Do any of the accepted folks here have high financial need? I’m starting to wonder if that’s why I was waitlisted, since I know Smith is need-aware for some applicants. Just looking for some explanation in this confusing process. Thanks.
@mech423 is it need aware? i got around 52k in aid. my efc was 2.7k
@hechopecho “Some admission decisions may include an assessment of the student’s level of need. These need-sensitive evaluations affect approximately 5 percent of all applicants.” I have no idea if that means I was borderline ugh I don’t understand
@mech423 i remember seeing your stats because they closely match my daughter’s (her SAT is also 2230) and she is an early write with a stride so i don’t think it was your academic stats. don’t overthink it. schools have their own methodologies including yield management - maybe they thought you would not enroll if admitted? maybe your essay did not appeal to the adcom? smith is known to be generous with aid and scholarships, maybe not as generous as reed or pomona but close enough.
if smith is your first choice, write them a love letter. don’t dwell on being on the W/L.
My daughter found out today that she was admitted! We are all very excited! Now it is decision time.
This article may be helpful for anyone unable to attend with their current financial aid offer. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/get-there/wp/2015/04/02/how-to-negotiate-a-better-financial-aid-package/
@khanam Thank you so much for your kind words here and on other threads. I’m pretty much over it, I know it’s all so subjective. Best of luck to your daughter and congrats!
@mech423 Smith says it is “need aware” for those at the margins. They also say they will not admit students with need unless they can fully meet it. So it is possible that you were waitlisted so that they can see how much money the have left. That said, I had an EFC near zero and was awarded $56K in grants. My advice if you really want to go to Smith is to write them a letter stating that and including any new information. People with large grants do decline their offers (as I did), so more money is likely to come available.
Smith is is for D1! Sent in deposit yesterday. Now working on the details of a California to Massachusetts move and turning my attention to D2’s college plans!
We paid the deposit on March 31, and the receipt said “A welcome packet will be sent to the most recent address we have on file.” I was wondering how long the packet usually takes to arrive? D was unable to attend the accepted student days so we feel a little out of the loop on everything from how to sign up for housing to the details of drop off to the final financial aid letter. Thanks for any help.
@vavoom the packets start coming out mid to late April. there haven’t been any accepted students days yet but the info is somewhere on the website.