merit scholarships/what smith looks for

<p>{The Z. didn’t actually benefit us financially - it offset need-based aid,}</p>

<p>Mini, I know for a fact you’re not complaining, but this issue bothers me. So I thought I’d put it out there for the Smith administration to mull over.</p>

<p>The idea of the Z and STRIDE is to attract students who might otherwise attend a competing college. If there isn’t a financial difference with or w/o the award, what’s the point? I understand the internship is important, however, to many families a financial benefit is much more so.</p>

<p>If the Z substitutes for loans, fine; if it substitutes for grants one would be awarded regardless, that’s wrong. Full pay parents receive the benefit of having the award reduce their financial contribution by the amount of the award. Aid assisted parents should receive the same benefit-- ignoring the possibility of attracting a superior student-- if for no other reason than fairness.</p>

<p>E.g. If the EFC is 20k for a financially aided parent w/o the Z……It should be ~10K with it.</p>