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Guide to Award Letters
 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR AWARD

Your award letter details the financial aid for which you are eligible. The college reserves the right to modify your award at any time because of changes in your financial status or in the availability of funds over which we have no control. If there is a substantial change in your circumstances, you may request a review. Please refer to the Request for Review Form for the criteria and timelines for reviews.

Contents

Resources

Other Costs

What To Do Next

Requests for Review

Billing and Aid Policy

Changes in Your Award

Campus Employment

Dependent Enrollment Verification

Outside Aid

Worksheet

Resources

The amount you are expected to contribute toward your Smith education has been carefully calculated from the materials you have submitted, according to federal regulations and institutional policy. This amount includes a portion of your assets, any benefits to which you are entitled, and an amount from your summer earnings.

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What To Do Next

Review the award letter carefully.

If you wish to refuse all or part of any award, indicate that on the award letter, sign it and return it to Student Financial Services (SFS) within two weeks of the date of the letter.

If you intend to accept all awards as offered, you do not need to return the award letter. If we do not hear from you within two weeks of the date of the award letter, we will assume that you intend to accept all awards as offered and we will proceed with processing. If you change your mind at a later date and wish to decline all or part of your loans or work study, please contact us by letter or e-mail (sfs@smith.edu).

Complete promissory note(s) if required and return to Student Financial Services (see instructions).

Calculate your family responsibility for billed fees. You may find the worksheet helpful.

Advise SFS in writing of any aid you expect to receive which is not included on your award letter. We will make the appropriate changes and send you a revised award letter.

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Ada Comstock Billing and Aid Policy 2008-09

An Ada Comstock Scholar’s fees and grant aid are based on the number of credits for which she has enrolled. The three bands of tuition/enrollment are:
Tuition Charge
Full-time 16+ credits $17,905
Full-time 12 -15 credits $13,440
Part-time 8-11 credits $8,960

Adas enrolled in 12 or more credits are charged the Student Activities Fee ($248). Adas enrolled in fewer than 8 credits pay on a per credit basis at the rate of $1,120 per credit and are not eligible to receive institutional financial aid. All credits and charges are per semester.

Please note: Fees and aid will be based on the number of credits in which you are enrolled on the 15th day of each semester. After that deadline, your fees and aid will be changed ONLY if the Administrative Board gives special permission, and only if the change ADDS to your total number of credits.

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Campus Employment

A job opportunity may be part of your financial aid package. Students are responsible for finding their own jobs. Search for available positions on the internet at www.smith.edu/finaid (follow the links to Student Employment).

Students are paid every two weeks for academic year jobs. The base pay rate is $8.25/hr although some jobs may be paid at a higher rate. Students participating in domestic exchange programs are subject to the employment policies of the schools at which they enroll.

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Outside Aid

Outside Aid Awarded on the Basis of Student Merit
Most outside scholarships are given to recognize particular achievement on the part of the recipient. These awards are allowed to reduce the suggested loan, job or your contribution. However, in no case will your contribution be reduced below the federally calculated contribution. When outside awards have replaced the suggested loan and job amounts, and your contribution has been reduced to the federally calculated level, Smith Grant will be reduced dollar for dollar for any award money beyond that.

Non-Merit Based Outside Aid
This type of award includes tuition subsidies based on your parents' employment, or state and federal grant assistance. These awards are not based on student merit and reduce Smith Grant dollar for dollar. Benefits from rehabilitation agencies are treated in a slightly different manner. Rehabilitation assistance for books goes directly to the student and does not affect the aid package. One-half of other rehabilitation benefits will be used to replace the suggested loan and one-half will replace the Smith grant.

Need-based loans from state or outside agencies can be used to replace either the suggested federal loan or job dollar for dollar.

Student Financial Services must be notified of all outside awards. If you notify us by July 1, the aid will be reflected in your official award and on your first bill. If you notify us after September 1, the outside aid may be used to reduce Smith Grant dollar for dollar. See the SFS website for details on our outside aid policy.

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Other Costs

In addition to billed fees, you will need to cover the cost of books and supplies, personal expenses, travel and optional items such as phone bills, computer loans, etc. The costs of books and supplies will vary with the courses you take and the availability of second hand books but you should plan to spend at least $400 per semester.

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Requests for Review

If your circumstances change substantially during the year, you may request a review of your aid, using the Request for Review Form. The deadlines for review requests are listed on the form. No enrolled student reviews will be done before August 15.

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Changes in Your Award

We will adjust your aid package and send a revised award letter when you notify us of additional outside aid you receive or if actual amounts differ from amounts expected. The college cannot replace aid you lose by missing deadlines or by failing to fulfill application requirements.

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Dependent Enrollment Verification

We consider how many dependents are in college when determining your contribution. It is Smith’s policy to make this consideration based upon the relative fees of the institutions involved. If the dependent enrollment information shown on your award letter has changed, it is your responsibility to let us know immediately so that we may adjust your award. We will verify enrollment of other family members in the fall and adjust your aid package if necessary.

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Worksheet

Deciding how to pay for your educational expenses at Smith can be a challenge. Use this worksheet to help you make payment decisions.

Download the worksheet (PDF)

 

PDF documents require Adobe Reader (free). Download Adobe Reader >

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Grant Aid

Student Loans

Billing

Refund Policy for Ada Comstock Scholars

Completing Loan Promissory Notes

Satisfactory
Academic Progress
Requirements


BannerWeb

You can use Smith’s BANNER system to access information about your student account and financial aid. This information is updated as charges, credits and payments are actually posted to an account.

Go to the BANNER Log-in Page

If you have not received a PIN number or have forgotten yours, please call (413) 585-4487 and ask to speak with a staff member. Be prepared to supply your Social Security number, date of birth, home address, and telephone number as verification.


Contact Us

E-mail
sfs@smith.edu

Telephone
(413) 585-2530

Fax
(413) 585-2566

Write
Smith College Student Financial Services Northampton, MA 01063

 

 

 
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