Leaving Bowdoin includes leave of absence, suspension, or resignation. The process is as follows:
- If you leave at the end of the fall semester and have been enrolled throughout that period, we will cancel your spring semester aid.
- If you leave during a semester, your eligibility for aid will be recalculated for the length of time you were enrolled and in accordance with specific aid program rules.
- The bursar recalculates your Bowdoin bill based on the College’s refund schedule.
Federal Funds: Your eligibility for federal aid will be recalculated using federal rules. If you received or could still receive funds from federal programs, including Pell Grant, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, Supplemental Grant, Perkins Loan, Direct Student Loan, or Direct Parent Loan, we determine the amount you have earned while enrolled based on the number of days you have been enrolled relative to the length of the semester. If you leave Bowdoin after completing 60 percent or more of the semester you have fully earned your federal funds for that period of time.
If we are required to return federal funds to their original sources, we do this using the following order:
- Unsubsidized Direct Loan
- Subsidized Direct Loan
- Direct Parent PLUS Loan
- Federal Supplemental Grant
- Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
Bowdoin and Other Funds: We will recalculate your eligibility of Bowdoin funds based on the length of time you were enrolled for that semester as well as your recalculated federal aid and recalculated charges. No change is generally made to your calculated student contribution for the semester, but the parent contribution may be adjusted. We will make any required changes to your aid package, parent contribution, and budget (cost of attendance) for the semester during which you withdrew or stopped attending and notify the Office of the Bursar of any changes to your aid.
Other funds are returned in accordance with the written policy provided to Bowdoin from the issuing organization.
You will find your revised aid package in your MyAid portal under Aid Award.
Students who have borrowed loans, either during the year of the enrollment change or in the past, will be asked to complete loan exit counseling and will receive, either in person or via mail, a summary of loans borrowed and the servicer of the loan with whom the borrower will work during repayment.
The College has created a Withdrawal Information Checklist to help you consider the implications of leaving Bowdoin and guide you through the process. We recommend that you meet with a student aid counselor to discuss your particular situation before you leave, if possible.