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Got questions? We've got answers! Here
are many of the questions that we encounter throughout
the academic year, organized in a handful of categories:
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| What are the school codes for Georgetown Law? |
FAFSA: G21075
CSS Profile: 7306
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| Should I wait until I am admitted to file for financial aid? |
Although you will not be able to complete the Georgetown Institutional Aid application until you are admitted, please be sure to complete the FAFSA and, if applying for grant aid, the CSS Profile or Need Access application by the priority deadline of March 15. This ensures that your application for financial aid will be considered as soon as possible after you are admitted.
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| What if I, or my parents, haven't completed our tax returns by the March 8 priority deadline date? |
Go ahead and complete the applications with the best estimate of prior year income. Depending on what types of aid you are applying for, you may need to submit signed copies of federal tax returns to our office once they are completed. It is important to provide the most accurate information you possibly can, because the actual data may alter your eligibility once it is reviewed.
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| Should I report the total amounts accumulated in IRA and Keogh plans on the FAFSA? |
No. You do not have to include retirement plan accumulations when totaling the value of assets. However, any annual contribution must be reported since they are considered discretionary payments and are usually untaxed income.
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| I'm in the evening division, am I eligible for financial aid? |
Yes! Students in the evening division may apply for Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Graduate PLUS Loans, commercial loans, and Federal Work-Study to assist with both tuition and living expenses.
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| I was awarded a scholarship from a private outside organization. Do I need to inform the Financial Aid Office? |
Yes. If you let us know about your outside aid we can help you determine how the scholarship will affect your eligibility for other financial aid funds. It's helpful to know this early in the process. If we find out about the outside aid when the sponsor sends your money to Georgetown Law, it may cause budgeting problems, especially if we have to cancel aid you are no longer eligible to receive. Georgetown Law grant recipients should review The Guidebook for more details.
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| What should I do if my federal financial aid won't cover all of my expenses? |
You can make an appointment to discuss budgeting concerns with your financial aid counselor.
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| It's the middle of the school year and I haven't applied for financial aid. Is it too late or can I still apply? |
There are priority deadlines established to ensure timely processing of financial aid requests, but students can request financial aid throughout most of the academic year. Review the rest of our web site for general guidance on financial aid and contact our office for assistance with the application process.
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| Are there any private scholarships or grants for which I can apply? |
Georgetown Law encourages applicants to explore possibilities of private scholarships and grants available from outside sources.
The Outside Scholarships publication is a listing of "non-Georgetown" grants and scholarships compiled by Georgetown Law, for which law students can apply. This information may help you in your search for alternative resources to funding your legal education.
Fastweb is a FREE scholarship service on the internet rumored to be one of the most extensive and up-to-date available to students.
At Finaid.org students can find links to other scholarship search services as well as "calculators" for estimating an individual's need for financial aid. General information on the "how-to's" of applying for aid is also available and updated regularly.
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| This is the first time I've borrowed loans at Georgetown Law, do I need to complete an entrance interview? |
Yes. All students are required to complete online entrance counseling the first time they borrow at Georgetown Law.
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| If I'm eligible for a Federal Direct Stafford Loan how do I get that loan? |
Instructions on selecting a lender and applying for Stafford Loan eligibility will be included with your financial aid award notification. You can also review the How to Apply section for step-by-step instructions. Review our page on types of aid for more information.
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| What is a Graduate PLUS loan and how do I borrow one? |
Direct Graduate PLUS loans are federal loans that serve as a supplement to Stafford loans. Graduate PLUS loans have a fixed interest rate of 7.9% and offer the same federal protections as Federal Stafford Loans. Review our page on types of aid for more information.
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| What is a Federal Perkins Loan and how do I apply for one? |
The Federal Perkins Loan is a no-fee federal loan that does not accrue interest while you are in school (or while in a grace) and has a 5% fixed interest rate during repayment. The loan is borrowed through Georgetown University, which receives an annual allocation from the U.S. Department of Education. There is limited funding available for this loan program, therefore you will be notified if you are selected to receive a Perkins loan. You may not request to be considered for this type of loan.
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| What is a commercial loan and how do I borrow one? |
Commercial loans are private loans that can be borrowed to cover educational expenses. The primary difference between these types of loan programs and federal loan programs is that commercial loans are heavily based on credit and do not benefit from federal deferrment and forgiveness programs. Review the section on Student Loan Programs in the Financial Aid Guidebook for more specific information on available loan programs and application requirements.
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| I will be graduating or will be taking a leave of absence (of greater than six months). Do I need to complete an Exit Interview? |
Yes. Conveniently, the Exit Interview is available for you to complete online.
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| What is Federal Work-Study and why is it considered financial aid? |
Federal Work-Study (FWS) funds are specifically for educational expenses and the employment is directly related to student eligibility. FWS is a program in which the FWS funding pays the majority of your wages and the employer pays the rest. Since employers only have to pay the remaining amount of each student's salary, they are more likely to hire students who are eligible for this federal support. This makes it much easier for you to find employment, if you so desire. FWS eligibility is treated as part of your current year financial aid resources.
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| How do I find a FWS job? |
FWS jobs are not assigned to students, rather the student selects the position for which they will apply. Law Center position openings are posted in "What's Happening", the weekly Law Center newsletter published during the Fall and Spring semesters.
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| What if I decline my Federal Work-Study and later decide I want it back? |
As long as FWS program funds are still available and you have remaining financial aid eligibility, Work-Study funds can usually be reinstated. You can email the office and your file will be reviewed for an FWS award.
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| Will my eligibility for financial aid change if I change my enrollment status? |
Yes, if you withdraw from Georgetown or change the number of credit hours for which you are enrolled your eligibility for aid will likely change as well. You should contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss how it may affect your eligibility for financial aid.
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| I've been told that I need to complete either my Entrance or Exit interviews for my student loans. How do I do this? |
You can find both the Entrance and Exit interviews online.
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| I'm considering transferring from the evening division to the day division of the JD program. How will that affect my eligibility for financial aid? |
Students transferring from the evening to the day program are eligible to apply for all types of federal, private and (for those transferring after their first year) Georgetown Law grant aid. Students applying for grant aid will need to complete the CSS Profile or Need Access form and submit student and parent tax returns (with W-2s and schedules). The primary impact is that the cost of attendance is adjusted to reflect the full-time enrollment status. Also, students who transfer from evening to day will also be assessed a tuition equalization fee by the Office of Student Accounts that is incorporated into the financial aid budget.
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| If I take a leave of absence, do I have to begin repayment of my loans? |
The answer to this question depends on the type of loan a student has while in school. Federal Stafford (and most Federal Grad PLUS) loans have a grace (or equivalent) period of six months and the Federal Perkins loan has a grace period of nine months before repayment begins. Most commercial loan programs also have a nine-month grace period. If your leave of absence is shorter than your grace period, your grace period will be fully reinstated. If your leave is greater than your grace period, your loan may be placed into an in-school status when you return, but will not have a grace period when you ultimately graduate. NOTE: If you are considering a leave of absence, we encourage you to make an appointment and speak with your financial aid counselor for more information.
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| I'm having trouble making ends meet and managing my finances. Is there somewhere I can get help with this? |
Our office provides more services than just processing financial aid applications. If you need help understanding your finances, learning money management skills, or repairing your credit, you can make an appointment with your financial aid counselor and get help with these sorts of issues. Our office also provides "Life After Georgetown Law" sessions for students who are graduating to prepare them for financial success after law school.
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| What is the difference between the Financial Aid Office and the Office of Student Accounts? |
The two offices have separate administrative functions. The Financial Aid Office, located in room 335 of McDonough Hall, determines eligibility for grants, loans, and work-study. We also provide services such as financial planning, entrance and exit interviews and other guidance related to managing your money. Student Accounts, located in McDonough Room 581, is responsible for billing and collecting payments from students for Law Center tuition and other charges. To recap, you'll want to contact:
Student Accounts: Tuition Payment, Monthly Payment Plan, Refund Requests, Refund Check Pick-Up, Stafford Loan Check Pick-Up, Commercial Loan Check Pick-Up, Your Billing Statement, Your Student Account Insurance Waiver Forms, Meal Plan, W9S Forms, 1098-T forms
Financial Aid:
Grants, Federal Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, commercial loans, Financial Planning, Entrance & Exit Interviews, bar loans, Credit Issues, Work-Study, Loan Repayment Assistance Program
You can contact the Student Accounts Office at 202-662-9057 or visit them in McDonough Hall in room 581.
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| When will I receive the financial aid I have been offered? |
Financial aid is disbursed to your student account at the beginning of each semester for which funds are awarded. Please remember to direct all questions about your bill to the Student Accounts Office as the Financial Aid Office cannot assist you with billing questions. Learn more about the differences between the Financial Aid Office and Student Accounts, above.
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| What is an estimated credit on my Statement of Student Account? |
If the Financial Aid Office determines that you are eligible to receive financial aid, they will appear on your bill as estimated credits until actual funds are received. Once all requirements for the disbursement of your financial aid funds have been met, the estimated credits will become actual credits on your bill and excess funds will be available in the form of a refund to assist you with your living expenses. Please remember to direct all questions about your bill to the Student Accounts Office as the Financial Aid Office cannot assist you with billing questions. Learn more about the differences between the Financial Aid Office and Student Accounts, above.
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| Does Georgetown University Law Center have a loan repayment assistance program (LRAP)? |
Yes. Georgetown has a nationally recognized loan repayment program that benefits JD graduates who enter into certain legally related public interest or government employment following graduation. Graduates may be eligible to receive funds, in the form of interest-free forgivable loans, which assist them in paying for all or part of their monthly loan repayment obligations.
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| I keep hearing about income-based repayment and federal loan forgiveness. What is that and how does it affect me? |
These new programs began in July 2009 and provide significant benefits to many graduates choosing to pursue certain careers, especially in the government or public service sectors. Read more about the program in the Georgetown Guide to Income-Based Repayment and Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
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| Are there any helpful web sites that can assist me with financial aid, credit, tax, and other topics? |
There are a number of web sites that can help you investigate financial aid, credit, tax, and other topics, and we've collected some of the more popular ones for you below. Please note that these links are in no way associated with Georgetown Law and the maintanence of the associated webpages are the sole responsibility of the owner.
Calculators
Loan Repayment Calculators
Personal Finance Tools
Credit Bureaus & Information
Credit Counseling
Aid Applications
Other Financial Aid Resources
Federal & State Information
International Students Resources
Scholarship Search Services
Tax Benefits
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| I'm an international student. What are my financial aid options? |
The following publications and web sites provide valuable information on financial aid options for international students, as well as helpful tips on getting used to the U.S. way of life.
International Student Financial Aid Information. This publication has been designed to provide potential resource alternatives to non-U.S. citizens, who are ineligible to receive Federal financial aid.
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