SMU: Financial Aid

Southern Methodist University • Enrollment Services • Financial Aid • FAQs

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Applying For Aid	What are the basic questions to ask the Financial Aid Office?

	What is FA Pony Tracks?
	What applications do I need to complete to apply for financial aid?

	What is SMU’s school code?

	Can you make too much money to qualify for financial aid?

	Do I have to re-apply for financial aid each year?

	When is the deadline to apply for financial aid?

	My parents don’t claim me on their taxes, and I support myself. Can I claim myself as independent and only use my information on the FAFSA?

	My parents are divorced. Whose information do I use on the FAFSA?


	What are the basic questions to ask the Financial Aid Office? What are the total costs I will need to cover as a student at SMU? How does this package of aid you have offered me cover those costs? How much will I need to borrow, and with what types of loans? What lenders do you recommend, and why? Do you have any financial relationship with the lenders you recommend?

	What is FA Pony Tracks? FA Pony Tracks is a way for students to follow the status of their financial aid from application (via the FAFSA and CSS Profile) all the way to figuring out the final balance per semester. FA Pony Tracks will notify students of whether their FAFSA is received and will show students if there are any documents which the Financial Aid Office requires in order to process their aid. FA Pony Tracks is found in ACCESS.SMU within a student’s Self Service page.

	What applications do I need to complete to apply for financial aid? All students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to determine their eligibility for federal and state financial aid (found at www.fafsa.ed.gov). Undergraduate students who also want to be considered for university need-based aid must complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® found at https://profileonline.collegeboard.com There is a $25 cost for completing the CSS/PROFILE®.

	What is SMU’s school code? The FAFSA school code is 003613; the CSS/PROFILE® code is 6660.

	Can you make too much money to qualify for financial aid? Although some students may not qualify for need-based aid in the form of grants, most students qualify to receive non-need based federal loans.

	Do I have to re-apply for financial aid each year? Yes, all students must re-apply by renewing their FAFSA each year. Undergraduate students must also renew their CSS/PROFILE® application each year in order to be considered for university need-based aid.

	When is the deadline to apply for financial aid? The priority deadline for first-year undergraduate students is February 15th each year. SMU has a priority deadline of May 1st for continuing undergraduate students so that financial aid advisors can award as much aid as possible after spring grades post in May. An undergraduate student who applies after the priority deadline may not receive primary consideration since certain financial aid funds can be limited. Graduate and professional students may file any time during the academic year; there is no priority deadline. However, SMU recommends filing the FAFSA no later than May 1st in order to secure funding before the start of the term.

	My parents don’t claim me on their taxes, and I support myself. Can I claim myself as independent and only use my information on the FAFSA? No. Most students who cannot answer “Yes” to at least one of the thirteen (13) dependency questions on the FAFSA must still include their parents’ information.

	My parents are divorced. Whose information do I use on the FAFSA? In most situations, you should use the custodial parent’s information (and step-parent if s/he has remarried). This is the parent with whom you live the most and receive the most financial support.

Verification	Why was I selected for verification?

	My parents have filed an extension. What do I do now?


	Why was I selected for verification? The Department of Education often selects files at random for verification. Schools are required to verify the accuracy of the information reported on the FAFSA.

	My parents have filed an extension. What do I do now? Contact your financial aid advisor to discuss your situation so we may best advise you how to proceed until verification may be completed.

Grants	How do I apply for a Pell grant?

	Are graduate students eligible for grants?


	How do I apply for a Pell grant? You are automatically considered for this federal need based grant when you complete the FAFSA.

	Are graduate students eligible for grants? Although graduate students are not eligible for federal grants like the Pell grant, they may be eligible to receive the state Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG).

Scholarships	How do I apply for more scholarships?


	How do I apply for more scholarships? While university scholarships awarded during the admissions process are set, students are encouraged to apply for outside scholarships through websites like www.fastweb.com and www.collegeboard.com

Federal Work Study	Are funds from Federal Work Study credited to my student account?

	Will SMU help me find a job?


	Are funds from Federal Work Study credited to my student account? No, students must work a Federal Work Study job in order to receive a bi-weekly paycheck. Students are able to use these paychecks as they see fit.

	Will SMU help me find a job? Our Student Employment Office (SEO) maintains a database of Federal Work Study and non federal work study jobs. We encourage the student to directly contact the hiring department. The SEO offers support to students and employers.

Loans	What is a “Federal PLUS Estimate" on my award package?

	I accepted the PLUS estimate. Why haven’t these funds been posted to my student account?

	What is a “Federal GradPLUS loan”?

	I accepted the Federal Direct Loan, but it has not been posted to my student account yet.

	Does SMU provide a list of lenders from which to choose private educational loans?

	Can students and parents use other lenders?

	What kind of research should I do regarding choosing a lender?

	How does SMU pick lenders for the list?


	What is a “Federal PLUS Estimate" on my award package? This Parent PLUS estimate usually represents the maximum amount of funds your parent may borrow in one academic year to help pay university costs. The Financial Aid Office should be contacted to confirm the amount of a PLUS Loan.

	I accepted the PLUS estimate. Why haven’t these funds been posted to my student account? After you accept this at ACCESS.SMU, you will receive an email with detailed instructions for your parent. A parent must then apply for the loan through the Department of Education at studentloans.gov in order to seek credit approval. The Department of Education and SMU will facilitate the process of obtaining the funds after all requirements have been met. More information regarding PLUS loans may be found at PLUS Loan Information.

	What is a “Federal GradPLUS loan”? If this is the first time you have borrowed a Federal Direct Stafford loan at SMU, you will receive detailed instructions on completing the two-step process at studentloans.gov. This process includes Entrance Counseling and completion of the Master Promissory Note (MPN). Both steps must be completed before the loan will disburse to the student’s SMU tuition account.

	I accepted the Federal Direct Loan, but it has not been posted to my student account yet. If this is the first time you have borrowed a Federal Direct Stafford loan at SMU, you will receive detailed instructions on completing the two-step process at studentloans.gov. This process includes Entrance Counseling and completion of the Master Promissory Note (MPN). Both steps must be completed before the loan will disburse to the student’s SMU tuition account.

	Does SMU provide a list of lenders from which to choose private educational loans? Like numerous institutions across the country, SMU provides students and families several a list of lenders to assist them in navigating the complexities of borrowing a private educational loan, however a borrower can choose any lender not on SMU's lender list.

	Can students and parents use other lenders? Yes, SMU allows students and their families to choose their own lender even if not on our list of lenders. SMU encourages all students to investigate a lender before choosing them.

	What kind of research should I do regarding choosing a lender? You should compare repayment benefits and discounts with different lenders you are reviewing including finding out if the repayment benefits are still applicable if the lender sells your loan to another servicer or lender. Some other things you can ask are what percentages of borrowers actually end up qualifying for the repayment benefits; what timeframe their customer service is available; if interest rates are fixed or variable; if interest rates are reduced for on-time payments or auto debit; and when repayment starts and if interest accrues between disbursement and repayment.

	How does SMU pick lenders for the lists? SMU sends an extensive survey to loan companies interested in processing private loans for students of the university. The survey is used to rate lenders for inclusion on one or more of the preferred lender lists. The university seeks lenders who offer the best customer service, secure electronic processes, repayment benefits, lowest origination points, and other benefits. You may contact the loan administrator at enrol_serv@smu.edu for further information on lender list selection. SMU does not receive any payments, benefits or perks from lenders for consideration of inclusion on the SMU lender lists.

Billing	Where do I view my bill?

	My Bill doesn't look correct. What should I do?

	How much does it cost to attend SMU?


	Where do I view my bill? Student and miscellaneous accounts can be viewed online at SMUPay, which is found through the Student Center in ACCESS.SMU.

	My bill doesn’t look correct. What should I do? You should contact Student Financial Services at 214-768-3417 or via email at enrol_serv@mail.smu.edu and speak with a Student Account Specialist regarding specific bill or account related questions.

	How much does it cost to attend SMU? Tuition and fee charges may be found online at http://smu.edu/bursar/tuitionandfees.asp

Enrollment	What happens to my financial aid if I drop a class?

	Must I be full-time to receive financial aid?

	How many terms may I receive financial aid?

	How do I contact my Financial Advisor?


	What happens to my financial aid if I drop a class? As long as undergraduate students remain enrolled in 12-18hrs, they are still considered full-time; therefore, their financial aid will not be affected. However, students who drop below 12hrs should check with their financial aid advisor regarding any possible changes to their financial aid package.

	Must I be full-time to receive financial aid? If an undergraduate student is receiving federal and institutional need based aid, 12 hours is considered full time. However, SMU encourages all undergraduate students to enroll and complete 15 hours each semester so that they may graduate in 4 years (8 semesters). Sometimes completing 15 hours per semester may not be sufficient to graduate in 4 years, so students should consider attending summer school for 1-2 terms.

	How many terms may I receive financial aid? Typically, institutional scholarships and need based aid are awarded for 8 semesters only to those who began SMU as first-year undergraduate students; students who enrolled as transfers usually receive institutional scholarships and need based aid for 5 semesters only.

	How do I contact my financial aid advisor? Each student is assigned to an advisor who can best answer questions pertaining to financial aid. Graduate students are assigned according to their graduate degree program, and undergraduate students are assigned based on their last name. Their caseloads are as follows:

Graduate Students	Stan Eddy	Law, Dedman, EHD, Hart/Guidhall, Graduate & Special Studies
	Barbara Waters	Business, Theology, Engineering & Meadows
Undergraduate Students	Cindy Luetzow	F, M, N, T
	Gordon Brannon	C, E, L, W
	Penny Griffin	I, O, Q, U, V, X, Y, Z
	Walker Self	B, D, H
	Minerva Chihuahua	A, G, S
	Gina Kelbert	J, K, P, R

All advisors may be reached via email at enrol_serv@smu.edu or by phone at 214-768-3417