HELP!!!! - financial aid

<p>I misunderstood and accidentally missed the deadlines for:</p>

<p>Smith Aid Application for Traditional Students (DUE Feb. 15)
2011 Parent (custodial and non-custodial, if applicable) W-2s (ALSO DUE Feb. 15)</p>

<p>I sent everything in the mail today (Feb. 22) and College Board will get it on Friday (Feb. 24).
I feel like a total idiot because I confused Smith's deadlines with another college's deadline (March 1). </p>

<p>Does anyone know what the consequences are? Will I receive ANY financial aid?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.smith.edu/finaid/instructions.pdf[/url]”>http://www.smith.edu/finaid/instructions.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>worry not</p>

<p>The link above is for returning students. Give SFS a call and talk to them…they are very nice.</p>

<p>Sorry, for reusing a thread but I don’t think this question requires a new one to be made. Anyways, if I happen to be a STRIDE/Zollman recipient, will the scholarship cover my EFC? Or, as it is still merit aid, will they only replace loans and whatnot that Smith gives me to cover my financial need?</p>

<p>“The STRIDE award forms a part of students’ federally determined financial aid. For admitted STRIDE students receiving financial aid, the award first replaces the loan part of the aid package. Merit awards cannot be added on top of student’s federally determined need. The STRIDE award will not affect the total amount of aid packages for students receiving more than $15,000 in financial aid.”</p>

<p>Alright, thanks for the information.</p>

<p>A NJCD said, the link kymazing gave is NOT for incoming first years, whose financial aid materials were due Feb 15. But seriously, call Student Financial Services. You’re not the first person to miss deadlines, and I’m sure you’re not the last. They’ll let you know what to expect.</p>

<p>@ CrewDad-So if I understand correctly, the STRIDE award would reduce the student loan amount as well as the parent contribution and said student would still receive the same amount of grant aid that they would have received without the STRIDE?</p>

<p>@CandleWax
I think it doesn’t make an impact on parent contribution/EFC at all.</p>

<p>Haha, you know what? I made the same mistake as the OP. I had no idea that Smith had their own financial aid application. Also having trouble with the non-custodial financial forms stuff. My unemployed father (who lives on the other side of the world) basically has made me do everything although we’re supposed to do them separately and even had me pay the $25 fee for the Non-Custodial CSS Profile! I wish colleges would realize that non-custodial parents are non-custodial parents for a reason!</p>

<p>I do apologize for the rant. I just hate that I’m still being stressed out by a man who is hardly in my life anymore.</p>

<p>Larentia-- hope things go smoothly from here. I was able to get a waiver for NCP info.</p>

<p>Smith allows outside scholarships to lower the Smith-determined EFC to the FAFSA-EFC (if the FAFSA number is lower). Could/Would Smith allow the STRIDE/Zollman to have this same effect? </p>

<p>I found this under “veteran benefits”, but just wondering if it could apply to anyone?:</p>

<p>“Our normal treatment for outside aid is to allow your EFC to go to the federally calculated level and then reduce or eliminate your self-help aid (loans or work study). If your outside aid goes beyond these adjustments, Smith Grant assistance will be reduced dollar for dollar.”</p>

<p>I found this also for outside merit awards:</p>

<p>“Smith College recognizes your achievement in being awarded merit based aid. Outside aid based on student merit will first reduce or replace the self-help portion of your award (federal work study and federal subsidized loan). If the outside aid exceeds the total self-help portion of your award, we will allow the aid to go toward a one-time computer purchase or toward the cost of the on-campus health insurance plan. If you do not purchase or have already purchased a computer, and if you do not accept the on-campus health insurance plan, or if your merit aid exceeds these costs, merit aid will replace Smith Grant on a dollar for dollar basis.”</p>

<p>Outside non-merit based scholarships:</p>

<p>“This type of award includes tuition subsidies based on parent employment, or state and federal grant assistance. These awards are not based on student merit and reduce Smith Grant eligibility dollar for dollar. Educational benefits from state and federal agencies will reduce the self-help components of the award (loan and work). Need-based loans from state or outside agencies can be used to replace dollar for dollar either the suggested federal loan or the work study award.”</p>

<p>Thanks for the support. I desperately hope that things do go smoothlt. Also thanks for providing that info about outside merit aid reducing Smith EFC to FAFSA EFC. Hopefully, I do win scholarships to reach closer to the FAFSA’s $0 for I doubt Smith would match that.</p>

<p>@ Larentia and CPU, thanks for the clarification!</p>