How and When to Apply

1. Students must be fully admitted to Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (JMLS).
   
   
2. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov . We encourage you to begin this application as soon as possible. The FAFSA can be started as early as January 1st. Deadline for submitting the FAFSA for the Fall Semester is June 1st. Please allow 3-4 weeks for the Department of Education to review and process your application.
   
   
3. Once the student’s FAFSA is received by the Financial Aid Office, the student may be contacted by mail, at their permanent address, if any additional information is required. Information required by the Department of Education may include a verification of income tax returns or citizenship.
   
   
4. By June 30, 2010, students should complete the Entrance Loan Counseling for Stafford and Graduate PLUS loans which may be accessed at www.studentloans.gov.
   
   
5. Upon completion of the student’s financial aid file, the student will receive an award letter detailing their loan types and amounts for the academic year. This will be sent from the Financial Aid Office to either the permanent address on file or to the student's JMLS email address.
   
   
6. Once students receive their award letter, they must then complete either (or both) the Federal Stafford Loan and Federal Graduate PLUS Loan applications, which can also be found on at www.studentloans.gov, or by accessing the "Loans" link on the JMLS Financial Aid web page. Applications for Stafford and Graduate PLUS Loans must be completed prior to August 1st.
   
   
7. Master Promissory Note (MPN). Pursuant to federal law, students must complete an Entrance Loan Counseling session and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) before funds may be disbursed to the Law School or to the student. Both may be completed online on the www.studentloans.gov web site. By signing the MPN, students are confirming their understanding that JMLS may make new loans to the student for the duration of their education without the student having to sign another MPN. Each academic year, JMLS will disburse loan proceeds to the student’s account as indicated on the Award Letter sent to students upon award of financial aid. Please be sure to complete an MPN for both the Stafford loan and Grad Plus to avoid delays in processing.
   
   Federal regulations require that all loans be disbursed in at least two installments and no more than half of the amount can be disbursed before half of the loan period has elapsed. In cases of loans certified for one term only, the loan will be disbursed at the beginning and at the mid-point of the term.
   
   Allow approximately 14 days from the completion of the loan application for the Financial Aid Office to receive an acknowledgement of your aid package from the Federal government.
   
   
8. Eligibility for financial aid is reviewed at the end of the drop/add period each semester and appropriate adjustments are made at that time.
   
   

Note: Reapplication Required

Students must reapply for financial aid every year. If you submitted a prior year Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and received at least one valid Student Aid Report (SAR) you may complete a Renewal FAFSA. If you did not, you must complete the 2010-2011 FAFSA. Either one of these two forms will be available after January 1, and should be completed as soon as possible. Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School’s federal school code is G31733.

IMPORTANT DATES:

June 1		FAFSA completed at www.fafsa.ed.gov
June 30		Entrance Loan Counseling completed (once FAFSA is completed)
August 1		Apply for Stafford and/or Graduate PLUS Loans at at www.studentloans.gov. (after Award Letter received)
August 1		MPN completed when applying for Stafford and/or Graduate PLUS Loans

Student’s who have not completed their financial aid prior to the first day of class, will be required to pay their tuition in full, or enroll in the JMLS Installment Payment Program.

Additional questions should be directed to:

Felice Lane, Director of Financial Aid at (404) 872-3593, ext. 255 or via e-mail at flane@johnmarshall.edu .