Fee Assistance Program

[camshark]

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Im a little confused about the fee assistance program. If I plan to take the MCAT in April and apply in June to med school, then do I apply for this program in January? It needs all my and my parents tax info tho so then I wont be able to apply until February at the earliest...is it still possible to get the assistance lined up before my MCAT? Can I apply for my MCAT now and then if Im cleared, they will pay or do i need to wait to apply (seems 2 late in Feb). Any info would be appreciated.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Im a little confused about the fee assistance program. If I plan to take the MCAT in April and apply in June to med school, then do I apply for this program in January? It needs all my and my parents tax info tho so then I wont be able to apply until February at the earliest...is it still possible to get the assistance lined up before my MCAT? Can I apply for my MCAT now and then if Im cleared, they will pay or do i need to wait to apply (seems 2 late in Feb). Any info would be appreciated.

FAP takes about 3-4 weeks to be approved from when you submit it, so for an April test date it's probably okay for you to submit it in February. You can apply once per year, and it is good for the calendar year--so if you apply at any point in 2012, the benefits will expire on December 31st, 2012. Unfortunately, AMCAS will not reimburse you if you are approved for FAP after paying for the MCAT. I would call the people with FAP and find out if they will accept your parents' 2010 tax documents since you might not have your 2011 documents ready at the time you want to apply. I'm not sure what their policy is.

 

[camshark]

Thanks...I think Ill just pay for the MCAT...I mostly am looking at aide for the application process more so than the MCAT. Thanks aain for the info!

 

[bigloley]

The people at FAP are extremely receptive and nice - you can just pdf tax records and email them. Just make sure you do it early - if not for your MCAT at least for you primary/secondary applications.

You don't want to have FAP processing hold up your application at all so do it early. If you're applying to tons of schools it might not be that much help for primary fees but it is a godsend for secondaries. Almost every school honors FAP

 

[babydragon]

Hi.

I applied and got the FAP waiver. From my understanding, they require
the most recent tax forms to be considered. In your case since you are
applying in 2012, you need to have your parents' 2011 tax returns not 2010.
I didn't apply for FAP until May, after my March MCAT. It was approved
in less than 3 weeks, just before I submitted my AMCAS primary. Hope that
helps.