Harvard Class of 2012 Forum

[iagolives]

Hey
so I don't know if you guys keep in touch with your assigned alumni contact or whatchamightwannacallthem but I have to say that the girl I've been talking has soooooo helpful and genuinely wants to answer Qs. It's just so nice. I'm totally impressed. That was my little appreciation blurb.

alumni contact?

I ain't got no stinkin' alumni contact. I had a 1L pen pal who proved to be very helpful, though.

Maybe only the cool kids got one, excelsior.

[borntorun]

Hey
so I don't know if you guys keep in touch with your assigned alumni contact or whatchamightwannacallthem but I have to say that the girl I've been talking has soooooo helpful and genuinely wants to answer Qs. It's just so nice. I'm totally impressed. That was my little appreciation blurb.

alumni contact?

I ain't got no stinkin' alumni contact. I had a 1L pen pal who proved to be very helpful, though.

Maybe only the cool kids got one, excelsior.

I don't have one either. Thanks for reminding me I'm not one of the cool kids, Harvard...

BTW, Hi future classmates!

[iagolives]

sup born?

[Objection]

Hey, Born.

BTW, I love that this thread is over 60 pages.

[iagolives]

Hey, Born.

BTW, I love that this thread is over 60 pages.

+1

[iagolives]

random question: Are y'all going with the Harvard Dental thing, the Delta Dental PPO, or something else entirely?

[Objection]

I haven't looked into any of that. Links?

[borntorun]

I haven't looked into any of that. Links?

My parents insurance will let me stay on for a couple more years so I'm going with that, but here's some info on the Harvard dental plans:

http://huhs.harvard.edu/Insurance/Stude ... tions.aspx

[iagolives]

I haven't looked into any of that. Links?

Enrollment doesn't start until 7/1 so I wouldn't worry too much about slacking, Obj.

Sincerely,

--"Iaglo"

[prelaw]

Has everyone filled out the loan stuff? I know the deadline is rapidly approaching and I can't really decide whether private or GradPlus is better.

[iagolives]

Has everyone filled out the loan stuff? I know the deadline is rapidly approaching and I can't really decide whether private or GradPlus is better.

Yeah, I finally filled my out. FWIW, I did GradPlus because, even though the rate isn't fantastic, I'm incredibly risk adverse and I was old by the fixed rate.

So, when we get there in August, we do the Promisory note for everything else, right?

[treple]

Completed all of my registration checklist paper work today and financial aid. If all goes according to plan, I should officially be enrolled midway through July! =)

[laurathenerd]

Okay, this is a dumb question, but whatever: what do I need to do to apply for the Perkins and Stafford loans? My financial aid thing says I've been accepted for them, but is there a form I have to fill out to get the money, like for the GradPlus?

Also, I've gotten my college certification sent, but other than that, what else do I have to do? I think the whole thing is so confusing, it makes me question whether I'm smart enough for law school sometimes

[Objection]

I feel like I'm missing something in terms of financial aid. I don't know if I've completed everything I need to complete. This is at least partially because of HLS' lack of confirmation emails.

Anyone else feel that way? Probably just being paranoid

[treple]

You haven't gotten a confirmation e-mail yet? hmmm...

[Objection]

You haven't gotten a confirmation e-mail yet? hmmm...

I did for sending in my cert and my transcript but not for the finaid stuff I filled out on their website (gradplus and stafford)

[yagrish]

You haven't gotten a confirmation e-mail yet? hmmm...

I did for sending in my cert and my transcript but not for the finaid stuff I filled out on their website (gradplus and stafford)

The $$$ I requested through GradPlus appeared in the SFS "Awards" Tab. Are we supposed to get additional confirmation?

and WHAT did you fill out for Stafford???

[borntorun]

Okay, this is a dumb question, but whatever: what do I need to do to apply for the Perkins and Stafford loans? My financial aid thing says I've been accepted for them, but is there a form I have to fill out to get the money, like for the GradPlus?

Also, I've gotten my college certification sent, but other than that, what else do I have to do? I think the whole thing is so confusing, it makes me question whether I'm smart enough for law school sometimes

I don't think there's anything you need to fill out right now for Stafford/Perkins loans. They also need your final college transcript if they don't already have it and there are some medical forms they need. I think that's all we're supposed to have done so far, but I agree about this whole thing being confusing (somehow being a philosophy major hasn't prepared me for the rigors of law school paperwork).

[Objection]

You haven't gotten a confirmation e-mail yet? hmmm...

I did for sending in my cert and my transcript but not for the finaid stuff I filled out on their website (gradplus and stafford)

The $$$ I requested through GradPlus appeared in the SFS "Awards" Tab. Are we supposed to get additional confirmation?

and WHAT did you fill out for Stafford???

perhaps nothing. I am not by my computer. May have just been the gradplus thing.

[iagolives]

Ok, this is going to sound needy, but I don't get their billing process at all. I read through their billing information in that link they sent out but I'm confused. We get a bill, pay via "anticipated" credits, and then we get money from our loans which pays for what we took out of our "anticipated" credits. Then, to get the rest of our money for food and whatnot, we request an advance. This makes no sense, but is that right?

Also, when do we do our summer confirmation of our financial aid stuff?

[jco]

Ok, this is going to sound needy, but I don't get their billing process at all. I read through their billing information in that link they sent out but I'm confused. We get a bill, pay via "anticipated" credits, and then we get money from our loans which pays for what we took out of our "anticipated" credits. Then, to get the rest of our money for food and whatnot, we request an advance. This makes no sense, but is that right?

Also, when do we do our summer confirmation of our financial aid stuff?

This is all my understanding of things.

Assuming you're taking out enough loans to cover all of tuition, fees and COL, and if you have already filled out the request for gradPLUS loans, then when you get your first e-bill in July the balance will be zero. When you get to registration, they will give you a check for 1/2(total loan amount - 2*what they deducted to pay your July bill) in order to pay for COL apart from rent if you are obtaining housing through Harvard (because in that case housing will be part of your e-bill). More or less the same thing happens in January for the second semester.

The confirmation for summer earnings and for amount of assets to finalize your student contribution and grant amounts should be in August. You will get an email telling you when the online forms are available.

As far as the other things people mentioned: There is nothing to fill out yet for Stafford and Perkins loans. Those are automatically taken out for you by SFS. You will just need to sign an electronic MPN in August/September. Again, you should get an email for this when the time comes.

I didn't get any confirmation beyond the updated amount for gradPLUS loans listed on my award page. I'm sure that is sufficient confirmation.

borntorun has the correct list of everything you need to have sent so far: transcript and college certification by July 1, medical forms by July 15. There's a checklist on the admitted students web page. Also, if you already have health insurance, you need to waive the Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance before September 30 (http://www.huhs.harvard.edu/Insurance/Students.aspx) in order to not be automatically charged for it.

[iagolives]

Ok, this is going to sound needy, but I don't get their billing process at all. I read through their billing information in that link they sent out but I'm confused. We get a bill, pay via "anticipated" credits, and then we get money from our loans which pays for what we took out of our "anticipated" credits. Then, to get the rest of our money for food and whatnot, we request an advance. This makes no sense, but is that right?

Also, when do we do our summer confirmation of our financial aid stuff?

This is all my understanding of things.

Assuming you're taking out enough loans to cover all of tuition, fees and COL, and if you have already filled out the request for gradPLUS loans, then when you get your first e-bill in July the balance will be zero. When you get to registration, they will give you a check for 1/2(total loan amount - 2*what they deducted to pay your July bill) in order to pay for COL apart from rent if you are obtaining housing through Harvard (because in that case housing will be part of your e-bill). More or less the same thing happens in January for the second semester.

The confirmation for summer earnings and for amount of assets to finalize your student contribution and grant amounts should be in August. You will get an email telling you when the online forms are available.

As far as the other things people mentioned: There is nothing to fill out yet for Stafford and Perkins loans. Those are automatically taken out for you by SFS. You will just need to sign an electronic MPN in August/September. Again, you should get an email for this when the time comes.

I didn't get any confirmation beyond the updated amount for gradPLUS loans listed on my award page. I'm sure that is sufficient confirmation.

borntorun has the correct list of everything you need to have sent so far: transcript and college certification by July 1, medical forms by July 15. There's a checklist on the admitted students web page. Also, if you already have health insurance, you need to waive the Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance before September 30 (http://www.huhs.harvard.edu/Insurance/Students.aspx) in order to not be automatically charged for it.

Thanks jco, you are a lifesaver!

[laurathenerd]

Ok, this is going to sound needy, but I don't get their billing process at all. I read through their billing information in that link they sent out but I'm confused. We get a bill, pay via "anticipated" credits, and then we get money from our loans which pays for what we took out of our "anticipated" credits. Then, to get the rest of our money for food and whatnot, we request an advance. This makes no sense, but is that right?

Also, when do we do our summer confirmation of our financial aid stuff?

This is all my understanding of things.

Assuming you're taking out enough loans to cover all of tuition, fees and COL, and if you have already filled out the request for gradPLUS loans, then when you get your first e-bill in July the balance will be zero. When you get to registration, they will give you a check for 1/2(total loan amount - 2*what they deducted to pay your July bill) in order to pay for COL apart from rent if you are obtaining housing through Harvard (because in that case housing will be part of your e-bill). More or less the same thing happens in January for the second semester.

The confirmation for summer earnings and for amount of assets to finalize your student contribution and grant amounts should be in August. You will get an email telling you when the online forms are available.

As far as the other things people mentioned: There is nothing to fill out yet for Stafford and Perkins loans. Those are automatically taken out for you by SFS. You will just need to sign an electronic MPN in August/September. Again, you should get an email for this when the time comes.

I didn't get any confirmation beyond the updated amount for gradPLUS loans listed on my award page. I'm sure that is sufficient confirmation.

borntorun has the correct list of everything you need to have sent so far: transcript and college certification by July 1, medical forms by July 15. There's a checklist on the admitted students web page. Also, if you already have health insurance, you need to waive the Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance before September 30 (http://www.huhs.harvard.edu/Insurance/Students.aspx) in order to not be automatically charged for it.

Thanks jco, you are a lifesaver!

Amen - JCO you are awesome!

[prelaw]

It sounds like Gradplus is the easiest and safest option. Is this accurate?

[jco]

One semi-correction on all that stuff from before. Even though the insurance waiver isn't due until September 30, it seems like they will go ahead and deduct that money from your loans if you haven't had the waiver approved by the time registration rolls around. I'm sure you can eventually get the money back, but it definitely would be easier to just do that ASAP if you already have insurance.

It sounds like Gradplus is the easiest and safest option. Is this accurate?

Yup. Fixed interest rates and federal loans FTW.