Need Access?

[jimi]

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Is anyone planning on filling out the Need Access application? Do all schools require it for school-based aid?

I have a feeling it is a pain to fill out so I just wanted to learn more about it. Please post if you know anything. Thanx.

 

[Linie]

Need Access is required by most (if not all) schools, as is FAFSA. Tell your parents to file their taxes ASAP because you will need their completed 1040s (and your own) in order to fill out Need Access. I don't think there's a hard and fast due date, but the sooner after taxes are due, the better. Otherwise, it's not that hard. All you have to do to add more schools is click on them. The only hard part about it for me was juggling the financial records of my divorced parents who didn't want each other to have access to their information. The disk allows separate PINs for all users, but my parents were too paranoid for that and decided to fill it out in the paper form. Also you have to send ALL the info in together (ie. records from both parents, etc.).

 

[Linie]

ALSO, you can select schools that you got into, are wait-listed for, or still waiting for an interview at... That way when you do hear, if the news is good, you're all set. If you don't get good news, it doesn't matter, it just means that the info is irrelevent to them.

 

[omores]

Need Access is certainly not required by all, or even most, med schools, but it does seem to be required by most of the top ten. It's like a more complicated version of FAFSA. One problem I encountered: Need Access requires you to disclose all the financial aid packages you've ever received from previous schools. Since I got my BA in 89, that school no longer has my records. I'm hoping my folks have them squirrelled away somewhere. If not, I'll have to guess...

 

[alshepard]

The Need Access is required by only some med schools. I found it was a pain in the butt to fill out. See the individual schools for fin aid deadlines.

 

[drfermin]

The NeedAccess site has a list of participating schools here:
http://www.accessgroup.org/software/need_access/participating.HTM

Of course, be sure to check with your schools directly.

 

[Cobragirl]

Based on the previous posts....I'm really glad that NONE of my schools are on that list!