When should I fill out my FAFSA for 2023?

View the sections below for detailed instructions on how to apply for financial aid as a medical or graduate student at PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia. These steps are for students enrolled in the summer 2023, fall 2023, winter 2024 and spring 2024 terms.

What are the eligibility requirements for federal student aid?

Where do I view financial aid information?

myPCOM is PCOM’s online resource center for students.

Your Financial Aid Checklist within myPCOM is your central hub for financial aid information: complete outstanding requirements, accept your financial aid and view your estimated cost of attendance.

How do I access the Financial Aid Checklist?

To access your Financial Aid Checklist:

• Login to myPCOM.
  • Note: New students will receive their myPCOM login name and password via email after confirming acceptance with the PCOM Admissions Office.
• Click "Financial Aid and Billing" in the left navigation menu.
• Click "Financial Aid Checklist."
  • If prompted for additional login information, your User ID is your Banner ID # (900XXXXXX) and your PIN is your birth date in 6-digit format (MMDDYY).
• Select the "2023-2024 Academic Year."

What is the timeline for applying for financial aid?

Use the timeline below as a general guide for completing financial aid requirements.

October 1 through February 1

Complete the 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

February 1

Visit the “Needed Documents” section within your 2023-2024 Financial Aid Checklist to review any outstanding requirements.

Scholarship consideration deadline

Newly admitted students will automatically be considered for all PCOM merit scholarship opportunities. The PCOM Scholarship Profile form is used to match current students to endowment scholarship opportunities for second year and beyond. Please submit your responses to the PCOM Scholarship Profile once you are fully confirmed and gain access to myPCOM.

Returning students are required to submit the PCOM Scholarship Profile by February 15 in order to have the best consideration for PCOM endowment scholarship opportunities. If you have submitted the PCOM Scholarship Profile in a prior academic year, you are not required to resubmit but we highly encourage you to update your responses at least once per academic year.

April 1

Around April 1 our office will award your initial financial aid package. Our office will email you when you can view your award in your Financial Aid Checklist within myPCOM. View the financial aid package section below for more information.

April 15

If you are borrowing federal student loans, finalize your remaining requirements and apply for the Graduate PLUS loan, if needed. View the federal student loan requirements section below for further details.

How do I apply for the FAFSA?

FSA ID

If you have never applied for financial aid before, you must first create a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID):

• Visit studentaid.gov
• Click "Create Account."
• Follow the instructions and complete all required fields on each page.
  • Be sure you enter your name and contact information as it listed with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
  • After creating your FSA ID, you will have limited access to certain applications (you will not be able to complete the FAFSA) until your information is verified with the Social Security Administration (SSA). A later email will be sent to you from FSA ID notifying you of the SSA verification results. This usually takes 1-2 weeks.

Complete the FAFSA

Complete the 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who wish to be considered for federal student loans and PCOM’s financial need scholarships must complete the FAFSA:

• Visit studentaid.gov
• Click the "Start Here" button.
• Follow the instructions and complete all required fields on each page.

FAFSA tips

View our office's YouTube video for help with completing the FAFSA:

What are the scholarship consideration requirements?

Three requirements

You must have three major requirements completed by February 15, 2023, in order to have priority consideration for PCOM scholarships:

• DUE: 2023-2024 FAFSA for consideration for PCOM's financial need scholarships and federal loans.
• DUE: PCOM Scholarship Profile in your myPCOM Financial Aid Checklist for consideration for PCOM's endowed scholarships.
• DUE: Complete any potential missing requirements in the "Needed Documents" section within your Financial Aid Checklist.

The February 15, 2023, date is for students admitted to their PCOM program prior to February 1, 2023. For students admitted to their PCOM program after February 1, 2023, refer to your Financial Aid Checklist within myPCOM to view your specific Scholarship Consideration Deadline for the FAFSA and PCOM Scholarship Profile.

When and how will I receive details regarding my financial aid package?

Around April 1, 2023, our office will award your initial financial aid package. You will receive an automated email from our office that will encourage you to:

• Complete a Budgeting Worksheet to determine how much you may need to borrow in student loans for school and living expenses.
• Visit the "Aid Summary" section within your Financial Aid Checklist to accept or decline your awarded federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan and other aid.
• Visit the "Needed Documents" section within your Financial Aid Checklist to review any outstanding requirements. Be sure to routinely check this section as new requirements may appear when you accept certain aid or complete other requirements.
• Apply for the federal Grad PLUS loan (if needed).

  Note that the 2023-2024 Graduate PLUS loan application is not available on the studentaid.gov website until April 15, 2023.
  

What do I need to do to finalize my federal Stafford unsubsidized loan requirements?

If borrowing federal student loans, follow the instructions below to finalize your remaining federal Direct Stafford unsubsidized loan requirements. Your student loans will not disburse to PCOM unless the below requirements are completed:

Complete Entrance Counseling

• Visit studentaid.gov and login using your FSA ID.
• Follow the instructions and complete all required fields on each page.
• Upon completion, it will take several business days for your Entrance Counseling to be imported into PCOM's system and show as complete on your Financial Aid Checklist.

Complete Unsubsidized Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)

• Visit studentaid.gov and login using your FSA ID.
• Follow the instructions and complete all required fields on each page.
• Upon completion, it will take several business days for your MPN to be imported into PCOM's system and show as completed on your Financial Aid Checklist.

How do I apply for the federal Graduate PLUS loan?

Use the below instructions to apply for the federal Graduate PLUS loan.

Complete the Grad PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN)

• Visit studentaid.gov and login using your FSA ID.
• Click "Complete a Master Promissory Note."
• Follow the instructions and complete all required fields on each page.
• Upon completion, it will take several business days for your MPN to be imported into PCOM's system and show as completed in your Financial Aid Checklist.

Complete the Grad PLUS Loan Application

Note that the 2023-2024 Graduate PLUS Loan Application is not available on the studentaid.gov website until April 15, 2023.

• Visit studentaid.gov and login using your FSA ID.
• Choose "2023-2024" as the Award Year.
• Choose if you approve "Authorization for School to Use Loan Funds to Satisfy Other Charges."

  (Our office recommends selecting this option so your PLUS loan funds can pay toward miscellaneous PCOM fees, such as parking fees.)

• Choose "PENNSYLVANIA" or "GEORGIA" for your appropriate state.
• Choose "PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC" as the school.
• Specify your PLUS loan amount for the 2023-2024 academic year.
  • Utilize our budgeting worksheets to help you determine how much loan you may need to borrow.
  • Do not select "I do not know the amount I want to borrow."
  • Do not select "I want to borrow the maximum Direct PLUS Loan amount for which I am eligible."
• The Requested Loan Period Start and End Dates are equal to your approximate enrollment at PCOM for the 2023-2024 academic year.
  • For example, first- and second-year DO students should select August 2023 through May 2024.
• Upon completion, it will take several business days for your PLUS loan request to be processed by our office and show as part of your Aid Summary in your Financial Aid Checklist.