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mooong said:
I applied for FAP (fee assistance progame) and got accepted about 2 months ago. This morning, I found out that I accidentally put no on the question "are your parents living". Since English is my second language, I make mistakes if I don't pay attention to reading.. when I submitted my primary application, i put yes on the same question (if my parents are living). So, they found out that the information doesn't match..

I had no intention of answering dishonesty and based on my tax return, I am qualified for FAP...
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ok, so just call them and tell them honestly what happened. Be nice, be humble, be apologetic, and it will be ok. Remember, - the person on the other side of the line is also a PERSON, who is stressed out because of the whole COVID thing, their job, family, etc. If you try to be confrontational - nothing good will happen. If you are nice and humble, - it will be easier.
 
mooong said:
Thank you. I feel much better now.
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trust people. I can only imagine how frustrated and scared you must be right now. But when you make that call you have to forget about all of that. When you make that call you must think about the person whom you are talking to - ask what is there name. call them only by their name (it always makes people like you more subconsciously). Tell them that you made a mistake while filling out the forms, because you were very stressed out. Slip in a fact or two about yourself, - it will make them feel more connected to you. And ask them to HELP you fix it. People feel more supportive and are more likely to help when they are emotionally put in the position of authority and help someone who needs help. Alternatively, if they perceive you as someone who is confrontational, they will be less likely to help.
 
mooong said:
I applied for FAP (fee assistance progame) and got accepted about 2 months ago. This morning, I found out that I accidentally put no on the question "are your parents living". Since English is my second language, I make mistakes if I don't pay attention to reading.. when I submitted my primary application, i put yes on the same question (if my parents are living). So, they found out that the information doesn't match..

I had no intention of answering dishonesty and based on my tax return, I am qualified for FAP...
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Are you still qualified with your + your parents combined income?
 
mooong said:
I am over 21 and my parents are in Korea. Should I still provide my parent's income..? I already submitted my tax return.
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Yes, you still have to submit parental income regardless of age and location. This is probably the reason for the investigation—I would still follow the advice from M&L.
 
mooong said:
Thank you, I just reviewed the requirements for FAP application. You're right. I need to submit my parental income information. I will go ahead and submit it.
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Did you actually use the FAP yet? This looks like it might be a much bigger deal than you first described.

You not only checked a wrong box, you also didn't follow instructions, made material misstatements on an application, and received a FAP you weren't entitled to. I don't mean to make you even more worried than you clearly already are, but people telling you everything is going to be fine did so without having all of the facts.

AAMC might ultimately agree it's a big misunderstanding, or they might not be so generous, given the huge demand for FAP due to COVID (and the likely increase in fraud as a result), and might determine that you committed fraud and got caught. In any event, if your language skills aren't adequate to allow you to get through a FAP application, how do you expect to get through CARS and the rest of the MCAT? Did you already take the exam?

If you were notified that AAMC is investigating a potential violation related to FAP, it is NOT going to be cleared up in a phone call. Good luck.

"The AAMC is investigating my Fee Assistance Program application. Will this affect my future Fee Assistance Program applications?

If the AAMC concludes that you have violated Fee Assistance Program policies, a report will be distributed to any medical schools that you applied to in the current application cycle, as well as to any medical schools to which you apply in the future.

If you have already been awarded fee assistance, you may be permitted to use the benefits until they expire. However, the AAMC may bar you from applying to the Fee Assistance Program again."
 
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mooong said:
Thank you for pointing out. I already provided all the documents I needed to submit last night. I will just wait for their decisions. I got worried too much about this issue so don't want to think about it anymore. It already happened and I will just take the result they make. I don't want to explain how my cars is going to work or anything. Sorry.
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The exact same thing happened to me and I am freaking out now. I just glazed over it because so many financial aid applications ask "if you are living with your parents" and I just read it that way. What happened for you? I have not received any aid, but am afraid they think I am trying to scam them. Did you find anyone to call or did you just reply to the email? If you called who did you call? If you emailed how long did it take them to respond?
 
mooong said:
Why weren't you able to get FAP? They said they would distribute my letter that I misunderstood the question and that was it.
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A page I gave them on my tax return was blurry and by the time I found this out I had already paid for everything they would have covered so once I found out they do not retroactively refund you I did not pursue further. Now a month later I am scared to death over something that did nothing for me.

So did they dismiss it for you or whatever?
 
I mean surely they realize it was a mistake every other form for AAMC she is listed and hell she is in the majority of my essays so I clearly was not trying to hide her.
 
mooong said:
I think you should be fine since you didn't get FAP. I don't think they'll contact you. Don't worry about it too much.
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As I am sure you know it is hard to not worry! I know I messed up, but it was a mistake, and it sucks that they sent the email literally the minute they closed. Now I am freaking out and have no one I can even contact until tomorrow.
 
mooong said:
Then you should write a letter indicating that you misunderstood the question. No matter how you answer to them, they'll still send out the letter to all the medical schools that you have applied or will apply but since it was a misunderstanding of the question, people said that we should be fine..
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I am confused do they always send out a letter? It seems in the policies I was sent that if the case is dismissed they do not. It seems like a horrible thing to do sending out a letter for a mistake I made on a single mistake I made on a form when the information is correct in multiple other places.

Also how long was it after you replied to their email before you received a reply?
 
mooong said:
I am not 100% sure but it seems like they only check that if I answered correctly or not. So basically if my parents are alive, then I answered incorrectly. It means that they will send out a letter that I misunderstood a question so answered incorrectly. It took about 4-5 days to get a response. I think they're busy due to the COVID and application process itself.
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Also quick question for anyone who might know. To qualify you must make below 300% of poverty level correct? If I added my mother who is elderly (I am nontrad) and only has social security as her means of income. Is it then factoring in 300% poverty level for 3 people? If so HAD I added my mother I would have been even FARTHER below that threshold. There is literally no benefit for me to have lied about that.
 
Jig95 said:
Also quick question for anyone who might know. To qualify you must make below 300% of poverty level correct? If I added my mother who is elderly (I am nontrad) and only has social security as her means of income. Is it then factoring in 300% poverty level for 3 people? If so HAD I added my mother I would have been even FARTHER below that threshold. There is literally no benefit for me to have lied about that.
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I think they adjusted the poverty level to 400% due to the COVID. I am also eligible to get FAP even with my parental income. I know how you feel now. There's no reason for me to lie about my parent's existence. I cried for days and contacted several medical schools that I applied, they said it should be fine since I just misunderstood a question. No worries. There is still a chance that your case will be dismissed
 
mooong said:
I think they adjusted the poverty level to 400% due to the COVID. I am also eligible to get FAP even with my parental income. I know how you feel now. There's no reason for me to lie about my parent's existence. I cried for days and contacted several medical schools that I applied, they said it should be fine since I just misunderstood a question. No worries. There is still a chance that your case will be dismissed
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I explained in my email and letter to them that by incorrectly answering that question all I did was hurt my chances of financial aid approval. Hopefully they realize that I had 0 reason to lie.
 
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