For Prospective Undergraduates
2010-2011 Application for Financial Aid and Deadlines

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The Office of Financial Aid at Wesleyan University is committed to enabling the best qualified students to attend. Accordingly, Wesleyan's financial aid program awards assistance solely on the basis of financial need to US citizens and eligible non-citizens. No aid is based on academic merit, athletic ability or special talents.  Wesleyan does not "negotiate" financial aid, but does consider extenuating circumstances that may affect a family's ability to contribute to a Wesleyan education.

The full financial need of all undergraduate students, as determined by the Office of Financial Aid, is met with a combination of loans, part-time employment and grants. Wesleyan considers the financing of education expenses to be the responsibility of parents, up to the level of their ability to contribute. Thus parent financial information is the primary basis for the determination of need.

Once a student enrolls, continued support from parents is expected until graduation. Students who have supported themselves financially for a significant period of time prior to enrolling at Wesleyan may qualify for self-supporting status, exempting the reporting of parent information. However, students must have approval from the Office of Financial Aid prior to applying as self-supporting students.
 
Documents required to determine eligibility for assistance are listed below. Links have been provided to download forms in Adobe Acrobat format (when available) or connect the viewer to the appropriate application website.  
 
Priority dates for submitting all documents (click on links for .pdf checklist) to their respective destinations are:

Early Decision, Option 1: November 15
Early Decision, Option 2: January 15
Regular Decision: February 15
Fall-Semester Transfers: April 15

US Citizens and Eligible Non-Citizens:
International applicants please click here. 

Estimating 2009 income information is acceptable.  Information will be reconciled upon receipt of 2009 1040.

1. The 2010-11 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Available after January 1, 2010 (ED1 applicants complete after January 1, 2010) at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  It is recommended that both applicant and parent obtain PIN numbers to sign the FAFSA. Electronic processing takes approximately 8-10 business days. Please plan accordingly.  Wesleyan's code number is 001424.  If you are applying to more than six schools be sure to resubmit your Student Aid Report (FAFSA filing confirmation) with the additional institutions.

If your Student Aid Report (SAR) indicates that you have been selected for verification you must submit a verification worksheet to our office. (These forms will be posted and available to download after January 1, 2010 when the 2010-11 FAFSA is available) 

Dependent Student Worksheet - For students who report parent information on the FAFSA.

Independent Student Worksheet - For students who were not required to report parent information on the FAFSA.

FAFSA Reject - Correction Required:  If you have submitted your FAFSA, received your SAR (Student Aid Report) and must make corrections (ex. lack of parent and student signatures) please click here for further instructions.

2. The Profile^TM Form of the College Scholarship Service (CSS). Available at www.collegeboard.org. Wesleyan's code number is 3959. Electronic processing takes approximately 5 business days. Please plan accordingly.  You will receive a CSS acknowledgement form once your application has been processed.  Application corrections should be made on this form and submitted directly to Wesleyan. In lieu of the Profile explanation box, applicants are encouraged to submit dollar-specific details relative to any special circumstances that affect their ability to contribute to a Wesleyan education directly to the Financial Aid Office. 

Families living abroad whose student is a US citizen or eligible non-citizen are asked to complete the Profile form as well. They should also forward a copy of their tax return(s) or verification of income with English translation directly to the Financial Aid Office.

3. Signed copies of the student's and parents' 2009 federal tax return including all schedules and W2 forms (copies of 2008 federal tax returns required for Early Decision). If there is a tax extension, please submit that documentation. 
Please note that Wesleyan does not participate in IDOC for prospective students.  Documents must be mailed to the office.  We are unable to accept e-mail attachments or a fax.

4. If parents are divorced, separated, or were never married, the CSS Noncustodial Profile and a copy of the noncustodial parent's 2009 federal tax return and W2 form(s) (copies of 2008 federal tax returns required for Early Decision).

This requirement is not initiated until the student completes the CSS Profile.  Once completed, the College Board will send the student an email directing him/her to share the email with the noncustodial parent.  The message will include:

• A link to the website where the noncustodial parent will be required to login.
• A pre-assigned login and password that must be used by the noncustodial parent the first time he or she accesses the site.
• A message stating that the noncustodial parent will be required to change the pre-assigned password to access the application.

The student will also be given the option to request that the College Board send an email directly to the noncustodial parent.  If the student selects this option, he or she will be asked to provide the noncustodial parent's email address.

5. If parents operate a business or farm, a copy of the most recent partnership or corporate tax return.

6.  Permission to share information (.pdf).  Student release form for guardians, counselors, etc. to discuss financial aid file.  This form should be completed if you wish to allow someone other than your parent to contact us on your behalf. This form does not apply to persons who have submitted information on the FAFSA or CSS Profile or scholarship agencies.

7.  Scholarships from outside sources must be reported to our office as they affect financial aid funding.  Most students learn of these scholarships at graduation.  To report a scholarship click here. 

Students applying only for federal student aid (primarily Federal Stafford Loans) are not required to complete the ProfileTM.  Complete the FAFSA and submit 2008 federal tax returns to the office.

After reviewing application materials, the Office of Financial Aid may determine that additional information is needed. The office will contact the applicant to request any additional documentation. 

As part of Wesleyan's effort to work in partnership with the student and his/her family, the best offer of financial assistance is provided in the initial award letter.  Requests for additional funding must be based upon special circumstances that were not provided with the original application.  These types of circumstances might include loss of employment, elder or medical care expenses.  Items such as home repairs, weddings, car/mortgage payments, credit card debt, etc. are not considered special circumstances.

Now that you know what information Wesleyan uses to determine financial need why not use the College Board's IM calculator to estimate your family contribution?  

International Students: 

Financial aid for international students is extremely limited and is awarded on the basis of both exceptional qualifications and demonstrated need. Wesleyan expects to provide financial assistance to approximately 15 international students from a pool of over 400 such applicants. No financial aid is available for transfer students who are not US citizens or eligible non-citizens.

Do not submit the FAFSA. For the incoming class of 2010-11, we will be requiring the CSS Profile along with verification of income with English translation.

Although there is no family contribution calculator available for international students to use on the web we are happy to answer any specific questions directly.  Inquiries about expected family contributions or the aid process should be directed to Jennifer Garratt Lawton in the Office of Financial Aid, at finaid@wesleyan.edu.

Veterans: 

The Military Veterans Endowed Scholarship Fund began Fall, 2008. 

Recipients will have no loans in the financial aid package and may graduate with $0 loan indebtedness for the time they are enrolled at Wesleyan. However, should assistance be needed to meet the Student Contribution, most students should be eligible to borrow through the low-cost federal Stafford or Perkins loans programs.
 

Wesleyan is also proud to be a part of the Yellow Ribbon Program for qualifying veterans.

 

 

Report an outside Scholarship