budget Adjustments
Students who are experiencing unusual financial circumstances are able to petition for an additional review of their application for institutional funding. As a reminder, you can read more about institutional aid here and the application requirements here. To request a petition for review, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for assistance in terms of what information will be needed. Each student’s situation is different and we prefer to advise you individually on what information we will need. Generally, depending on your individual circumstances, documents such as tax information, parental support status, or court documents may be requested.
Emergency aid
On occasion, unexpected events occur that cause financial hardship. Rush University Office of Student Financial Aid may be able to offer you some additional funding in the form of emergency aid to assist you during a difficult period. Expenses that are directly related to COVID-19 may be considered under this policy as well. You can submit a confidential application online here and provide supporting documentation of your expenses. Our office will review your request and notify you of the status of your request.
Rights and Responsibilities
As a financial aid recipient you have certain rights and responsibilities that are associated with receiving aid from Rush University. Please review the rights and responsibilities sections very carefully. A PDF copy of the Student Rights and Responsibilities can be found here.
Financial literacy
For your 4th year, you have both mandatory and optional financial literary options available. The sessions and activities will be marked as optional or required.
Required activities
- Topic: 1:1 Mandatory Exit Session with financial aid counselor
- Goal: review your student debt, discuss your financial budgeting and goals for your repayment, and discuss the various repayment plans that may be available to you.
- Timeline: January through May 2022
- Resources: Review your student debt online at studentaid.gov to obtain your totals, schedule your 1:1 Mandatory Exit Session appointment online here starting as early as October 2021.
- Topic: Federal Mandatory Online Exit Counseling
- Goal: Complete online federal mandatory exit counseling online at studentaid.gov
- Timeline: During April 2022
- Resources: Complete the exit counseling online at www.studentaid.gov
Optional activities
- Topic: Financial Advising Presentation
- Goal: Join us to hear more about financial topics such as efficient debt management strategies, insurance needs, 401ks, and what to look for in a financial advisor. The link for the session will be available in the Clinical Bridge classroom.
- Timeline: March 24, 2022 from 1-2:30 pm