The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

winning wrote:Because you'd already been given the answer multiple times, and you didn't like it, so you kept trying to get a different answer. And when I told you that the answer is X, no if's, and's, or but's, you got offended. Welcome to the real world, the SMART program, and the Department of Defense. Rules are rules, whether or not you like it.

guest1 wrote:

Guest wrote:

calm down wrote:What is your problem I was just asking a question, you don't know my financial situation so don't give me such a rude attitude for wanting to be informed about my options

Hey, no need to get pissy. They were simply spelling out (repeatedly, from the looks of it) what you really should have read and understood before accepting SMART. You can take the package SMART gives you and obey their rules, or you can take the piddly $8K in grants and owe nothing. When it comes to all things SMART, you cannot have your cake and eat it, too.

how is wanting to be informed pissy ? , one should never be afraid to ask questions, especially when it impacts their future.

Guest wrote:

calm down wrote:What is your problem I was just asking a question, you don't know my financial situation so don't give me such a rude attitude for wanting to be informed about my options

Hey, no need to get pissy. They were simply spelling out (repeatedly, from the looks of it) what you really should have read and understood before accepting SMART. You can take the package SMART gives you and obey their rules, or you can take the piddly $8K in grants and owe nothing. When it comes to all things SMART, you cannot have your cake and eat it, too.

calm down wrote:What is your problem I was just asking a question, you don't know my financial situation so don't give me such a rude attitude for wanting to be informed about my options

littlehope wrote:Terms & Conditions

Conditions Of Appointment

During phase 1, SMART Scholarship Program Participants may accept funding from sources outside of SMART, including private scholarships, fellowships, grants, and private or federal student loans. SMART Scholarship Program Participants do not accept funding from federal scholarships, fellowships, grants (including the Federal Pell Grant) or other federal funding sources other than SMART with the exception of salary supplements provided by Sponsoring Facilities and Veteran’s Affairs programs (ex: Montgomery GI Bill, Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, the Survivors’ and Dependants’ Educational Assistance Program).

https://smart.asee.org/about/terms_and_conditions

guestttttt wrote:

whydecline wrote:

Guest wrote:If it's federal grant money, then you must decline it, no exceptions.

If it's not a federal grant, then there are a couple of things to note when talking to financial aid about getting a refund. First, SMART will query your school for the exact amount of your tuition and fees, not what's left over after grants and scholarships are applied, not after loans have been disbursed, the bill itself. Second, SMART is pretty bad about paying tuition on time. It might not be late for you, but it will undoubtedly be received last by your school in terms of funding towards your account. I would talk to your school's financial aid and find out what they can do on their end. If they know what's coming, it's easier for them to do what you would like rather than guess at what to do.

If it's federal grant money, WHY do I have to decline it, its money I earned for having good grades ?

Because you can't accept multiple forms of federal funding. That's the rules. Don't like it, don't accept the full ride scholarship + guaranteed job in exchange for the $8k in grants.

whydecline wrote:

Guest wrote:If it's federal grant money, then you must decline it, no exceptions.

If it's not a federal grant, then there are a couple of things to note when talking to financial aid about getting a refund. First, SMART will query your school for the exact amount of your tuition and fees, not what's left over after grants and scholarships are applied, not after loans have been disbursed, the bill itself. Second, SMART is pretty bad about paying tuition on time. It might not be late for you, but it will undoubtedly be received last by your school in terms of funding towards your account. I would talk to your school's financial aid and find out what they can do on their end. If they know what's coming, it's easier for them to do what you would like rather than guess at what to do.

If it's federal grant money, WHY do I have to decline it, its money I earned for having good grades ?

Guest wrote:If it's federal grant money, then you must decline it, no exceptions.

If it's not a federal grant, then there are a couple of things to note when talking to financial aid about getting a refund. First, SMART will query your school for the exact amount of your tuition and fees, not what's left over after grants and scholarships are applied, not after loans have been disbursed, the bill itself. Second, SMART is pretty bad about paying tuition on time. It might not be late for you, but it will undoubtedly be received last by your school in terms of funding towards your account. I would talk to your school's financial aid and find out what they can do on their end. If they know what's coming, it's easier for them to do what you would like rather than guess at what to do.

CSMajor wrote:

Guest wrote:If it's federal grant money, then you must decline it, no exceptions.

If it's not a federal grant, then there are a couple of things to note when talking to financial aid about getting a refund. First, SMART will query your school for the exact amount of your tuition and fees, not what's left over after grants and scholarships are applied, not after loans have been disbursed, the bill itself. Second, SMART is pretty bad about paying tuition on time. It might not be late for you, but it will undoubtedly be received last by your school in terms of funding towards your account. I would talk to your school's financial aid and find out what they can do on their end. If they know what's coming, it's easier for them to do what you would like rather than guess at what to do.

What if our schools put holds on our accounts? If SMART waits until the end of the semester to pay my tuition then I'll have problems getting into the classes they want me in because I'll have account holds.

Guest wrote:If it's federal grant money, then you must decline it, no exceptions.

If it's not a federal grant, then there are a couple of things to note when talking to financial aid about getting a refund. First, SMART will query your school for the exact amount of your tuition and fees, not what's left over after grants and scholarships are applied, not after loans have been disbursed, the bill itself. Second, SMART is pretty bad about paying tuition on time. It might not be late for you, but it will undoubtedly be received last by your school in terms of funding towards your account. I would talk to your school's financial aid and find out what they can do on their end. If they know what's coming, it's easier for them to do what you would like rather than guess at what to do.

Fulltuition wrote:What if I want to keep my financial aid grants in addition to the tuition paid by SMART?

I want SMART to pay for my tuition but I don't want them to give me less money because of my grants, I want them to pay the full so that I can get a refund check from the school for the grants I received in full. WHAT DO I DO THEN , because I don't want SMART to just pay for the leftover balance after grants have been applied I want them to pay the full tuition like they stated.

I am supposed to get about $8,000 in grants -- which do not need to be paid back , I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET THAT MONEY AS A REFUND CHECK OR I CAN AT LEAST USE IT FOR HOUSING.

CSMajor wrote:How soon can you decline the FAFSA? I'd like to wait until after my facility visit to ensure everything transitions smoothly.

CSMajor wrote:Hello,

Will SMART revoke all of my federal financial aid for the 2017-2018 school year, or do I have to go through and decline it all?