Financial Aid Checklist for Incoming Students

Welcome to RWU Law! We have put together this checklist to help students access the financial aid resources they need to start law school. As always feel free to contact us with any questions you might have.

Accept Financial Aid Package (online)

The Office of Financial Aid has received your FAFSA and it has been reviewed to determine eligibility for federal student loans. Carefully review the aid package to determine the amount of federal student loans you will need to borrow to cover tuition, fees, books/supplies and living expenses. In order to receive the aid offered please accept your at myfinaid.rwu.edu. This financial aid portal also allows you to reduce or decline your federal student loans.

Complete Federal Loan Entrance Counseling

Loan Entrance Counseling is required for all first time Federal Direct Loan borrowers and for students who are first time Graduate Plus Loan borrowers. 

Complete Master Promissory Note

 A Master Promissory Notes (MPN) is required for all first time Federal Direct Loan borrowers and for students who are first time Graduate Plus Loan borrowers. 

Check your Credit

The Graduate Plus Loan and all private student loans require a credit check. Before accepting your Graduate Plus Loan or applying for a private student loan, request and review a copy of your Annual Credit Report. Students with an adverse credit history may be denied the Graduate Plus Loan. For more information please read the Graduate Plus Loan Information and What if I am Denied for the Graduate Plus Loan sections.

Submit Verification Forms

Submit all documentation as requested by the Office of Financial Aid. Disclose any outside scholarships or funding assistance.

Veterans: Submit Certification of Enrollment

This must be submitted to the Office of Student Records and Finance so the VA can process your GI Bill benefits.

Title IV Authorization Form 

Submit Title IV Authorization form to the Office of Student Finance and Records. Signing this form gives the law school authorization to use your federal loans to cover non-institutional and prior year charges.

Refunds for Living Expenses

Living expense refunds are issued to students after the start of classes. Student are encouraged to sign up for direct deposit. You sign up for direct deposit on the billing page of your student portal. Refunds are issued by the Office of Student Records and Finance.

* Please note that living expense refunds are only issued to students that have completed all the above steps.

  1.  Go to Federal Federal Student Aid
  2. Select I am a Graduate or Professional Student
  3. Click Log In to Start
  4. Enter your FSA Username and Password
  5. Confirm your contact and communication information
  6. Select Roger Williams University
  7. Click Start
  8. Complete Entrance Counseling session (takes approximately 15-20 minutes)
  1.  Go to Federal Federal Student Aid
  2. Select I am a Graduate or Professional Student
  3. Select MPN Type 
  4. Click Start next to MPN for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans 
  5. If you plan to borrow a Graduate Plus Loan, complete a separate MPN by clicking start next to MPN for Direct Plus Loans 
  6. Follow directions to complete MPN(s). When you complete the MPN online, you receive a confirmation number so you know immediately that the federal government (the lender) has received and accepted the MPN. 
  1. RWU Law automatically awards Graduate Plus Loans to all students who complete a FAFSA and qualify for federal student loans.
  2. If a student chooses to borrow a Graduate Plus Loan they must accept the loan at myfinaid.rwu.edu and complete Graduate Plus Loan Entrance Counseling and complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at Federal Student Aid. 
  3. The U.S. Department of Education will run a credit check on the borrower at the time of loan origination (approximately 10 days prior to the start of the fall term).
  4. Both the Office of Financial Aid and the borrower are notified if the loan is denied due to adverse credit. This will happen 10 days before fall classes start.

 

  1. If you are denied, you may still receive a Graduate Plus Loan if you obtain an endorser/cosigner who does not have an adverse credit history. An endorser/cosigner is someone who agrees to repay the Graduate Plus Loan if you do not repay.
  2. Appeal the denial decision with the Department of Education.
  3. Attempt to pay off unpaid collection accounts before applying for the loan.
  4. If you have an account for more than 7.5 years since the first date of delinquency, you can request the credit bureaus to remove it.

Please contact the Office of Financial Aid with any questions or concerns at 401-254-4510 or gradfinaid@rwu.edu. 

  1. Bankruptcy (Chapters 7, 11 or 12 within the last 5 years) 
  2. Repossession/Voluntary surrender within the last 5 years 
  3. Foreclosure proceedings started 
  4. Foreclosure within the last 5 years 
  5. Deed in lieu reported in the past 5 years 
  6. Charge Off Account, Collection Accounts currently 90 days or more delinquent on any debt with an outstanding balance of $2,085 or more 
  7. Wage garnishment within the last 5 years 
  8. Defaulted loan that has been claimed paid. Any Title IV debt that is currently in default 
  9. Lease of contract terminated by default 
  10. Country/State/Federal tax lien, within the last 5 years
Close Course Type Descriptions

Course Types

We have classified RWU Law classes under the following headers. One of the following course types will be attached to each course which will allow students to narrow down their search while looking for classes.

Core Course

Students in the first and second year are required to take classes covering the following aspects of the law—contracts, torts, property, criminal law, civil procedure, and constitutional law, evidence, and professional responsibility.  Along with these aspects, the core curriculum will develop legal reasoning skills.

Elective

After finishing the core curriculum the remaining coursework toward the degree is completed through upper level elective courses.  Students can choose courses that peak their interests or courses that go along with the track they are following.

Seminar

Seminars are classes where teachers and small groups of students focus on a specific topic and the students complete a substantial research paper.

Clinics/Externships

Inhouse Clinics and Clinical Externships legal education is law school training in which students participate in client representation under the supervision of a practicing attorney or law professor.  RWU Law's Clinical Programs offer unique and effective learning opportunities and the opportunity for practical experience while still in law school.