Checklist for Disbursement of Financial Aid

Once you have decided to come here, the following steps must be completed before your financial aid can disburse:

• If you have been awarded need-based grants, send us a signed copy of your 2011 federal tax return.
• After you receive your award notice, accept or decline your offer of financial aid on Wolverine Access under Student Business > Financial Aid Information > Financial Aid Award Notices (select the 2013 aid year and go to accept/decline).
• Complete entrance counseling for federal loans on the StudentLoans.gov website.
• Complete the Master Promissory Note for federal loans on the StudentLoans.gov website. There are separate promissory notes for Stafford and Grad PLUS loans. If you are borrowing both, you will need to complete a promissory note for each one.
• You must also submit the Statement of Understanding.
• If you are expecting a financial aid refund check for living expenses, we strongly encourage you to sign up for direct deposit on Wolverine Access under Student Business > Payroll & Compensation > Direct Deposit. Direct deposit is usually more timely and accurate. If you do not sign up for direct deposit, your refund check will be mailed to the current address that is listed on Wolverine Access.
• If you need to borrow a Grad PLUS or private loan, a separate application is required. A comparison of different types of loans is available on our loan comparison chart/FAQ [PDF]. Since credit approvals expire, the earliest you should apply is June 1st unless you are a summer starter in which case you can apply as early as March 1st. If you borrow a Grad PLUS loan, please be sure to complete the school's Grad PLUS loan application, and not the one on the StudentLoans.gov website.

All of the required steps above should be completed at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the school year. Financial aid disburses at the beginning of each semester and weekly throughout the semester. It is applied to tuition first and, if applicable, lawyers club charges. If you are expecting a refund for living expenses, the earliest you should expect to receive your check is the Monday before classes begin. Advances cannot be given for moving expenses, books, etc.

All information is strictly confidential. Please address inquiries to:

The University of Michigan Law School
Financial Aid Office
701 South State Street
South Hall, Suite 2200
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-3091
Telephone: 734.764.5289
Fax: 734.763.7761
E-mail: lawfinaid@umich.edu