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How do I apply for financial aid as a domestic (U.S. citizen or permanent resident) applicant?
The financial aid application is a combination of electronic forms (FAFSA and CSS Profile) and paper documents (Smith Aid Application, parent taxes and W-2's, and student taxes). The Smith Aid Application and any other necessary forms can be found on our web site. All paper documents should be mailed directly to IDOC (for more information about IDOC, please read question 3). Please note that additional information may be required if your family has any of the following circumstances: a non-custodial parent, a business or self-employment, or a trust.
Early decision and Ada Comstock Scholars do not send their information through IDOC. Please submit documents directly to Smith College.
Please do not wait to be admitted to the College before applying for aid. Domestic students (U.S. citizens/Permanent Residents) who do not apply for financial aid by the published financial aid deadlines will be required to complete 64 credits at Smith before they are eligible to apply for institutional financial aid. Domestic Ada Comstock Scholars and Transfers will be required to complete 32 credits at Smith before they are eligible to apply for institutional financial aid.
How do I apply for financial aid as an international applicant?
International students must complete the College Board International Student Aid Application and submit proof of income for each parent (such as a translated tax return or income statement). Please note that Smith does not accept the CSS International Profile.
For more details, including requirements for international applicants living in the U.S. please visit our web site.
For information concerning Canadian citizens, please visit our web site.
Please do not wait to be admitted to the College before applying for aid. International applicants to the College who do not apply for aid prior to admission are not eligible to receive institutional aid from Smith at any time. International applicants considering January transfer are not eligible to apply for financial aid.
What is IDOC?
IDOC is a document imaging service that is offered through the College Board. Domestic Regular Decision and Transfer applicants should use this service to submit paper financial aid application documents. Paper financial aid documents are to be mailed directly to IDOC, where they will be scanned and sent electronically to Smith. Financial aid documents should not be sent directly to Smith. College Board will send IDOC instructions via email in early February to applicants who have completed the CSS Profile.
For more information, please read the Frequently Asked Questions section of the IDOC web site.
Early decision and Ada Comstock Scholars do not send their information through IDOC. Please submit documents directly to Smith College.
What types of financial aid are available for Smith College students?
Smith College offers both need-based and merit-based aid.
Need-based Aid: Need-based aid packages may include grants, loans and work-study/campus employment. Loan and work, which are considered "self-help," are usually the first components of an aid package, and remaining need is met with grant aid. We process federal, state, and institutional aid. Students are expected to apply for a state scholarship if their legal state of residence is MA, ME, NH, RI, VT, CT, or PA. For more information, please visit our web site.
Merit-based Aid: Smith offers a limited number of awards based on merit rather than need. All applicants for admission are automatically considered; there are no special application forms. Students are selected by the Office of Admission and must maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to have their scholarships renewed annually. Merit aid is only offered at the time of admission. For more information about the types of merit aid offered by Smith, please visit our web site.
How is need-based financial aid determined?
Our need-based aid program entails a consistent and personalized assessment of each applicant's ability to pay for college expenses. Smith meets the full documented need, as determined by college policy, of all admitted students who apply for aid by the published deadlines. For more information, please visit our web site.
Will the financial aid package I was offered remain the same each year?
Need-based aid eligibility is re-evaluated each year for domestic and Canadian students. Merit-based aid, determined at the time of admission, may carry forward for future years. Please see http://www.smith.edu/finaid/prospect/aid_merit.php for information on merit awards offered at Smith. Domestic and Canadian students must apply annually for financial aid for the following year. If there are no major changes to income or assets from one year to the next, the calculated family contribution each year should remain relatively stable. Changes in income, family circumstances, or changes in sibling enrollment may affect the amount of aid you receive each year. In addition, the ratio between the self-help and grant portions of your award will change as you rise in class level, an we will expect you to contribute slightly more from your summer earnings after your first year.
International students, please view the information provided on our web site for more details.
If I do not qualify for need-based aid, what are my options?
There are numerous financing options available to Smith students, including a monthly payment plan, a pre-paid plan, and the Federal Parent PLUS Loan. Additionally, all students may take advantage of the Federal Student Loan Program; regardless of their financial need level. To apply for Federal student loans, applicants must submit a FAFSA, signed parent taxes and signed student taxes. Please see the financing options section of our web site for additional options.
I have a special circumstance (i.e. divorced or separated parent, legal guardian, etc.) that is not covered in this FAQ. What is the best way to contact Student Financial Services?
We realize every family is unique, and we are here to help you through the application process in any way we can. The preferred method of communication is email. Please send email correspondence to sfs @smith.edu, and be sure to include the applicant's full name and Smith ID# (or date of birth). We can also be reached via phone during our open office hours, which are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, with the exception of Wednesday when we open at 10:00 am. Our phone number is (413) 585-2530 or toll-free (800) 221-2579. All of our directors are available by appointment to discuss more in-depth issues. Please call our office to schedule an appointment.
Please be advised that during peak applicant season our hold times and email response times increase drastically. We kindly ask that you please be patient and refrain from duplicating your communication, as we answer all calls and email in the order received.
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