To:Incoming and Prospective Graduate Students in the School of Nutrition Science and Policy
From: David Hastings, Associate Dean for Administration and Finance
Date: Effective in 1999
Thank you for your interest in the Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Many of you may consider the financing of a graduate education to be a significant burden. It is my hope that we may assist you in lessening the severity of the challenge, and help you make your decision to attend our University.
This memorandum is provided to acquaint you with the various types of financial assistance that are available in the coming year. Please be attentive to the varying prequalifications for assistance, depending upon the constraints of the source. All such eligibility criteria are described here as they may apply.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The term, AFinancial Aid@ refers to the options available through the Tufts University Office of Financial Aid which for all Graduate Nutrition students is on the Medford Campus, 128 Professors Row [telephone (617) 627-3528]. The staffer responsible for graduate students in that unit is Bonnie Griff. The Office of Financial Aid provides service to several schools at our University including the College of Arts and Sciences, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and the School of Nutrition Science and Policy. This office processes the AFree Application for Federal Student Aid@ form. The form is used in the process of determining your eligibility for Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, and Federal Work Study. Only United States Citizens or Permanent Residents are eligible for the funds/loans distributed through the Office of Financial Aid. Most graduate students are eligible for the Stafford Loans which are available with excellent interest rates and payment schedules. To apply for these types of funds/loans, you need to request a AFinancial Aid Packet@ from that office.
We also offer a Payment Plan. The University works with a third-party company that can help you pay your tuition on a no-interest basis. There is a one-time $30 application fee. The company provides a monthly payment schedule. You are all encouraged to take advantage of this option regardless of whether or not you receive other forms of financial assistance. This payment plan can be used to assist you with financing both your tuition and living expenses. The company is AMS and may be contacted, toll free, at 1-800-635-0120. The deadline for entering this payment program is September 1.
The term, AScholarship@ refers to funds provided by the School of Nutrition Science and Policy to our graduate students that are used to reduce tuition costs or assist you in defraying some of your living expenses. In most cases, such scholarships are funds put aside from the School=s operating budget. In some cases, we have obtained scholarship funds from specific donors. If you are provided with this latter form of scholarship, we do require that you maintain the appropriate level of contact with the donor. Our Director of Development for the School of Nutrition Science and Policy will advise you as to what types of follow up are necessary on an individual basis. These funds are distributed directly to your Student Account. We issue a credit to your student account (ABursar=s Bill@). In the event the credits are larger than the amount owed, you may elect to withdraw the balance by completing a Refund Form which can be obtained at the Bursar=s Office or from Ms. Lori Anderson, Coordinator of Student Services. Please be aware that if you receive any AFinancial Aid@ as outlined above, the refund form has to be approved by the Office of Financial Aid before the Bursar=s Office will issue you a refund check.
AStipends@ and AResearch Assistantships@ are provided in return for your work on a project or program. These may come from a specific research grant or contract. Such forms of support are customarily available for second year students and beyond, but not exclusively. In every case there are specific requirements which vary given the source of funding. You will be given direction as to your responsibilities in accepting such funding by the faculty sponsor/principal investigator of the research grant or contract or the administration of the Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in the event you receive one of those stipends. Speak to the faculty member with whom you would like to work as to how to obtain this type of funding. If you receive an HNRC-provided stipend, you are regarded as a part-time employee, given your responsibilities in the laboratory. Given current Internal Revenue Service policies and the University=s interpretation of relevant regulations and laws, such stipends are classified as income and as such are subject to withholding taxes.
ATeaching Assistantships@ are awarded to students selected from those applying for specific teaching assistantship positions. The faculty member providing the course makes the final decision. The availability of teaching assistantships is publicized to the student body.
APPLICATION PROCESS FOR FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Please note that the timelines for response on your requests for Financial Aid and Scholarships are very different. The processes are different and the personnel responsible for these two major forms of financial assistance are different (University Office of Financial Aid for Financial Aid and the School of Nutrition Science and Policy for Scholarships).
To apply for Financial Aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (as mentioned earlier, you need to request this form from the Office of Financial Aid).
There are two methods to apply for Scholarships:
A. If you are a Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States, you should already be applying for Financial Aid detailed earlier in this packet of information. To apply for Scholarships, you may simply provide a copy of the AFAFSA@ and the AGraduate Aid Application:1999-2000" (two of the forms in the Financial Aid packet) to my office together with a copy of your 1998 tax form when that is available.
B. If you are an international student, please complete the enclosed School of Nutrition Science and Policy Scholarship Application.
ALL FORMS ARE DUE TO THE SCHOOL OF NUTRITION SCIENCE AND POLICY ADMISSIONS OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE EARLIER YOU RESPOND, THE SOONER YOU WILL LEARN OF YOUR SCHOLARSHIP
Thanks. We look forward to the possibility of assisting you in the financing of your graduate education.
You might be successful in securing funding to aid in your graduate training by investigating the opportunities at the following sites on the internet:
– our frequently updated page specifically looking for funding opportunities in nutrition science and policy
- Fastweb, which claims to be the Internet's largest free scholarship search
– a wonderful excerpt from the Northeastern Times
- FinAid's Financial Aid Information Page, offering a wealth of information
- Mach 25: a customized scholarship search service with a futuristic motif
- The College Board's online scholarship search with information taken from "The Scholarship Handbook"
scholarships.salliemae.com/ Sallie Mae's Online Scholarship Service
www2.acs.ncsu.edu/grad/funding/fellows.htm - North Carolina State University's excellent database on graduate fellowships
- Peterson's information on financing education and other topics
www2.nas.edu/wwwcat/fellowship.html - National Academy of Sciences Graduate Fellowship and Postdoctoral Opportunities
- Rams-Fie database of research and education funding opportunities
TUFTS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NUTRITION
SCIENCE AND POLICY - SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION 1999-2000
Name______Social Security Number ______
Address______Telephone #______
Where will you live while at Tufts? G Dorm G Off-Campus Apartment G Parent's Home G Other ______Birthplace______Citizenship ______If you are not a U.S. citizen, specify your status ______
Did, or will you (and spouse, if any) file a 1998 federal income tax return? G Yes G No If yes, please provide a signed copy, together with all schedules and W-2 forms with this application. If you did not file a 1998 federal income tax return, please note below, all sources and amounts of income you received in 1998.
SourceAmount
______$______
______$______
______$______
______$______
List the members of your household. Include yourself, your spouse, and your dependent children, if you (and spouse) provide at least half of their support. Include others ONLY if they lived with and received more than half of their support from you (and spouse) at the time of this application and will continue to receive that support between July 1, 1999 and June 30, 2000.
NameAge
______
______
______
Spouse's (or Prospective Spouse's) Financial Aid and Educational History
a. Will spouse be a student in the 1999-2000 academic year? G Yes, full time G Yes, part time G No
b. If yes, indicate tuition and estimated aid: ______
c. Give degree sought and estimated date of completion of program: ______
d. Has spouse applied for financial aid for the 1999-2000 academic year? G Yes G No
Student (and Spouse's) Employment
Student's Employment History / Spouse (prospective spouse) Employment HistoryName of Employer / Type of Work / Total Earnings / Name of Employer / Type of Work / Total Earnings
Previous
Summer 1998 / $ / Previous
Summer 1998 / $
Previous
Academic Yr. 1998-1999 / $ / Previous
Academic Yr. 1998-1999 / $
Upcoming
Summer 1999 / $ / Upcoming
Summer 1999 / $
Upcoming
Academic Yr. 1999-2000 / $ / Upcoming
Academic Yr. 1999-2000 / $
If you were not employed during the Summer of 1998, how did you spend your time? ______
If you will not be employed during the summer of 1999, what are your plans? ______
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School of Nutrition Science and Policy – Revised January 14, 1999
ASSETS: Amount you (and spouse) will have on June 1, 1999 in your own name(s):
What is it worth now? / What is owed on it?Cash, savings and checking accounts
Home Date purchased______
Purchase price $______
Other real estate
Investments
Business/Farm
Do you (and spouse) own a motor vehicle? G Yes G No
If so, specify model, make, year______Year purchased _____ Purchase price ______
Present Value ______Current outstanding loan, if any ______Monthly payments ______
Does anyone else, including parents, have assets in your name? If so, describe and give amounts: ______
OTHER RESOURCES
List any non-Tufts scholarship held by you in 1998-1999 and expected for or applying for in 1999-2000 (sources and amounts)
1998-1999 Scholarships Received: ______
1999-2000 Expected: ______
1999-2000 Applying for: ______
Describe parents' employment, their dependents and ability to assist you ______
APPLICANT'S DEBTS - Please list
Total Borrowed / Years Borrowed / Amount Repaid / Unpaid BalanceOther debts ______
Spouse's debts ______
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School of Nutrition Science and Policy – Revised January 14, 1999
APPLICANT'S BUDGET
Give all income and expenses for the period of enrollment (normally September through May). Indicate whether budget below is based on a G 9-month or a G 12-month period. This chart is used to assess the variance between resources and expenses both for the current year and the first year you would be enrolled at Tufts.
In our experience, it appears that approximately $14,000 is a reasonable amount to expend on non-school expenses (rent, food, clothing, entertainment, insurance, etc.). However, individual students might have significantly different experiences. Therefore, if you wish to complete the column for Academic Year 1999-2000 using your own proposed budget, please feel free to do so. Otherwise, use the block provided and fill in the amount $14,000.
RESOURCES / Previous Year 1998-1999 / Academic Year 1999-2000 / EXPENSES / Previous Year 1998-1999 / Academic Year 1999-2000Parents' contribution / Tuition, fees – applicant
Amount from spouse's parents / Tuition, fees – spouse
Applicant take-home pay / Books
Spouse take-home pay / Medical Insurance
Loans / Food
Scholarships (non-Tufts) / Utilities
Scholarships (Tufts) / Mortgage/Rent
Other (describe below) / Clothing
Recreation
Commuting expenses
Other (describe here)
Use the $14,000 average, please
TOTAL / TOTAL
Surplus/(Deficit) = Resources - Expenses1998-1999 ______
1999-2000 ______
1999-2000 Loans You Will Request ______
Please use the remaining space on this form to provide information regarding any special family/individual circumstances that may make it difficult for you to finance your education at Tufts. Attach additional sheets if necessary.
Signature ______Date______
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School of Nutrition Science and Policy – Revised January 14, 1999