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Special Situations

Sometimes events can impact your financial aid, including moving off-campus or family situations that may change during your time at SUNY Potsdam. Studying abroad, doing an internship, or attending for Summer or Winterim may also result in the need to clarify your situation with the Financial Aid Office.

  • Living Off-Campus
    Living off-campus usually has limited effect on a student's financial aid eligibility.A room and board amount is used to determine your cost of attendance whether you live on- or off-campus.In evaluating the costs, students should consider all off-campus expenses such as rent, utilities, deposits, renter's insurance, phone charges, food, furnishings, cleaning supplies, and transportation.

    The availability of financial aid for off-campus expenses will depend upon the charges on your student account and the totalamount of your financial aid available per semester. Every student's situation is different. You must look at your financial aid eligibility and the College's charges to determine if there will be a credit balance on your student account to assist with off-campus living expenses.
  • Change in Family Circumstances
    If you or your parents have experienced a significant change that is not reflected on your FAFSA, you may request a review of your financial aid eligibility. Contact the Financial Aid office to speak with a financial aid counselor about your situation.

    Circumstances that may be considered include the following: Loss of employment; Significant reduction in income; Separation or divorce; Death of a parent or spouse; Substantial unreimbursed medical and/or dental expenses; One-time/non-recurring income.
  • Resident Assistant Positions
    As a student staff member, you are not charged for your room, so you will not see a housing charge on your Student Accounts bill. Your financial aid is adjusted to reflect this change. Whenever possible, we try to reduce the self-help in your award, which includes work study and loans. If the amount you receive in your room waiver (plus any other outside scholarship funding you may receive) exceeds the amount of work and loan in your aid package, remaining funds may be used to reduce your SUNY Potsdam scholarships.
  • Study Away (Study Abroad and Internships)
    Planning for and securing your financial aid for study away is a time-consuming process that requires working with several offices. It is important to stay on top of things. You should:
    • inform yourself beforehand of all of the steps involved
    • submit materials, including the FAFSA, on time and fully completed
    • master the options and limits of aid in your particular case
    • ask the Financial Aid Office informed questions
    • follow up to ensure your aid is disbursed
    • use your refund to pay your expenses for your study away; SUNY Potsdam does not send your funds to other institutions or programs
  • Summer and Winterim
    Attending in Summer or Winterim is a great way to get ahead in your academic program. It is important to keep in mind that these sessions are separate from the fall and spring semesters and that the financial aid process is different as well. For additional information, please visit Summer or Winter Session.