• Do not be afraid to contact the financial aid office to ask questions.
• Complete all required forms as soon as possible. This will avoid processing delays.
• Do not assume that you will not qualify for financial aid.
• Eliminate or reduce your consumer debt as much as possible.
• Request credit reports from all three credit bureaus. It is a good idea to know what is in your credit report. In many cases students learn too late that they have derogatory information in their credit histories. This can cause delays in loan processing.
• If you are delinquent or in default on a student loan, notify the director of financial aid as soon as possible. It is possible to resolve these problems prior to enrollment if the financial aid office is given enough notice.
• Begin to adjust your lifestyle. As a student, you will probably not be able to live in the same style you currently enjoy.
• Only borrow what you absolutely need. While loans are readily available, you should always be mindful of the impact repayment will have on your future income.
• If you are currently repaying undergraduate debt, you will need to contact your servicer to request deferment forms.

Deferment
An approved postponement of payments for a specified period. The federal government pays the interest that accrues during deferment periods for Subsidized Stafford and Perkins/NDSL Loans only. Deferments are also available for Unsubsidized Stafford, however, government interest subsidies are not available. The borrower has the option of making interest only payments, or having interest deferred and capitalized.

Delinquency
The borrower fails to make a payment when due, but is not yet in default.

Default
The failure of a borrower to make installment payments when due or meet other terms of the promissory note. Provided this failure persists for 180 days for a loan repayable in monthly installments, the lender finds it reasonable to conclude the borrower no longer intends to honor the obligation to repay.

• International students do NOT submit this form.
• Read the FAFSA's instructions before completing the form.
• Do not sign, date, mail, or file the FAFSA on-line prior to January 1, 2001.
• As a graduate student you are considered an independent student; thus, you should only complete the student portion of the FAFSA. It is not necessary to complete any information pertaining to your parents.
• If you have not filed your tax returns, use your best estimates for the FAFSA's income and tax questions.
• Sign the paper FAFSA and include Washington University's school code. This will enable us to receive your need analysis electronically from the federal government. If you file on-line, be sure to print out the signature page and mail it in. If you do not, this will delay the processing of your FAFSA.
• Washington University's school code is 002520.
• Answer all questions. Do not leave items blank. For instance, if your answer is zero, write "0" in the column, do not leave it blank and assume it will be processed as a "0". It will be returned as an error.
• FAFSA forms must be completed every academic year you plan on using financial aid. You will receive a renewal notice from the federal government in mid-December.