Fee Assistance Program Essentials

aamc.org/fap

1 
© AAMC 
 
Contents 
 
What Is the Fee Assistance Program? ...................................................................................................... 2 
Before You Begin ........................................................................................................................................ 2 
Are You Eligible? ......................................................................................................................................... 3 
Address Guidelines ....................................................................................................................................... 3 
Fee Assistance Program Household Income Guidelines .............................................................................. 4 
Important Requirement: Parental Information ............................................................................................... 4 
Maximum Number of Awards ........................................................................................................................ 4 
Benefits ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 
Effective Date ................................................................................................................................................ 5 
Not Retroactive .............................................................................................................................................. 5 
Remaining Benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 5 
Steps for Applying to the Fee Assistance Program ................................................................................ 6 
Tips for Completing Your Fee Assistance Program Application ................................................................... 6 
Use of Personal Information .......................................................................................................................... 6 
My AAMC Profile ........................................................................................................................................... 6 
Applicant Information ..................................................................................................................................... 7 
Applicant Financial Information ..................................................................................................................... 7 
Parental Information .................................................................................................................................... 11 
Parental Financial Information: For Applicants Under Age 26 .................................................................... 13 
Application Summary .................................................................................................................................. 16 
Submission and Certification Statement ..................................................................................................... 16 
After You Submit Your Application ......................................................................................................... 17 
Submitted and On Hold ............................................................................................................................... 17 
Submitted and Pending Verification ............................................................................................................ 19 
Withdrawing Your Application ..................................................................................................................... 19 
Approved ..................................................................................................................................................... 20 
Denied ......................................................................................................................................................... 20 
Appeal Process ........................................................................................................................................... 20 
Violations and Investigations .................................................................................................................. 21 
Violations ..................................................................................................................................................... 21 
Investigation Procedures ............................................................................................................................. 21 
Arbitration for Investigation Disputes .......................................................................................................... 21 
Loss of Future Eligibility .............................................................................................................................. 21 
Contact Us ................................................................................................................................................. 22 
Glossary ..................................................................................................................................................... 23

What Is the Fee Assistance Program?

Although the many costs associated with applying to medical school may discourage some students from

applying, the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) believes that these costs should not be a barrier

to anyone who aspires to become a physician. To help offset some of these application costs, the AAMC offers

the AAMC Fee Assistance Program.

The AAMC Fee Assistance Program provides financial assistance to individuals who, without this aid, would find it

very difficult — if not impossible — to take the Medical College Admission Test

(MCAT

), apply to medical

schools that use the American Medical College Application Service

(AMCAS

), and fulfill other application

obligations.

Reading and implementing the information in Fee Assistance Program Essentials: Calendar Year 2024 will

ensure you experience a smooth application process. You must read this guide before completing your AAMC

Fee Assistance Program application.

If you are a returning Fee Assistance Program applicant, you must read the current version of the Fee Assistance

Program Essentials guide in effect at the time you submit your application, as the guide can change from year to

year.

Note: When you apply, you will be asked to certify that you have read and understand the policies and

procedures detailed in Fee Assistance Program Essentials: Calendar Year 2024 and that you agree to comply

with them.

Contact Fee Assistance Program staff if you have questions after reading this guide. You will find contact

information for program staff in the Contact Us section of this guide, and you can locate related resources at

aamc.org/fap.

Before You Begin

You will need an AAMC ID and an associated username and password to apply for the AAMC Fee Assistance

Program. If you have previously created an AAMC ID at any time, for any reason (such as to purchase or access

MCAT Official Prep products, the Medical School Admission Requirements™ (MSAR

) database, the MCAT

exam, the AMCAS application, or any other AAMC products and services) you must use the same username and

password to apply for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program.

If you do not already have an AAMC ID, you will be directed to create an account and establish a username and

password when initiating your AAMC Fee Assistance Program application. Please be aware that Fee

Assistance Program benefits are linked to the AAMC ID used to submit the application. Therefore, you

must use the same AAMC ID when ordering AAMC products and services for the benefits to apply.

If you cannot remember your username or password, DO NOT create a new AAMC ID. The login page provides

options to reset your password or request your username. If you encounter problems resetting your password or

answering the self-service security questions, contact the AAMC access team. You may not create multiple

AAMC IDs for any reason without the prior written consent of the AAMC.

If you believe you have multiple accounts or you created a duplicate account in error, contact the AAMC access

team to resolve the situation. Allow up to two business days for a response. Please do not move forward with your

Fee Assistance Program application until your account issues are resolved.

Entering false information or creating multiple AAMC IDs may result in an investigation. Please refer to the

Violations and Investigations section of this guide for more information.

Are You Eligible?

The AAMC Fee Assistance Program is funded by the AAMC. The AAMC Fee Assistance Program

eligibility requirements differ from federally funded aid programs such as the Free Application for Federal

Student Aid (FAFSA). Please read the Fee Assistance Program eligibility requirements carefully before

starting your application. If you have questions about these requirements, contact program staff before

submitting your application.

To be eligible for the Fee Assistance Program, you are required to fulfill the following requirements, which

are detailed below:

• You must have a U.S.-based home address.

• Each household reported on your application (yours and your parents, if applicable) must have a

2023 total family income that is equal to or less than 400% of the 2023 national poverty level for

your family size.

• You must be preparing to apply to medical school. Specifically, applicants for AAMC Fee

Assistance must not:

▪ Be currently accepted or enrolled in any medical school.

▪ Have graduated from medical school.

▪ Be preparing to apply for residency.

Address Guidelines

You will be required to provide proof of a U.S.-based home address. The documentation or identification

that you submit must include:

• Your full name.

• Your current U.S. address.

The following documentation and forms of ID will be accepted as proof of a U.S.-based home address:

• Fully signed, unexpired lease or rental agreement with your name listed as the lessee, permitted resident,

or renter (may be a photocopy).

• Your driver’s license or government ID, unexpired (entire ID with no evidence of tampering, such as

clipped corners or holes; may be a photocopy).

▪ Please be aware that the AAMC does not accept passports as proof of a U.S.-based home

address since passports do not include a home address.

• The following documentation issued within the last 60 days of the date you submit your application (may

be a photocopy):

▪ Utility bill (water, gas, electric, oil, or cable).

▪ Telephone bill (landline, cell phone, or wireless are acceptable).

▪ Bank, credit card, or investment account statement.

▪ Student loan statement.

▪ Letter on official letterhead issued by any U.S. university or college registrar’s office.

▪ Official mail received from any government agency.

▪ Government check or employer paycheck.

If you are a Canadian resident who is interested in fee assistance but you do not have a U.S.-based

home address, you may be interested in the Canadian Fee Assistance Program.

For Canadian residents who wish to learn more about the eligibility criteria, the application process, and

deadlines for the Canadian Fee Assistance Program, please visit the Association of Faculties of Medicine

in Canada’s (AFMC) website.

Fee Assistance Program Household Income Guidelines

The award approval for the Fee Assistance Program is tied directly to the U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services’ poverty guidelines. In 2024, you are eligible for fee assistance if each household reported on your

application (yours and your parents, as applicable) reports a 2023 total family income equal to or less than 400%

of the 2023 national poverty level for your family size. Refer to the AAMC website for the specific Fee Assistance

Program Income Guidelines.

Important Requirement: Parental Information

Note: Unlike some federally funded aid programs, the Fee Assistance Program requires you to provide

your parents’ financial information if you are under age 26 at the time of submission regardless of your:

• Marital status.

• Age.

• Tax filing status (independent or dependent).

• Parents’ country of residence.

• Parents’ willingness to provide documentation.

Parental information is described in more detail below. Your parents’ financial information is considered

separately from your financial information. However, each household (yours and your parents’) must fall

within the poverty guidelines of the Fee Assistance Program described above.

Maximum Number of Awards

You may be awarded Fee Assistance Program benefits a maximum of five times during your lifetime.

This decision cannot be appealed. This restriction enables others to benefit from this program.

Benefits

Each Fee Assistance Program award includes access to the Medical School Admission Requirements

reduced fees for MCAT registration, waived MCAT Official Prep subscription product fees, assistance in

paying for an updated psychoeducational or medical evaluation (if required to support an MCAT

accommodation application), waived AMCAS application fees for one application cycle, waived fees for

AAMC PREview

exam registration, and discounted ERAS

application fees.

Note: You may receive MCAT Official Prep product benefits only once in your lifetime, regardless of the

number of times you are a Fee Assistance Program awardee. Therefore, you must actively elect to receive

MCAT Official Prep product benefits when you wish to use them. If you elect to receive your MCAT Official

Prep product benefits in 2024, the products will expire on Dec. 31, 2025; and if you elect to receive your

MCAT Official Prep product benefits in 2025, the products will expire on Dec. 31, 2026. The expiration date

will be visible in the MCAT Official Prep Hub. The MCAT Official Prep products’ expiration date will not

change if you are approved to receive Fee Assistance Program benefits again. Refer to the What Are the

Benefits of the Fee Assistance Program? webpage for information about specific award benefits.

Effective Date

If your 2024 Fee Assistance Program application is approved, your benefits will begin on the date of

approval and will expire on Dec. 31, 2025*, regardless of your approval date in the Fee Assistance

Program application year.

Note: The AMCAS application benefits awarded to you can be used for only one application cycle; they

do not carry over to the following cycle.

Fee Assistance Approval and Expiration Dates:

If your application is approved:

Your benefits expire*:

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2024

Dec. 31, 2025

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2025

Dec. 31, 2026

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2026

Dec. 31, 2027

Not Retroactive

Fee Assistance Program benefits are not retroactive. In addition, benefits will not be applied until after

your Fee Assistance Program benefits have been awarded. Please be aware that:

• No refunds will be issued for any fees you paid before your Fee Assistance Program application

was approved.

• You may not use your awarded medical school designations if you submit your AMCAS

application before your Fee Assistance Program application is approved.

• The AAMC is not responsible for any MCAT or PREview registration deadlines or medical school

application deadlines you might miss while waiting for the review of your Fee Assistance Program

application. If you have questions about whether your Fee Assistance Program benefits will be

applied, contact the AAMC before making a purchase.

Remaining Benefits

For returning applicants, if you were awarded Fee Assistance Program benefits in 2023, you will see a

summary of your remaining benefits on the Benefits Overview page when you log into the Fee

Assistance Program application.

* See Benefits Note above about Official MCAT Prep product expiry. Discounted ERAS application fee benefit

details, policy, and procedure will be provided at a later date.

If you do not require new benefits, you do not need to create a new application. If you want to apply for

new benefits, select “Start Application” at the bottom of the page to initiate a new Fee Assistance

Program application for 2024. If you start a new Fee Assistance Program application and are

approved, you will no longer have access to the Benefits Overview page. If you are denied fee

assistance in 2024, you still will have access to the Benefits Overview page to view and use your

remaining 2023 approved benefits.

Note: Unused AMCAS benefits from a previous approval are forfeited as soon as your new award is

approved.

Steps for Applying to the Fee Assistance Program

When filling out your Fee Assistance Program application, follow the application prompts and enter the

information requested completely and accurately. Failure to do so may result in an investigation. Refer to

the Violations and Investigations section of this guide for more information.

Tips for Completing Your Fee Assistance Program Application

• Some of your personal information may be pre-populated with the information you provided when

you registered for your AAMC profile. Be sure to update any incorrect information before

submitting your application, particularly your date of birth.

• You are required to complete fields marked with an asterisk.

• You cannot proceed to the next page of the application if a required field is left blank.

• Enter income and other dollar amounts in whole dollars. Round to the nearest dollar, if necessary.

• If documentation that includes sensitive personal information is required (e.g., Social Security

number (SSN), Social Insurance Number (SIN), or other government ID numbers), redact or

mask that information before uploading it to your Fee Assistance Program application.

• Review your Application Summary carefully to ensure your information is complete and

accurate. Select “Edit” to revise your answers before submitting.

Use of Personal Information

The AAMC recognizes that some of the information you submit as part of your Fee Assistance Program

application is sensitive. Any personal information submitted as part of your Fee Assistance Program

application will be treated in accordance with the AAMC Privacy Statement. Supporting materials are

retained by the AAMC for a limited time and then securely destroyed. To the extent the AAMC publishes

information related to the Fee Assistance Program, such information will be reported using aggregate

data, which does not reveal your identity.

My AAMC Profile

Information you entered when you registered for an AAMC account will populate on the first page you see

in the application process (My AAMC Profile). Review the information and update or complete it, as

necessary.

Double check that your date of birth is correct. Also ensure that your email address is accurate; this

email will be used to contact you with application updates.

Note: Changes you make to My AAMC Profile in the Fee Assistance Program application may update

across your AAMC service program profiles and vice versa.

Applicant Information

Enter your citizenship status and your U.S. address, phone number, and state of legal residence on the

Applicant Information page. You may change information on this page before submission. After

submission, you may request changes to your mailing address and phone number by contacting

program staff.

Applicant Financial Information

The Applicant Financial Information page has several components. Guidance on how to answer the

questions in each component is provided below.

Marital Status

Your marital status determines the information you are required to submit in this component. Answer “Yes”

if you were married as of Dec. 31, 2023. If you were married, you are required to enter your spouse’s

financial information. If you were not married, or were no longer married, as of Dec. 31, 2023, answer “No.”

If you are uncertain about your marital and tax status, review the Marital Status Definitions table below,

which also details the Household Income you are required to report. Note: You are the “Applicant.”

Marital Status Definitions

Applicant’s

Marital Status

Definition

One

Household

Income

Required

Two

Household

Incomes

Required

Married, Filing Jointly

If the applicant was legally married as of Dec. 31, 2023,

and filing taxes jointly, the applicant should select “Married,

Filing Jointly” regardless of whether the applicant and their

spouse were residing together or separately.

Married,

Filing Separately

If the applicant was legally married as of Dec. 31, 2023,

and filing taxes separately, the applicant should select

“Married, Filing Separately” regardless of whether the

applicant and their spouse were residing together or

separately.

Widowed

If the applicant’s spouse had passed away as of

Dec. 31, 2023, the applicant should select “Widowed.”

Separated,

Filing Jointly

This is a legal status. Select “Separated” if the applicant

has received a court order for legal separation from their

spouse, and they are filing taxes jointly.

Tip: If the applicant and their spouse were not legally

separated as of Dec. 31, 2023, regardless of where they

reside, the applicant should select “Married, Filing Jointly” or

“Married, Filing Separately.

Separated,

Filing Separately

This is a legal status. Select “Separated” if the applicant

has received a court order for legal separation from their

spouse and they are filing taxes separately.

Tip: If the applicant and their spouse were not legally

separated as of Dec. 31, 2023, regardless of where they

reside, the applicant should select “Married, Filing Jointly” or

“Married, Filing Separately.”.

Divorced

Applicants should select this status if they were issued a

legal divorce from their spouse as of Dec. 31, 2023.

Tip: If the applicant was never legally married, refer to the

“Single” marital status.

Single

Select “Single” if the applicant has never been married.

Family Size

To enter your family size, enter “1” for yourself, “1” for your spouse (if applicable), and “1” for each

dependent listed on your 2023 IRS 1040 tax form.

Taxable Income

Have you filed your federal tax return for 2023?

If you have already filed your 2023 tax return, select “Yes” and enter your adjusted gross income as it

appears on your tax return.

If you intend to file a tax return with the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) but have not yet done so,

select “Not Yet.” Before the April federal tax filing deadline (typically April 15), the AAMC will accept

federal W-2 and 1099 income data and forms in lieu of a federal IRS 1040 tax form. However, the AAMC

may require the federal IRS 1040 tax form before the tax filing deadline to verify the family size you listed

on the application. After the federal tax filing deadline, you cannot select “Not Yet.” If you are required to

file a tax return, even if you filed an extension, you must submit an IRS 1040 tax form to the Fee

Assistance Program before your application can be processed.

If you are not required to file a tax return, select “Will Not Be Filing.” However, if you have earned

income, you are still required to enter the income listed on your IRS W-2 or 1099 form.

Note: If you are married or separated and did not or will not file a joint tax return, you are required to

enter the sum of your and your spouse’s individual incomes in the required fields. If you and your

spouse filed separately, you must also provide your spouse’s IRS 1040 tax form. Be sure both of you

sign and date your IRS 1040 tax forms before submitting them.

Have you received W-2 or 1099 forms from your employer(s) for 2023? Will you be receiving W-2 or 1099

forms from your employer(s) for 2023?

Employers typically provide either a W-2 or 1099 form to full- or part-time employees and contractors

around Feb. 1 of each year. These forms summarize all your wages, tips, and other earnings. Contact

your employer if you are unsure if you received or will receive such a form.

If you have selected “Not Yet” or “Will Not Be Filing” for your tax filing status, input the total income you

received from work as shown on your W-2 or 1099 forms.

Be sure to document all earned income. Submitting false information or omitting required or pertinent

information could result in an investigation, which may impact your eligibility for fee assistance.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is defined as any grant, scholarship, loan, or federal work-study program offered to help a

student meet their college expenses. This is typically detailed on your postsecondary institution’s

Financial Aid Award Letter.

The Fee Assistance Program does not consider financial aid awarded and used for tuition, books,

or fees to be part of your income. Only the portion of financial aid awarded for living expenses is

considered income.

To complete this section, you will need to reference your Financial Aid Award Letter and your school’s

cost of attendance sheet or similar documentation that details the cost of tuition for the academic year and

how much students typically pay for books and fees. This information is usually found on the financial aid

or admissions sections of your school’s website; more details on this documentation appear below.

If you have received or will be receiving financial aid for the 2023-24 academic year, select “Yes” when

prompted for this information and enter the financial aid amount awarded for living expenses.

If you answer “Yes,” indicating you have received or will receive financial aid, the Financial Aid Calculator

will appear. Use this calculator to determine the amount of aid you were awarded for living

expenses. The calculator will prompt you to enter the total financial aid awarded, total tuition amount,

total amount spent on books, and total amount spent on fees (e.g., lab, studio, activities, or other fees) for

the 2023-24 academic year, which it will subtract from the total amount of financial aid received for the

2023-24 academic year. This will calculate the financial aid awarded for living expenses to be

entered into the application.

The program staff recommends you use the formula below to ensure you are entering your financial aid

information appropriately.

If you received any financial aid, you will be required to submit a copy of the cost of attendance sheet and

your Financial Aid Award Letter. Your Financial Aid Award Letter must include your school’s name

and website address, the full amount of financial aid received, and the breakdown of the cost of

attendance as provided by your school. (If the cost of attendance is not included in the Financial Aid

Award Letter, it can usually be located and printed from the school’s website.) The Fee Assistance

Program will not accept IRS Form 1098-T Tuition Statements, semester bills, account summaries, loan

statements, or FAFSA documentation in lieu of your award letter and cost of attendance sheet.

If you did not receive financial aid for the 2023-24 academic year, answer “No” in this section. If you

answer “No” and have submitted your Fee Assistance Program application, you will be required to provide

a letter from your school stating that you have not received financial aid for the 2023-24 academic year.

This letter must appear on the school’s letterhead and be signed by a representative of the school’s

financial aid office.

Housing and Food Assistance

Some students receive housing assistance and live with relatives or are provided housing by a relative or

friend. If any of these scenarios applies to you, select “Yes” for this question. If you did not receive

assistance from a relative or friend, or your housing assistance was provided as part of your financial aid

award or through a federal, state, or local welfare program, select “No.”

The Housing/Food Assistance Calculator will appear if you select “Yes” for the question. Use this

calculator to determine the value of your housing and food assistance. Estimate what you would have paid

monthly for rent based on market rates for similar housing in your area. Use the same method to estimate

the food assistance you received as a dollar amount.

If you received housing and/or food assistance from a relative, friend, or other entity, you must submit a

signed Housing and Food Assistance Letter that documents the assistance you received in 2023. The

letter must be signed with either a handwritten or a digital signature that includes an audit trail, such as a

DocuSign or Adobe signature.

Income Earned While Living in Another Country

If you lived and worked outside of the United States in 2023 and received income that is not reflected on

your IRS W-2 or 1099 forms, select “Yes” when prompted for this information, and enter the amount of

money you earned. Convert this income to U.S. dollars.

Total financial

aid awarded for

the 2023-24

academic year

Total tuition

amount for the

2023-24

academic year

Total amount

spent on books

for the 2023-24

academic year

Total amount

spent on fees

for the 2023-24

academic year

Financial aid

awarded for

living expenses

If you received income while residing in a country other than the United States, you must submit a

signed Foreign Income Letter that documents the income you earned abroad. The letter must be signed

with either a handwritten or a digital signature that includes an audit trail, such as a DocuSign or Adobe

signature.

Social Security Benefits

Enter the full amount of benefits you received from the Social Security Administration in 2023. In addition to

retirement benefits, be sure to include survivor benefits, disability benefits, or other, less common benefits

you received. Enter “0” if you did not receive any benefits from the Social Security Administration.

Federal, State, and Local Welfare Programs

Enter the total value of food stamps (SNAP), housing vouchers, Aid to Families with Dependent Children

(AFDC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or other welfare program benefits you or your

spouse (if applicable) received last year.

If you received such benefits, you must submit a formal statement of the benefits you received from the

government agency that administers the benefit program(s). Enter “0” if you did not receive benefits from

any other federal, state, or local welfare programs.

Financial Gifts

Enter the combined value of gifts of cash that you received last year if the total value is greater than $200. This

amount includes one-time gifts of cash as well as cash provided throughout the year for general living

expenses. For example, if a relative gave you $100 per month for general living expenses for 12 months, enter

$1,200 in this section. Similarly, record one-time gifts of cash.

Enter “0” if you did not receive cash gifts or their combined total was less than $200; you do not need to report

such gifts.

If you received cash totaling more than $200 last year, you must submit a signed Financial Gift Letter that

documents the amount you received. The letter must be signed with either a handwritten or a digital signature

that includes an audit trail, such as DocuSign or Adobe signature.

Child Support

Enter the sum of all child support payments you received. Do not include information about any child

support payments you made.

If you received child support payments, you must submit an official document that details the amount you

received last year. Enter “0” if you did not receive child support payments.

Alimony or Spousal Support

Enter the total alimony or spousal support you received. Do not include information about any spousal

support payments you made.

Note: If you indicated that you have already filed your federal tax return, you will not see this question

because this income is included in your taxes.

If you received spousal support payments, you must submit a signed, formal document that details the

amount you received last year. Enter “0” if you did not receive alimony or spousal support.

Income or Financial Support Received From Other Sources

Enter the total amount of other income or financial support you received last year that you have not

reported in the previous sections, (e.g., stimulus checks, veterans benefits, or an inheritance).

If you received income or financial support from other sources, you must submit a formal document that

details the amount you received in the previous year. Enter “0” if you did not receive income or financial

support from other sources.

Note: If you have indicated you are “married, filing separately,” proof of income for both you and your

spouse is required. If only one spouse has income documentation, and you will not be able to provide a

proof of income for the other spouse, you must provide a letter from the spouse without proof of income

stating the source of their income (e.g., they are supported by their spouse). The spouse without proof of

income must sign and date this letter, and you must upload the letter to “Other Documentation.”

Parental Information

Note: If you are under age 26 on the day you submit your application and you do not qualify for an

exception (noted below), you must include your parents’ financial information on your Fee Assistance

Program application. You must agree to provide your parents’ financial information to continue with your

application. Refer to the Are You Eligible? section of this document for more details on this requirement.

Double check your profile to be sure that your date of birth is accurate. If your birthdate is incorrect,

or you falsely state you were age 26 or older, when you were, in fact, under the age of 26 at the time of

application, you are at risk for an investigation. In addition, the inaccurate date, indicating you were age 26

or older, may result in your not being prompted to provide your parents’ financial information, which is

required for applicants under age 26. Refer to the Violations and Investigations section of this guide

for more information.

Applicants under age 26 may not be required to provide their parents’ financial information if they

qualify for any of the following exceptions. If you are under age 26 and one of the following

circumstances applies that prevents you from obtaining a parent’s financial information, contact program

staff before submitting your application:

• You were legally emancipated.

• You do not know if a parent is living.

• You do not have a relationship with a parent and do not communicate with each other.

• You have a parent who is incarcerated or institutionalized or is permanently incapacitated or

hospitalized.

• You were in foster care or in the care of a legal guardian at the time you reached the age of

majority.

• You have another circumstance that prohibits you from obtaining a parent’s financial information.

If you think you might fall under one of these exceptions, contact the Fee Assistance Program outreach

team at [email protected] or 202-828-0600 for instructions on how to complete the parental requirement

before submitting the Fee Assistance Program application.

If you are under age 26 on the day you submit your application and you do not qualify for an exception,

you must agree to provide your parents’ financial information to continue with your application.

Note: The Fee Assistance Program application contains a threshold question for parental information for

applicants under age 26: “Do you have any living parents?” Answering “No” to this question indicates that

your parents are deceased and therefore no other information about your parents will be asked. Failure

to respond to this question accurately may result in an investigation. Refer to the Violations and

Investigations section of this guide for more information.

The AAMC defines “parents” as biological parents, adoptive parents, and stepparents. If you were

adopted, you do not have to report your biological parents’ information. In addition, you are required to

submit information about a stepparent only if they were married to one of your biological or adoptive

parents as of Dec. 31, 2023.

Grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, aunts, uncles, and other relatives are not considered

parents for the purposes of this application.

The program staff understands that some parents may be unwilling to provide their financial information;

however, you must submit this information to be considered for the Fee Assistance Program unless an

extenuating circumstance prohibits you from obtaining that information (see exceptions listed above).

Marital Status

If you have living parents, you are required to indicate their marital status as of Dec. 31, 2023. Your

parents’ marital status determines what other information is required for this component. If you and your

parents are uncertain of your parents’ marital status, review the Parental Information: Marital Status

Definitions table on the next page. Note: You are the “Applicant.”

Parental Information: Marital Status Definitions

Parental Marital

Status

Definition

One

Household

Income

Required

Two

Household

Incomes

Required

Married

If the applicant’s living parents were legally married to one

another as of Dec. 31, 2023, the applicant should select

“Married,” regardless of whether the parents were residing

together or separately.

Tip: Applicants who have one deceased parent and whose

surviving parent was remarried as of Dec. 31, 2023, should

select “Married.”

Not Married,

Living Together

If the applicant’s living parents shared a residence and

were never legally married as of Dec. 31, 2023, the

applicant should select “Not Married, Living Together.”

Tip: If the applicant’s parents were married to one another

for any amount of time before Dec. 31, 2023, refer to the

“Divorced” marital statuses.

Not Married, Living

Separately

If the applicant’s living parents were never legally married

to one another and did not share a residence as of Dec. 31,

2023, the applicant should select “Not Married, Living

Separately.”

Tip: If the applicant’s parents were married to one another

for any amount of time before Dec. 31, 2023, refer to the

“Divorced” marital statuses.

Divorced,

One or Both Remarried

Applicants should select this status if their living parents

were issued a legal divorce from one another and either

one or both parents were legally remarried to someone else

as of Dec. 31, 2023. Stepparent income will be required for

remarried parents.

Tip: If the applicant’s parents were never legally married to

one another, refer to the “Not Married” marital statuses.

Divorced,

Neither Remarried

If the applicant’s living parents were issued a legal divorce

from one another and were not legally remarried to

someone else before Dec. 31, 2023, the applicant should

select “Divorced, Neither Remarried.”

Tip: If the applicant’s parents did not share a residence but

were legally married to one another as of Dec. 31, 2023, the

applicant should select “Married.”

Separated

This is a legal status. Select “Separated” if the applicant’s

parents have received a court order for legal separation

from one another.

Tip: If the applicant’s parents were not legally separated

from each other as of Dec. 31, 2023, regardless of where

they reside, the applicant should select “Married.”

(continued)

Parental Information: Marital Status Definitions (continued)

Parental Marital

Status

Definition

One

Household

Income

Required

Two

Household

Incomes

Required

Widowed

If one of the applicant’s parents has passed away and the

other is still living, regardless of whether the parents ever

were legally married to or divorced from one another, the

applicant should select “Widowed.”

Tip: If the surviving parent was legally remarried as of

Dec. 31, 2023, the applicant should select “Married.”

Single

If the applicant has only one parent and has never met

the other parent, select “Single.”

Tip: If you have met only one parent in your life because

one is deceased, refer to the other marital statuses and

select the status that most reflects the surviving parent’s

circumstance as of Dec. 31, 2023.

Enter the full name and state of legal residence of each parent. You can update the information on this

page before submission. After submission, you will be unable to edit these fields.

If your parents’ marital status is “Married,” enter both parents’ names and state of legal residence. When you get

to the Parent Financial section, you will report income for one parental household.

If your parents’ marital status is “Divorced, One or Both Remarried,” “Divorced, Neither Remarried,” “Not Married,

Living Separately,” “Not Married, Living Together,” or “Separated,” enter both parents’ names and states of legal

residence. When you get to the Parent Financial section, you will report income for both parental households.

If your parent is “Widowed” or “Single,” enter your parent’s name and state of legal residence. When you get to

the Parent Financial section, you will report income for one parental household.

Parental Financial Information: For Applicants Under Age 26

Depending on the marital status of your parent(s), one or two tabs to enter financial information will

appear. Each tab represents the full household of your parent(s). For each household, enter income and

other dollar amounts, rounding to the nearest whole dollar. Enter income for all parents in the household,

including a parent’s spouse (if applicable), even if they file taxes separately. The following components

make up the Parents’ Financial Information page.

Family Size

To enter your parents’ family size, enter “1” for your parent, “1” for your other parent or parent’s spouse (if

applicable), and “1” for each dependent listed on your parents’ 2023 IRS 1040 tax form.

Taxable Income

Have your parent(s) filed their federal tax return(s) for 2023?

If your parents have already filed their 2023 tax return, select “Yes” and enter their adjusted gross income

as it appears on their tax return.

If your parents intend to file a tax return but have not yet done so, select “Not Yet.” Before the April

federal tax filing deadline (typically, April 15), the AAMC will accept IRS W-2 and 1099 income data and

forms in place of an IRS 1040 tax form. However, the AAMC may require the federal IRS 1040 tax form

before the tax filing deadline to verify the family size listed on the Fee Assistance Program application.

After the federal tax filing deadline, you cannot select “Not Yet.” If your parents are required to file a tax

return, even if they filed for an extension, they must submit an IRS 1040 tax form to the Fee Assistance

Program before your application can be processed.

If your parents are not required to file a tax return, select “Will Not Be Filing.” However, if your parents

have any earned income, you are required to enter the income listed on their IRS W-2 or 1099 forms.

Note: If your parents are married or separated and did not or will not file a joint tax return, you are still

required to enter the sum of their individual incomes in the fields where income is required. You are also

required to provide the IRS 1040 tax form for both parents if they are married but filed tax returns

separately. Be sure all appropriate parties sign and date their IRS 1040 tax forms before submitting

them.

Have your parent(s) received a W-2 and/or 1099 forms from their employer(s) for 2023? Will your

parent(s) be receiving W-2 and/or 1099 forms from their employer(s) for 2023?

Employers typically provide either a W-2 or 1099 form to full- and part-time employees and/or contractors

around Feb. 1 of each year. These forms summarize all wages, tips, and other earnings. Ask your parents

to contact their employer if they are unsure if they have received, or will receive, such a form.

If you have selected “Not Yet” or “Will Not be Filing” as your parents’ tax filing status, input the total

income they earned from work as shown on their W-2 or 1099 forms.

Be sure to document all earned income. Submitting false information or omitting required or material

information could result in an investigation, which may impact your eligibility for fee assistance.

Housing and Food Assistance

Some people receive housing assistance and live with relatives or are provided housing by a relative or

friend. If any of these scenarios applies to your parents, select “Yes” for this question. If your parents did

not receive assistance from a relative or friend, or their housing assistance was provided through a

federal, state, or local welfare program, select “No.”

The Housing/Food Assistance Calculator will appear if you select “Yes” for this question. Use this

calculator to determine the value of your parents’ housing and food assistance. Estimate what they

would have paid monthly for rent based on market rates for similar housing in their area. Use the same

method to estimate the amount of food assistance they received as a dollar amount.

If your parents received housing and/or food assistance from a relative, friend, or other entity, you must

submit a signed Housing and Food Assistance Letter that documents the assistance they received. The

letter must be signed with either a handwritten or a digital signature that includes an audit trail, such as a

DocuSign or Adobe signature.

Income Earned While Living in Another Country

If your parents lived and worked outside of the United States in 2023 and received income that is not

reflected on their IRS W-2 or 1099 forms, select “Yes” and enter the amount of money your parents

earned. Convert this income to U.S. dollars.

If your parents received income while residing in a country other than the United States, then you

must submit a Foreign Income Letter, signed by your parents, that documents the income they

earned abroad. The letter must be signed with either a handwritten or a digital signature that includes

an audit trail, such as a DocuSign or Adobe signature.

Social Security Benefits

Enter the full amount of benefits your parents received from the Social Security Administration in 2023. In

addition to retirement benefits, be sure to include survivor benefits, disability benefits, or other, less

common, benefits they received. Enter “0” if your parents did not receive any benefits from the Social

Security Administration.

Federal, State, and Local Welfare Programs

Enter the total value of food stamps (SNAP), housing vouchers, Aid to Families with Dependent Children

(AFDC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or other welfare program benefits your

parents received last year.

If your parents received such benefits, you must submit a formal statement of the benefits they received

from the government agency that administers the benefit program(s). Enter “0” if they did not receive

benefits from any other federal, state, or local welfare programs.

Financial Gifts

Enter the combined value of gifts of cash that your parents received last year if that total value is greater

than $200. This amount includes one-time gifts of cash as well as cash provided throughout the year for

general living expenses. For example, if a family friend gave your parents $100 per month for general

living expenses for 12 months, enter $1,200 in this section. Similarly, record one-time gifts of cash.

Enter “0” if your parents did not receive cash gifts or their combined total was less than $200; you do not

need to report such gifts.

If your parents received cash totaling more than $200 last year, you must submit a signed Financial Gift

Letter that documents the amount they received. The letter must be signed with either a handwritten or a

digital signature that includes an audit trail, such as a DocuSign or Adobe signature.

Child Support

Enter the sum of all child support payments your parents received. Do not include information about any

child support payments your parents made.

If your parents received child support payments, you must submit an official document that details the

amount they received last year. Enter “0” if they did not receive child support payments.

Alimony or Spousal Support

Enter the total alimony or spousal support your parents received. Do not include information about

any spousal support payments they made.

Note: If you indicated that your parents have already filed their federal tax return, you will not see

this question because the income is included in their taxes.

If your parents received spousal support payments, you must submit a signed, formal document that

details the amount they received last year. Enter “0” if they did not receive alimony or spousal support.

Income or Financial Support Received From Other Sources

Enter the total amount of income or other financial support that your parents received last year that you

have not reported in the previous sections (e.g., stimulus checks, veterans benefits, or an inheritance).

If your parents received income or financial support from other sources, you must submit a formal

document that details the amount they received in the previous year. Enter “0” if they did not receive

income or financial support from other sources.

Note: If you have two living parents, or your parent(s) has remarried, proof of income is required for

both parents. If you only have one parent with income documentation and will not be able to provide

proof of income for the second parent, you must provide a letter from the second parent stating the

source of their income (e.g., they are supported by their spouse). This letter must be signed and dated

by the second parent and uploaded to “Other Documentation.”

Application Summary

The Application Summary provides a summary of the information you entered in your application. You

can access your Application Summary at any time. Before submitting your application, please review this

section carefully, making sure all your information is correct. You may edit the information you entered

by selecting the pencil icon in the header of the Applicant Information section.

Submission and Certification Statement

To submit your Fee Assistance Program application, you must indicate that you understand and accept

the terms of the Certification Statement. If you do not indicate that you understand and accept the

Certification Statement terms, you will not be able to submit your application. Adherence to the

Certification Statement is necessary to enable the AAMC to maintain a fair process for you and other

applicants.

Full Text of the Certification Statement

By selecting “I Agree” at the end of the Certification Statement, you acknowledge that you

have read and understand these terms.

I certify that I have read and understand the policies and procedures contained in the Fee

Assistance Program Essentials, Calendar Year 2024 and that I agree to comply with them.

Further, I certify that the information provided in this application is complete and accurate.

I understand and agree to the AAMC Website Terms and Conditions and the AAMC Privacy

Statement.

I understand that any alleged violation of this Certification Statement or any alleged activity

that could compromise the integrity or security of my Fee Assistance Program application

may be investigated. If I violate the terms of this Certification Statement, including the

additional terms and conditions stated in the Fee Assistance Program Essentials, Calendar

Year 2024, or fail to fully cooperate in any investigation, I may face the following

consequences, further outlined in the Fee Assistance Program Essentials, Calendar Year

2024:

• The AAMC may issue a report of the factual findings of the investigation to legitimately

interested parties, both now and in the future.

• I may lose my eligibility to apply to, or receive an award from, the Fee Assistance

Program in the future.

I have read and agree to comply with the terms of the Certification Statement, including the

additional terms and conditions stated in the Fee Assistance Program Essentials, Calendar

Year 2024, and I understand the consequences for failing to comply.

After You Submit Your Application

Congratulations! You have completed and submitted your Fee Assistance Program application! After

you submit your Fee Assistance Program application, the AAMC performs an initial review and

determines whether the financial information you submitted is at or below the Fee Assistance Program

Poverty Guidelines.

Your Fee Assistance Program application status will be determined based on the AAMC’s initial

review and will be emailed to you from the AAMC. Depending on the status of your application, you

may need to take additional action to finalize your application. Below is a description of each application

status.

• Submitted and on Hold

• Submitted and Pending Verification

• Withdrawn

• Approved

• Denied

Submitted and On Hold

During review of your documentation, Fee Assistance Program staff may determine that additional

supporting documentation is required. The status of your application will be Submitted and On Hold if you

appear to be eligible for the Fee Assistance Program based on the information you submitted in your

application, but additional information is needed.

If this occurs, you will receive an email listing the required documents. Follow the steps provided by the

Fee Assistance Program team in this email. Failure to follow the steps in this email could result in your

application remaining on hold. A list of your required documents also appears in the Document Gathering

and Upload component of your application.

You will receive details about the supporting documentation the AAMC requires to continue to process

your application in the Next Steps component of the application. The status of your application will remain

Submitted and On Hold until all required documents are received.

Next Steps

The Next Steps component of the Fee Assistance Program application provides information about

required documents and allows you to upload your documents directly to your application. Upon approval,

you may also have the option to claim your MCAT Official Prep benefits, if applicable, and to release

information to your academic advisor.

Step 1: Would you like to receive MCAT Official Prep product benefits upon approval?

Regardless of the number of times you are awarded fee assistance, you will receive

MCAT Official Prep product benefits only once.

Select “Yes” only if you wish to receive MCAT Official Prep product benefits immediately

and for this application award period.

Select “No” if you do not plan to prepare for the MCAT exam within this application

award period. You will be able to log into your account and change your response to

“Yes” when you are ready to receive your MCAT Official Prep product benefits.

If you received MCAT Official Prep product benefits from a previous Fee Assistance

Program award, you will not be given the option to claim this benefit again.

Step 2: Advisor Release

Answer “Yes” if you authorize the AAMC to release your Fee Assistance Program award

status to the school-designated advisor(s) at institutions you have attended. The AAMC

provides only your award status; detailed financial information is not released. Advisors

can view your award status only if you also release your MCAT scores, your AMCAS

application information, or both. If you select “No,” you can change your response to

“Yes” any time before and after approval.

Step 3: Consent and Certification Forms

The Consent and Certification Form is required for all applicants and their parents (if

applicable). A form will be generated for each household listed in your application. Each

form must be signed by all parties, including spouses. The form must be signed with

either handwritten or a digital signature that includes an audit trail, such as a DocuSign

or Adobe signature.

Step 4: Document Gathering and Upload

Use this component to upload required documentation for yourself and your parents (if

applicable). All required documents are listed in this section, and you can also upload

supplemental documents. To upload a document, browse and select the appropriate file

for the correct listing. Select “Upload” under the corresponding listing. For details on

required documentation, visit the What You Need to Apply page of the Fee Assistance

Program website.

Note: The following are the supported file types:

• Image files (GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, XPNG, X-PNG, TIFF)

• Text file (TXT)

• PDF file (PDF)

The maximum file size for documents you wish to upload is 5MB. If you cannot upload

your required documents, you can mail or fax the documents to the address or fax

number listed in the Contact Us section of this document.

Note: The Fee Assistance Program does not accept typed signatures. All signatures

must be handwritten or digital signatures that include an audit trail, such as a DocuSign

or Adobe signature.

Error Explanation Letter

If an error is discovered in your Fee Assistance Program application by you or program staff, you may be

required to complete an Error Explanation Letter to document the error and provide revised information.

Note: The Error Explanation Letter may be considered only when your application is actively being

reviewed by the AAMC.

If you noticed an error after you submitted your Fee Assistance Program application, the program staff

asks that you indicate where the error occurred. For example:

1. If you entered an incorrect amount for the aid a household received on your Fee Assistance

Program application, and the household received that type of income or aid, upload the

document that details the correct amount received for that household. In this situation, an Error

Explanation Letter would not be needed. The Fee Assistance Program team can adjust the

figure during the verification process after receiving documentation of the correct amount of

income or aid. For example, if your parents received Social Security benefits and you incorrectly

entered the total amount they received, upload the document that details these benefits

correctly to the Document Gathering and Upload section for your parents’ household(s).

2. If you did not list a source of income or aid on your Fee Assistance Program application for a

household, and the household did, in fact, receive income or aid, upload the document under

the corresponding listing under Optional Supplemental Documents for that household. In this

situation, an Error Explanation Letter would not be needed. The Fee Assistance Program team

can add the source of income or aid and the amount during the verification process after

receiving documentation of the correct amount. For example, if you did not list that you received

housing and food assistance and you did, in fact, receive such income, locate the Optional

Supplemental Documents section for your household, select “Housing/Food Assistance Letter,

signed” from the drop-down menu, and submit the correct document.

3. If you entered an incorrect source of income or aid on your Fee Assistance Program application,

an Error Explanation Letter would be required, along with any other supporting documentation,

if applicable. For example, if you listed on your application that your parents received $500 in

welfare benefits, but the income source was housing and food assistance, you should:

• Submit an Error Explanation Letter under “Welfare Statement” in your parents’

Document Gathering and Upload section, since this is where the mistake was made.

• Submit the Housing and Food Assistance Letter under the “Housing/Food Assistance

Letter, signed” listing. Since this was not initially entered in the application, access this

listing from the drop-down menu under the Optional Supplemental Documents listing

under your parents’ Document Gathering and Upload section.

If you did not receive housing and food assistance as detailed in the third example above, you would not

be required to submit that documentation, but you are still required to provide a source of income or aid for

each household. You should not submit an Error Explanation Letter without additional supporting

documentation for a household if the household only has one source of income. For example, if you listed

on your application that you only received welfare benefits, you should not submit an Error Explanation

Letter under the “Welfare Statement” listing without providing a different source of income or aid.

Note: An Error Explanation Letter cannot be used to change your submitted response to the threshold question

(Do you have any living parents?) on your Fee Assistance Program application.

Also be aware that submitting an Error Explanation Letter may not change the information you entered

and submitted in your application, nor will it prevent the AAMC from initiating or continuing an

investigation regarding an application that was submitted with incomplete, incorrect, or inaccurate

information. Refer to the Violations and Investigations section of this guide for more information.

Submitted and Pending Verification

Once all required documents are received, your application will be assigned a Submitted and Pending

Verification status. This status means that your application is in line to be verified by the Fee Assistance

Program staff, who will review your application and render a decision. The staff’s goal is to review your

application and supporting documentation and contact you regarding their findings within five business

days.

If program staff determines that additional information is required or that the documentation you

submitted was incorrect or missing signatures, your application will reflect a status of Submitted and On

Hold, and you will receive an email with further instructions.

Withdrawing Your Application

Your application may be withdrawn only after it has been submitted but before the AAMC has approved

or denied it. The decision to withdraw your application is final. You will not be able to reactivate or

resubmit your application or start a new application for the 2024 calendar year once you have

withdrawn your application. Please be aware that withdrawn applications are still subject to

investigation.

Approved

If your application earns an Approved status: Congratulations! Your Fee Assistance Program application

has been approved, and you may now begin to receive Fee Assistance Program award benefits. Please be

aware that once your application has been approved, you may not change or update your application for

any reason. If a material error is found in your application after your application has been approved, the

Violations and Investigations section of this guide will apply.

Denied

Your application will be denied if you are ineligible for the Fee Assistance Program based on the

information you submitted in your application.

Appeal Process

If you believe your application was denied in error, you may appeal this decision. The program staff will

not consider appeals or change the decision on your application based on a dispute of Fee Assistance

Program policies, such as the use of parental income or the age of the applicant at the time of

application. Submission of an appeal also does not guarantee a change in outcome. The AAMC will

consider appeals and make final judgments on an application at its sole discretion.

The only circumstance in which you may appeal the denial of your Fee Assistance Program application is

if your or your parents’ financial information was entered incorrectly on the application.

For example:

• You entered the wrong family size, and the correct family size would make you eligible for

consideration.

• You entered incorrect amounts for your income and/or your parents’ income.

If it appears that you have a reason to submit an appeal, email [email protected] with the subject line “Fee

Assistance Program Appeal.”

Your email must include:

• Your name.

• Your AAMC ID.

• Reason for appeal.

• Corrected financial information (if applicable).

If an appeal is initiated, allow up to five business days for the AAMC to review the request and provide a

response. It is the program staff’s goal to process each request in a timely manner given the time-sensitive

nature of the application process.

If the AAMC made a legitimate error when reviewing your application, Fee Assistance Program staff will

correct the error upon receipt of verified supporting documentation.

If you made a legitimate error when completing your application, such as an error when entering income

information, your application will be returned to you, and supporting documentation, including an Error

Explanation Letter, will be required. You will be required to resubmit your application after the requested

documentation has been provided. After review, you may be asked to submit additional documentation to

complete the verification process.

Reinstatement of your application does not mean approval is guaranteed. Upon review of your appeal,

your application may again be denied.

Violations and Investigations

For all applicants to be considered fairly, it is critical that applicants adhere to a set of common

procedures and that the AAMC investigate those who violate them. Investigations are initiated at the

AAMC’s sole discretion.

Violations

If an applicant allegedly provides the AAMC with false information, engages in conduct that may

compromise the integrity of the Fee Assistance Program, or otherwise violates the applicant Certification

Statement or the terms and conditions of the Fee Assistance Program Essentials, Calendar Year 2024,

the AAMC may investigate the alleged claim and may issue a report of the factual findings of the

investigation. Further, the AAMC reserves the right to take other action as is warranted in certain

circumstances.

Investigation Procedures

The AAMC Policies and Procedures for Investigating Reported Violations of Admission and Enrollment

Standards apply and are incorporated into the Fee Assistance Program Essentials, Calendar Year 2024

by reference.

• Any applicant who is the subject of an investigation by the AAMC shall fully cooperate

with the AAMC investigation, provide all documents and materials requested by the

AAMC and submit to an in-person interview conducted by or on behalf of the AAMC at

the association’s request. Applicants shall truthfully and completely answer all questions

posed during investigative interviews conducted by or on behalf of the AAMC.

• If the AAMC initiates an investigation, it will notify the applicant before issuing an investigation

report.

• At its sole discretion, the AAMC may elect to send a fact-based investigation report documenting

the violation and subsequent investigation, with any attachments provided by the applicant, to

legitimately interested parties, both now and in the future. Legitimately interested parties related

to Fee Assistance Program applicants are defined in the AAMC Policies and Procedures for

Investigating Reported Violations of Admission and Enrollment Standards.

Arbitration for Investigation Disputes

There is only one remedy available to applicants who wish to appeal or otherwise challenge a decision

made by the AAMC to send an investigation report to legitimately interested parties. That remedy is

binding arbitration, which must be obtained through written submissions before a single arbitrator under

the JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures in the District of Columbia. Examinees electing

to proceed with arbitration understand that they are waiving their rights to file suit against the AAMC in

any court of competent jurisdiction. The sole issue for arbitration shall be whether the AAMC acted

reasonably and in good faith in making its decision.

Loss of Future Eligibility

If an applicant’s previous Fee Assistance Program application results in an investigation report being

issued, the applicant will not be eligible to apply to the Fee Assistance Program for the next three

application cycles.

The first Fee Assistance Program application cycle the applicant would not be eligible for is the

application year in which the investigation report was issued. Please be aware that this might not be the

same year that the Fee Assistance Program application that resulted in an investigation report was

submitted.

This policy was implemented retroactively as of March 31, 2023. Therefore, applicants who had a Fee

Assistance Program investigation report issued in calendar year 2020 or earlier will be eligible to apply to

the 2024 Fee Assistance Program as of March 31, 2023.

Specialists are available to assist you with the Fee Assistance Program application, policies, and

procedures. Please contact program staff with any questions.

AAMC

Attn: Fee Assistance Program

655 K Street, NW, Suite 100

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 202-828-0600

Email: [email protected]g

Fax: 202-828-1120

Glossary

adjusted gross income (AGI). AGI is defined as gross income minus adjustments to income. Gross

income includes your wages, dividends, capital gains, business income, retirement distributions, and

other income. Adjustments to income include such items as educator expenses, student loan interest,

alimony payments, and contributions to a retirement account. Your AGI will never be more than your

gross total income on your tax return and, in some cases, it may be lower. For purposes of the Fee

Assistance Program, your AGI can be found on your IRS Form 1040 tax return.

dependent. A person other than the taxpayer or spouse who entitles the taxpayer to claim a dependency

exemption. A dependent is someone you support. You must have provided at least half of the person’s

total support for the year (e.g., food, shelter, and clothing) to claim this individual as a dependent.

Children or other relatives can be considered dependents.

estrangement. You must have had no contact with either parent for at least 12 months (although there

are possible exceptions to this timeframe) to be deemed as irreconcilably estranged from your parents.

Just living apart from them or their unwillingness to provide their information on your application is not

considered estrangement.

family size. For tax filing purposes, your “family” consists of yourself, your spouse (if filing jointly), and all

other individuals whom you claim as dependents (refer to “dependent”) on your tax return. Although you

may live with your parents or other relatives, if you are the sole individual listed on your tax return, then

your household size is “1.” If your parents claim you as a dependent, then their family size will reflect this.

financial aid. Any grant, scholarship, loan, or federal work-study program offered to help a student meet

their college expenses. This is typically detailed on your postsecondary institution’s Financial Aid Award

Letter. Your Financial Aid Award Letter must include the school’s name and website address, the full

amount of financial aid received, and the breakdown of the cost of attendance as provided by your

school. (If the cost of attendance is not included on the Financial Aid Award Letter, it can usually be

located and printed from the school’s website.)

housing or food assistance letter. This AAMC-provided letter is required for those who live with

relatives or are provided housing or monetary assistance for food by a relative or friend (for example, if

you lived at a home with a spouse, a family member, or a friend, and food was provided for you).

other documentation. The total amount of other income or financial support you received last year that

you have not yet reported in the previous section of your application. For example, other income might

include stimulus checks, veterans benefits, or an inheritance. If you received income or financial support

from other sources, you must submit a formal document that details the amount you received in the

previous year.

permanent address. A physical street address that is under your name.

Social Security. A federal insurance program that provides benefits to retired people and those who are

unemployed or disabled, and to their spouses, children, and survivors.

welfare. Refers to government-sponsored assistance programs for individuals and families in need

(Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF), including health care assistance, food stamps

(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP), housing vouchers, Aid to Families with

Dependent Children (AFDC), and unemployment compensation. Note: If a 1099 was provided to you for

any benefits received, upload your 1099 to the W-2/1099 portion of your application.

withdrawn. Application status that indicates the applicant no longer wishes to be considered for the Fee

Assistance Program. You may only withdraw your application after it has been submitted but before the

AAMC has approved or denied it. The decision to withdraw your application is final. You will not be able

to reactivate or resubmit your application or start a new application for the current Fee Assistance

Program cycle once you have withdrawn your application.