If you have documents listed as “Incomplete” in the Document Tracking Section of your SMC Student Portal, click on the appropriate document name below for a description and further information on what you may need to complete or submit. Those documents are needed in order to complete your financial aid process. Once you’ve reviewed the documents, if you have further questions, feel free to contact the SMC Office of Financial Aid.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security did not have enough information to confirm that you are a noncitizen (FAFSA Items 14 & 15) in an immigration status associated with the requirements of eligibility for the financial assistance for which you have applied. Please provide the Office of Financial Aid with a copy of your current Alien Registration Card (I-551 or I-151). If you do not have an Alien Registration Card, please contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss your options.
You reported that you will either have a bachelor’s degree by July 1, 2020 or will be working on a degree beyond a bachelor’s degree. If this is NOT accurate and you are NOT going to earn your bachelor’s degree before July 1, 2020 and you are NOT going to be in a graduate course of student for this coming year, please go back to www.fafsa.gov and make a correction to your FAFSA.
The Social Security Administration did not confirm that you are a U.S. citizen. Please provide the Office of Financial Aid with documentation of your U.S. citizenship (such as your U.S. Passport, Certification of Naturalization or Birth Certificate). If the documents support your status as a U.S. citizen, we will make a copy of your documentation and can continue to process your federal/state student aid. If you are an eligible noncitizen, you must submit a correction to your FAFSA to indicate that you are an eligible noncitizen and also provide your Alien Registration Number on the FAFSA.
The Social Security Administration did not confirm that you are a U.S. citizen. Please provide the Office of Financial Aid with documentation of your U.S. citizenship such as your U.S. Passport, Certification of Naturalization or Birth Certificate). If the documents support your status as a U.S. citizen, we will make a copy of your documentation and can continue to process your federal/state student aid. If you are an eligible noncitizen, you must submit a correction to your FAFSA to indicate that you are an eligible noncitizen and also provide your Alien Registration Number on the FAFSA.
In order to be eligible for SC state funding (LIFE Scholarship, Lottery Tuition Assistance, SC Tuition Grants, etc.) you must be classified as a South Carolina resident. Please provide a copy of your parent’s driver’s license.
In order to be eligible for SC state funding (LIFE Scholarship, Lottery Tuition Assistance, SC Tuition Grants, etc.) you must be classified as a South Carolina resident. Please provide a copy of your driver’s license.
The name you reported for your father on your FAFSA doesn’t match the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) records. If the last name and the first initial you reported in Items 61 and 62 on the FAFSA are correct, contact the SSA. If they are incorrect, you need to make the necessary corrections. The SSA can be contacted by calling 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov. You do not need to turn in a copy of this document to our office; instead this is to notify you that this correction needs to be made.
The name you reported for your mother on your FAFSA doesn’t match the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) records. If the last name and the first initial you reported in Items 65 and 66 on the FAFSA are correct, contact the SSA. If they are incorrect, you need to make the necessary corrections. The SSA can be contacted by calling 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov. You do not need to turn in a copy of this document to our office; instead this is to notify you that this correction needs to be made.
The Social Security Administration did not confirm that you are a U.S. citizen. Please provide the Office of Financial Aid with a copy of your Social Security Card. We may request copies of other documentation as well to support your status as a U.S. citizen. If you are an eligible noncitizen, you must submit a correction to your FAFSA to indicate that you are an eligible non-citizen and also provide your Alien Registration Number on the FAFSA.
The Verification Worksheet is only required for some students who have been selected for verification based on their FAFSA results received by the college. If this document is being requested, you will need to complete this document with your signature as well as your parent signature. This document must be returned to the Office of Financial Aid in order for your verification to be completed and your financial aid awards to be finalized. You may complete this document through your student portal.
Entrance Counseling is an online process that must be completed prior to disbursement of your first Federal Direct Student Loan(s) (Subsidized or Unsubsidized). You may complete your Entrance Counseling online at www.studentaid.gov. You must sign in with your Federal Student Aid ID to complete the online counseling.
Students who complete all requirements for high school graduation prior to the official graduation date in May/June may be eligible to receive the LIFE Scholarship or Lottery Tuition Assistance. Students must submit two items to the Office of Financial Aid before the start of the spring semester: 1. A final official high school transcript, 2. A letter on school letterhead signed by the principal or guidance counselor stating that the student has completed all of the SC graduation requirements. Students are responsible for ensuring that all required documentation is submitted to the Office of Financial Aid. Information on required documentation can be found on https://www.che.sc.gov/Students,FamiliesMilitary/StudentAppeals.aspx.
You reported on the FAFSA that you are an emancipated minor, making you an independent student. In order to verify this, you will need to provide the Office of Financial Aid with court documentation stating that you are an emancipated minor in order for us to continue the awarding process. If this is NOT accurate, please correct your FAFSA by changing your answer to the emancipated minor question.
If you are a high school student enrolled in a dual enrollment program you may be eligible to receive Lottery Tuition Assistance funds. Complete the FAFSA Waiver Form through your student portal. Other documentation may be required.
Your award letter is the complete list of financial assistance for which you qualify, based on the results of your FAFSA, including all grants, loans, and scholarships. You must “accept” or “deny” each award on your annual award letter. You may accept/decline your awards via the SMC Student Portal. Changes to amounts in student loans may be made through your student portal.
The Verification Worksheet is only required for some students who have been selected for verification based on their FAFSA results received by the college. If this document is being requested, you will need to complete this document with your signature as well as your spouse’s signature (if applicable). This document must be completed through your Student Portal in order for your verification to be completed and your financial aid awards to be finalized.
You reported on the FAFSA that you are (or were) in a legal guardianship, making you an independent student. In order to verify this, you will need to provide the Office of Financial Aid with court documentation stating that you are (or were) in a legal guardianship in order for us to continue the awarding process. If this is NOT accurate, please correct your FAFSA by changing your answer to the legal guardianship question.
You answered “yes” to one or more of the questions on the FAFSA regarding being homeless, at risk of being homeless, or an unaccompanied youth. Please provide the Office of Financial Aid with documentation verifying that you are (or were) considered homeless by HUD or a director of a runaway/homeless youth center. This documentation must be received and verified before we can continue processing your awards. If this is NOT accurate, please correct your FAFSA by changing your answers to the questions regarding your homeless or unaccompanied youth status.
Your reported 2018 income has been identified as unusually low to meet standard living expenses for yourself and/or your household. Please complete the Low Income Form and return to the Office of Financial Aid. You may mail or e-mail this document to our office.
Indicates that we have a Federal Parent Loan (PLUS) application on file for you and tells the status of the Master Promissory Note (MPN) that is required to be completed by the parent in order for a PLUS loan to be disbursed. You may complete the PLUS MPN online at www.studentaid.gov/. The parent applying for the loan must sign in using his/her Federal Student Aid ID.
Indicates that you have been awarded a Federal Direct Loan (Subsidized/Unsubsidized) and tells the status of the Master Promissory Note (MPN) that is required to be completed by the student in order for a Federal Direct Loan to be disbursed. You may complete the Federal Direct Loan MPN online at www.studentaid.gov/. You must sign in using your Federal Student Aid ID.
The number you reported on your FAFSA as the answer to the question “how many people are in your parents’ household” does not match with the number you reported on your Verification Worksheet for the exact same question. Please provide the Office of Financial Aid with a notarized statement listing the number of people currently living in your parents’ household. List their names, ages and relation to you. Also indicate which members will be enrolled in college between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021.
You and/or your parent(s) indicated on your FAFSA that you did not and will not file a 2018 Federal Income Tax Return with the IRS. Complete the document regarding your tax filing status, which must also be notarized by a notary. This document may be mailed or e-mailed to the Office of Financial Aid, provided that the notary information is completed in full.
Your FAFSA has been selected for verification and in order to complete the verification process the Office of Financial Aid will need a copy of your parent’s 2018 Federal Tax Return Transcript (not a copy of their Tax Return). Your parents may request a copy of their Tax Return Transcript online at http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Order-a-Transcript or by calling 1-800-908-9946.
The request for Dependency Evaluation form is required if you have indicated that you wish to be reviewed for a dependency override situation. For financial aid purposes, a student is not considered independent unless he/she is over the age of 24, is in a graduate program, is married, has children, is in the military, is homeless, is an emancipated minor, is an orphan, is/was in a legal guardianship, or is a ward of the court. If you do not meet one or more of these requirements but feel that you have special circumstances that would warrant a dependency evaluation, complete the Request for Dependency Evaluation Form and submit it to the Office of Financial Aid, along with the supporting documentation requested on the form.
Your FAFSA has been selected for verification. Please provide the Office of Financial Aid with a copy of all 2018 W-2 forms for your parent(s).
Indicates the status of a Federal Parent Loan (PLUS) application. A PLUS Application is the first document that must be completed to determine if a parent is eligible to borrow PLUS funds. This can be completed online at www.studentloans.gov. The parent will sign in using his/her Federal Student Aid ID.
This is an institutional form that must be completed each academic year by parents who have been approved to borrow a Federal Parent Loan (PLUS). Complete the form through your Student Portal.
The Selective Service reported that you have not registered with them. If you are not yet registered and are a male aged 18 through 25 years, to receive aid you must do one of the following: (1) correct your FAFSA by answering “Male” to FAFSA Item 21 and “Register Me” to FAFSA Item 22, (2) complete a Selective Service registration form at your local post office, or (3) register online at www.sss.gov. You do not need to turn in a copy of this documentation to our office; instead this is to notify you that a correction needs to be made.
In certain cases there may be special circumstances that could change your eligibility for financial aid, such as divorce, death in the family, loss of income, loss of employment, etc. When this happens, Financial Aid Administrators have the ability to review and perform Professional Judgment with proper documentation. If you are interested in a Special Circumstances review, please read the information on the Special Circumstances form. Complete the Special Circumstances Form through your Student Portal and submit your supporting documentation to the Office of Financial Aid by mail or e-mail. Please note, in order to conduct a Special Circumstances review, we will first perform verification of your FAFSA information prior to the review.
The state of South Carolina requires by law if you receive the SC LIFE Scholarship and SC Tuition Grants that you complete the State Aid Affidavit. Funds for these scholarships/grants will not be disbursed until the affidavit is on file in the Office of Financial Aid. This document may be completed through your Student Portal.
The State of South Carolina requires by law if you receive the SC LIFE Scholarship that you complete the State Aid Affidavit. Funds for this scholarship will not be disbursed until the affidavit is on file in the Office of Financial Aid. This document may be completed through your Student Portal.
The State of South Carolina requires by law if you receive SC Tuition Grants that you complete the State Aid Affidavit. Funds for this grant will not be disbursed until the affidavit is on file in the Office of Financial Aid. This document may be completed through your Student Portal.
Your FAFSA has been selected for verification and in order to complete the verification process the Office of Financial Aid will need a copy of your 2018 Federal Tax Return Transcript (not a copy of your Tax Return). You may request a copy of your Tax Return Transcript online at http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Order-a-Transcript or by calling 1-800-908-9946.
You indicated on your FAFSA that you did not and will not file a 2018 Federal Income Tax Return with the IRS. Complete the document regarding your tax filing status, which must also be notarized by a notary. This document may be completed through your Student Portal. You may send it by mail or e-mailed to the Office of Financial Aid, provided that the notary information is completed in full.
Your FAFSA has been selected for verification. Please provide the Office of Financial Aid with copies of all of your 2018 W-2 forms.
SMC offers an annual scholarship of $1000 to students who are active members of a United Methodist Church. To receive this scholarship, have your pastor complete the recommendation letter available through your Student Portal.
Your FAFSA has been selected for verification and we require documentation of your high school completion. Please review acceptable forms of documentation and complete the High School Completion Status form through your Student Portal. Submit supporting documentation to the Office of Financial Aid by mail or e-mail.
Your FAFSA has been selected for verification. Complete the Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose through your Student Portal.
You and/or your parents have indicated that you “will file but have not yet completed” your income tax return. Once you and/or your parents have filed your tax returns with the IRS, please change the response to this/these question/questions to “have completed”. Your financial aid will remain incomplete until the “will file” status is amended.
You indicated on the FAFSA that you are or were an orphan or ward of the court. Based on this information you may be considered independent, however the Office of Financial Aid will need court documentation to show that you are or were an orphan or ward of the court before your awarding process can be completed.
If you have further questions regarding any of the documents you see in your SMC Student Portal, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 864-587-4000 or 1-800-772-7286.
Most paper documents may be submitted by e-mailing smcfinaid@smcsc.edu, by fax to 864-587-4382, or by mail to:
Spartanburg Methodist College
Office of Financial Aid
1000 Powell Mill Rd.
Spartanburg, SC 29301