What is the Financial Aid Census Day? And why is it important?

Financial Aid Census Dates are the days that SMC will take a "snapshot" of your enrollment for the semester.

Fall 2012: October 29, 2012
Spring 2013: April 22, 2013

Key Financial Aid Census Notes:

• Since your enrollment level (full time, 3/4 time, 1/2 time, or "less than halftime") determines your grant eligibility for the term, this enrollment snapshot will determine what your actual grant payment will be.
• In addition, if you drop below half time by FA Census Day-- and already received a payment at the full time,
  3/4 time, or 1/2 time level -- you will be considered to have been overpaid and will need to return funds to SMC.
• If you add classes after the FA Census Day -- they will not be counted for grant payment purposes.
• If you drop classes after the FA Census Day (as long as you don't drop all classes) -- you will not owe any money back to SMC.
  
  (However, if you drop too many classes it could affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress status --
  by lowering your "completion rate.")
  

Continue on to Section 6 ...