Professional Judgements

Eligibility for financial aid is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which uses financial information from two years prior to estimate a household’s current circumstances. The PSC Office of Financial Aid knows families can experience changes in income and/or other finances that are not reflected in their information from two years ago. When this occurs, the Financial Aid Office can review a student’s FAFSA and their family’s circumstance(s) on a case-by-case basis using a process called “Professional Judgement”. Professional Judgment allows the Financial Aid Office to adjust the FAFSA. If the change reduces the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), it may result in an increase to the amount of financial aid they’re eligible for.

To request a review of your special circumstances,  submit the “Special Circumstances Request” form, found on our Forms webpage. Be sure to submit all documentation listed on page two of the form, including a signed, written statement.

The PSC Financial Aid Office can also adjust a student’s Cost of Attendance using Professional Judgement. The Cost of Attendance is the average annual cost to attend Paul Smith’s College and can be found on the student’s award offer and in their financial aid portal. It is used to calculate how much financial aid a student is eligible for and consists of direct costs such as tuition, fees, and on-campus housing; and indirect costs such as books/supplies, off-campus living expenses, transportation, and personal expenses. When approved, an increase in the student’s Cost of Attendance typically allows the student to borrow additional loan funds. Students must provide documentation of their additional expenses.