Maintaining Financial Aid Eligibility for Medical Students

Financial aid awards are not automatically renewed each year. To maintain eligibility, students must continue to:

• File the FAFSA
  • New students must file the FAFSA by March 1
  • Continuing students must file the FAFSA each year by May 1
• Demonstrate financial need
• Make satisfactory progress toward degree requirements
• Remain in good academic standing

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

General Requirements

Every student has a specific time limit to complete the program of study at the Drexel University College of Medicine. The period is as follows:

• Doctor of Medicine (MD)
  • Standard: four years
  • Maximum: seven years
• Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Dual Degree Program
  • Standard: seven years
  • Maximum: nine years

For transfer students, the total number of years for completing the degree includes time spent at the previous institution, to the extent that credit hours are transferred and applied toward the degree objectives at Drexel University College of Medicine. A student may be granted the status of Independent Study when he or she is pursuing either a special course of remediation or a full-time research fellowship.

A student may be granted a leave of absence for a variety of reasons. The time for which the student has been approved a leave of absence is included in the maximum time in which the student may complete the program.

The time period for which a student is registered to pursue a full-time research fellowship is included in the maximum time in which the student may complete the program.

At the end of each academic year, the Promotions Committee reviews each student’s qualitative assessment of performance, which is given by the faculty member for each course in which the student is enrolled. It may be a grade, a pass or fail, or another form of evaluation. A student who does not satisfactorily complete all course requirements may be permitted to remediate. In that case, the student is assigned a schedule that deviates from the norm. The student is required to earn satisfactory qualitative assessment in all courses for which he or she is enrolled.

Grade Requirements

The College of Medicine does not measure academic progress by means of a cumulative grade point average. Students are required to complete courses with an “S” grade or better. Therefore, grade performance as a measure of satisfactory academic progress must be reviewed in the context of each course for which the student is registered.

The following standards have been established:

• Completion of the first year and second year of enrollment. The student must have earned an "S" grade or higher in each required course. The student must also satisfactorily pass Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ to progress to the third year.
• Completion of the third year of enrollment. The student must have earned an "S" or higher in each required course.
• Completion of the fourth year of enrollment. The student must have earned an "S" or higher in each required course and satisfy all requirements for graduation, including a passing grade on the United States Medical Licensing Examination™, Step 2.
• A student failing to meet one or more of the standards of progress is placed on financial aid probation. The student may continue receiving financial aid while on probation as long as he or she meets the requirements for remediation stated by the Promotions Committee.
• A student who does not meet the requirements for remediation as stated by the Promotions Committee is dropped from the rolls.

Reinstatement

A student will be reinstated in good academic standing when he or she has successfully completed his or her remediation. It is the student’s responsibility to present evidence to the Promotions Committee at the time he or she has met the minimum requirements for reinstatement.

Enrollment Requirements

To be considered for financial aid you must be officially admitted to a degree program at Drexel University or matriculated in a degree program and making satisfactory academic progress toward degree requirements. Students in certain certificate or diploma programs may also be eligible for consideration. Generally, University-administered aid is awarded to full-time students. Students must register for a minimum of 12 credits per term to be considered full-time as an undergraduate and 9 credits for graduates.

Withdrawing from Courses

Withdrawing from courses may impact your financial aid awards. Before withdrawing from class, you should contact the SRC/Financial Aid Office to determine the consequences.

Withdrawing from the University

Students who totally withdraw and receive aid may owe the University money if federal funds must be returned. Before withdrawing from the University, you should contact the SRC/Financial Aid Office to determine the consequences.

Federal Compliance

Some students are required by the federal government to document certain requirements with the Financial Aid Office. Funds cannot be disbursed until these are satisfied. Initially these will be requested by mail, but you can monitor what is needed as well as your status via DrexelOne. For more information, please refer to Drexel's Verification Policy.