Ada Comstock Scholars
This section is for current students applying for aid. If you are a prospective Ada Comstock Scholar, please go to the Tuition & Financial Aid section for application deadlines and policies. You must apply for financial aid at the time of admission.
Applying for Aid
Eligibility
Part-time Ada Comstock Scholars enrolled in fewer than 8 credits per semester are not eligible for institutional aid.
International Students
International Ada Comstock Scholars who do not apply for aid prior to admission are not eligible to receive institutional aid at any time.
Housing & Aid
Housing Arrangements for Ada Comstock Scholars
Housing choices do affect the financial aid eligibility for Ada Comstock Scholars. Please contact us for details on your specific potential award adjustment if you are thinking about changing your housing.
Holding a position with the residence life office will impact your financial aid award. The aid adjustment will depend on the position. Please contact us to determine how your award would be affected by a residence life position.
Types of Aid
The student employment component of a financial aid award represents the opportunity to have a job on campus or through one of our off-campus employment partners. You are responsible for finding a position that aligns with your preferences and schedule, and are encouraged to apply early for the best selection of jobs.
You may work to earn money for books and supplies, to put towards your tuition accounts, or for personal spending money. There is no obligation to work all or any of the hours awarded, though income not earned is not replaced with other aid.
Ada Comstock Scholars with dependent children under the age of 18 will have the work component of their award replaced with the Balbach Grant. If you do not have a work study component to your award, you can still apply for jobs on campus after October 1 in the fall, and as of two weeks after classes begin in the spring.
For information about work-study at Smith College, see Student Employment.
Earnings
Refer to your financial aid award on to verify the type and amount of work-study you are eligible for, which in turn determines where you can work and how much you can earn. Your other aid will not be increased if you choose not to work. Your earnings are paid directly to you.
Holding a position with the residence life office will impact your financial aid award. The aid adjustment will depend on the position. Please contact us to determine how your award would be affected by a residence life position.
If you receive any assistance from an organization outside of the college, this aid must be taken into consideration in calculating your financial aid award. You are required to report all outside aid to the Student Financial Services office.
Once you notify us of any aid which is expected to be sent directly to the college, we will add the anticipated amount to the student account as a pending credit, reducing the amount due. If the aid is expected to be late, please notify us so we can extend the pending credit. Any amounts expected but not received are the responsibility of the student.
Outside aid, based on either student merit or parent employment (e.g.: employee tuition benefits), will first reduce or replace the self-help portion of your award (federal work-study). If outside aid is in excess of self-help, we will allow it to go toward the cost of the Smith health insurance plan or a one-time computer purchase. Any amount of outside aid in excess of self-help and these costs will reduce Smith Grant dollar for dollar.
How We Determine Need
Financial aid for Ada Comstock Scholars is need-based and is based on the premise that students pay for the cost of education to the extent that they are able, as calculated by a national formula and institutional policy, and that financial aid serves to supplement this effort
Allowance for Others in College
The fees of undergraduate institutions attended by siblings of traditional students or children of Ada Comstock Scholars are considered in our aid calculations. The enrollment status of each person is verified in the fall. A change in institution or enrollment status may affect your grant aid. For future planning, contact us for the allowance amount used this year.
Review Requests
Each student has the right to request a review of her financial aid award any time there has been a significant change in family circumstances, or if the information on the original application was inaccurate. Please use the Request for Review form below.
Reviews are conducted by the Student Financial Services Review Committee. In most cases, the decision of the committee is final.
When an issue under review requires an exception to a policy, a student may request that it be reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. Exceptions to policy include appeals of the 32 credit rule and all international review requests.
The Financial Aid Appeals Committee is chaired by the vice president of enrollment and includes one member of the faculty, the dean of students and the controller. The director of student financial services is a nonvoting member of the committee.
Students must present appeals in writing. The committee will consider the appeal as soon as possible. It generally takes one to two weeks for the committee to convene and review the appeal. A decision will be given to the student in writing within 48 hours after the appeal is heard. The decision of the appeals committee is final in all cases.