[MSW Applications Fall 2020]

15 hours ago, StressedOutSandy said:

No they didn’t! I got admitted Feb. 25th and I still have yet to hear about financial aid. I emailed admissions soon after to determine when their deadline to confirm admission was and they said like two weeks before classes start. For financial aid they said I would have to contact the SW Department. I’ve emailed the department (the contact was the same contact that was on my letter) multiple times and still no response. Honestly, it’s annoying because I am really leaning towards GMU, but their lack of response (even before the whole public health issue) is really off putting. But if I hear anything I will make sure to update you! ? 

That is really weird, I would think that they would have told you by now what aid you qualify for. That was also my problem when I was trying to figure out when a decision would be made, I applied back in November and just now heard back! GMU seems like a great program but I can't justify out of state tuition unless I get a good offer for aid lolol. But thanks! Hopefully, we'll hear back soon!

[MSW Applications Fall 2020]

On 3/18/2020 at 3:56 PM, StressedOutSandy said:

Omg this! I got accepted to George Mason (still waiting on others), but I’m not accepting an out of state if they make it online. Waiting on admission decisions is stressful and now the uncertainty of programs is even more stressful. 

I also got into GMU! Did they address financial aid in your letter (e.g. graduate loans, work study, etc.)? All they stated is that they haven't determined who will get the GA/TA positions in my letter. I was debating whether I should call Monday and ask about that or just wait to see if a separate email will be sent out regarding our financial aid packages.

[MSW Applications Fall 2020]

On 3/17/2020 at 2:35 PM, bragierrnot said:

Heads up to anyone that also applied UMB-SSW. I just got an email saying they're allowing their admissions committee to adjust to working at home and will start reviewing apps in order of when they were submitted starting next week. 

Thank you for the heads-up! I was wondering why I haven't heard back from them and I submitted my app back in Jan, so I was getting super anxious!

[MSW Applications Fall 2020]

On 2/24/2020 at 3:44 PM, SWColumbia said:

I applied to GMU in early October and heard back mid October? Although once I inquired about further info, like class schedule, aid, email set up etc, they were very unorganized and virtually never got back to me. I crossed them off as an option a while ago - so I stopped following up. For UMB I applied early October (10/11) and Heard back mid Nov (11/22ish). 

As long as you fill the FASFA form out, you should be eligible for the general federal unsubsidized loan I mentioned. You do not need to sign up for anything specifically, as they determine what they can offer you and how many loans they offer. The one I mention is the the base one they offer to every grad student. If you want to know specific amounts, call your schools FASFA office and they should be able to tell you. Another loan FASFA can offer is called grad plus loan, but that one requires a credit check I believe. 

I think every U.S. Citizen qualifies for FASFA and certain eligible non-citizens.

I received the same vibes from them too, the person I spoke to on the phone sounded like she didn't know what she was doing. They're most likely understaffed. I also crossed off GMU awhile ago, especially since I applied back in November and still haven't heard back yet. 

That makes sense, thank you for explaining!

[MSW Applications Fall 2020]

46 minutes ago, SWColumbia said:

Hey there, I applied to GMU and UMB. I heard back from GMU within a few weeks (fairly fast), and I heard back from UMB after 6 weeks. UMB does not award any scholarships until March, so you would not see it in your letter. GMU did not offer or even mention anything in regards to scholarships and I did not ask. No acceptance letter of any program mentioned Loans/Work study, FASFA is completely a different entity of the school. However if you fill out FASFA, you qualify for unsubsidized loans in the amount of $20.5k, and any additional loans may require a credit check. Work study will be offered there too if you requested you were interested and the school has availability.

 

Hope this helps,

Thank you so much for responding! This information was really helpful. If you don't mind sharing, when did you submit your application for both schools? For UMB, I sent it around the first-second week of Jan. For GMU, I sent it back in November but when I called in a couple of weeks ago, they said they implied that they start review on application deadline and that it will take about 8 weeks... GMU is making me thinking it's a lost cause at this point lolol

For FAFSA, as of this morning, they told me that the schools' financial aid office would tell me if I was eligible for any federal loans. For the unsubsidizied loan, is that something we sign up/apply for on the FAFSA website if we qualify for it? How do we get into the process of getting the unsubsidized loan?

[MSW Applications Fall 2020]

Hi guys!

I've been a long time lurker on this discussion post and I am so glad that we have this community to talk about our applications! Congratulations to those who have been accepted to their top choices!

Currently, I have been accepted to University of Pittsburgh with a 12k scholarship (renews every year) but I will most likely decline their offer. I am still waiting on GMU and UMB, which seems like not a lot of applicants here have applied to lolol.

I have a question about FASFA based aid. Did your acceptance letters include if you guys were eligible for federal loans and work study? Or do we receive that separately/have to contact financial aid office to find out? I'm a first generation college student so I am a bit behind about the working of financial aid.