When applying for Early Decision, you should plan to apply for financial aid as early as possible. This allows us to prepare your tentative Financial Aid Award letter which will provide an estimate of how much aid you’ll receive.

If you’re considering Early Decision, you’ve probably done a lot of thinking about college and have found in HMC an environment that really matches up with your interests and needs. We want to make it possible for Early Decision students to enroll, so we do our best to provide attractive aid packages. Your choice to apply to Early Decision will not affect your chances for receiving financial aid.

Follow these steps to apply for financial aid:

1. File a CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE by November 15, 2007. HMC's CSS Profile code is 4341.

2. Send 2006 federal income tax returns to the Office of Financial Aid Office by November 15, 2007. Send signed copies of your and your parents’ tax returns, along with all schedules, forms, Corporate/Partnership Federal Tax Returns with all K-1s if applicable, and W-2 forms including 1099s. Copies may be faxed or mailed.

Based on the information you provide in the CSS/PROFILE and the tax statements, we will respond to your aid application with a Tentative Financial Aid Award letter.  Later in the year you’ll also need to:

3. File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) between Jan. 1 and Feb. 1, 2008. HMC's federal school code is 001171. You may submit the FAFSA in paper format or online.You will be able to obtain a paper FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) toll-free at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). You may request up to three copies of the paper application and should receive the FAFSA in 3 to 7 business days. We highly recommend that you file your financial aid application online. Prior to filing online, you and one of your parents must obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN) through the Department of Education's PIN web site.

NOTE: You don’t need to file your 2007 federal income tax return prior to completing a FAFSA. Estimate your income on the FAFSA to the best of your ability. We will request a final, signed copy of your and your parents’ 2007 federal income tax returns for verification in the spring. These forms  should be submitted no later than April 15, 2008.

4. California residents only: Submit a GPA Verification Form to your high school counselor to be considered for the Cal Grant Program. The deadline is March 2, 2008, but you should submit your form well before that date. The completed GPA Verification Form must be mailed to the California Student Aid Commission by March 2, 2008.

5. Submit your supplemental documents by April 15, 2008, or sooner. These documents should be sent directly to the College Board with your personalized cover sheet from the College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service:

• a signed final copy of your and your parents' 2007 federal income tax returns, including copies of all W-2s, 1099's, schedules, forms, and attachments (draft copies of tax forms are not acceptable)
  
• a signed final copy of any 2007 Corporate Federal Tax Returns with all K-1s (if applicable) for any corporation(s) in which you or your parent(s) has an investment
• a signed final copy of any 2007 Partnership Federal Tax Returns with all K-1s (if applicable) for any partnership(s) in which you or your parent(s) has an investment
• a Business/Farm Supplement (PDF) if you or your parent(s) own a farm or a business
• a Non-Custodial Parent's Profile (PDF) if your parents are separated divorced, or were never married
• a Verification Worksheet for Dependent Student, if requested on your Student Aid Report (SAR) which you will receive after filing the FAFSA.

Any other documents requested by the Office of Financial Aid should be sent directly to the Office of Financial Aid.