<p>Like many of the parents posting here, we were surprised and stunned. The FAFSA and profile, indicated that we would qualify for need based aid. D was banking on it - and the answer from SFS with the acceptance letter was: $zero. I think the PR materials for the school are somewhat misleading. Specifically, it is now clear that Smith has its own criteria for assessing need (as SmithieandProud clearly states: “100% of student need as Smith calculates it, based on the FAFSA, PROFILE, and their institutional formula”). The materials and the staff at the interview spoke to “we meet 100% documented need”. That is NOT FAFSA documented need - it is something else entirely. It is however clearly a good story - and consistent with what other colleges with similiar endowments and resources speak to. But the Smith reality is different (absence of merit aid being just one element) - and it clearly is a negative surprise. We had thought that two other children in college, one income and limited savings would clearly qualify - but it does not. What is clear, is that Smith expects not simply significant - but radical redeployment of family resources (elimination of most retirement contributions, drawdown on those balances, PLUS loans to the other kids, selling our son’s car, etc.). We are lucky - we might be able to barely pull $50,000 off - but it is causing D to rethink what her choice is doing to her family,her parents, and her brother and sister. Perhaps the thinking is that it builds character under a theory of “family sacrifice”? Somehow - I don’t think so. I do think the marketing message of “no worries - all need met”, and the reality of how Smith actually determines an award package, should be more clearly communicated to parents - in advance.</p>