<p>My D got accepted into her first choice U. The University does not award merit-based FA, and we do not qualify for need-based aid. We knew that we'll have to pay full freight ahead of time, so we were OK with that. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, I want my D to contribute something to the cost of her education. She is currently applying for outside scholarships. Should I set some monetary guidelines (e.g. you need to get at least 5K in scholarships, so keep applying until you get it) or set a certain number of applications (you need to apply to at least 50 scholarships)? With the current economic situation, getting any scholarship may prove difficult, but I want my D to give it her best shot.</p>
<p>What would be reasonable expectations in the situation like that?</p>
<p>From a student's standpoint, 50 scholarships seems like a really big number, and in trying to reach that, your daughter may not put full effort into the applications, meaning less scholarship awarded to her. A set amount to earn could cause problems because scholarships often wait months to notify, so that amount doesn't really mean anything - you may get it, you may not, but you might as well keep applying to new ones. Encourage her to work on so many a week or at a time...or tell her that you will only contribute a certain amount and she's expected to make up the difference (now with scolarships, or, since the money's there, through paying you back later on)</p>
<p>I got into one of my top choice colleges, but was not awarded enough financial aid to make it a true option for my family, so right now, the pressure is on ME to get the scholarships if I want to end up there. If you daughter understands that this is her responsibility, she should want to try to get as much as possible.</p>
<p>Other than local, employer, fraternal organization, church, or some I'm forgetting, I'd say minimal to zero would be a reasonable expectation. Some parents on the board have had kids do much better, but you asked about "expectation".</p>
<p>Perhaps a good motivator for applying for scholarships would be to tell your daughter that if she wins one or more, the amount that she would expected to contribute from summer or term-time earnings would decrease by the amount of the scholarship.</p>
<p>Sometimes, the option of NOT working for pay may be very appealing to a student. For example, in some fields, having summer internships is important for the experience they provide and as a resume builder, but many internships pay little or nothing. Also, even a student who customarily works during the school year might want to go without a job during a particular semester if she has an especially heavy courseload or time-consuming extracurricular activities.</p>
<p>I wouldn't actually expect your daughter to get a significant amount of money from scholarships, though. Most kids don't.</p>
<p>I agree with other posters that except for local scholarships, the chances are slim. And keep in mind that most of the local ones are for relatively small amounts (a thousand dollars would be a lot, in our area most are for a few hundred) and are non-renewable (only good for freshman year).</p>
<p>Going with a set figure is problematic. What happens if she doesn't raise that amount? Also, no matter her effort, she simply may not be granted a scholarship. </p>
<p>If you want her to contribute, then expecting her to work during the summer might be a better plan.</p>
<p>I have enough in savings for my son to attend his college for 4 years. It's very likely it will take him 4.5 or 5 years to graduate given his program and the college (electrical engineering at a public school). I've told him that any money that's left over after he graduates is his. He understands that to the extent he can come up with scholarship $$s, this puts more money in his pocket after 4 years, and might very well allow him to attend for 5 years without taking out any loans.</p>
<p>I don't know where he'd even come up with 50 scholarships that he'd be eligible to apply to. So far we've only identified 3 or 4. Most of the ones on fastweb seem like such long shots that they're not worth the time.</p>
<p>Local scholarships are usually smaller in amount and often have some criteria that might make it hard for your kid to qualify. At our local high school, need, community service and overcoming adversity are often criteria looked for. When we have a needy kid who has overcome poverty and spent a lot of time in one community service project--that kid can get THOUSANDS of dollars. But if you don't have a lot of $$ need, not much coming your way.</p>
<p>My daughter did apply to several scholarships but did not win anything. What she got out was exactly what I intended for her to get out. She had to do some serious thinking and writing some essays against drunk driving and the reasons why she had to maintain good credit, all that before she started college.</p>
<p>Bob, we were in a similar situation. D was reluctant to apply for any outside scholarships because she "was not the top dog in the pack". I nudged her slightly, and she sent out oh, may be five applications for the community-type scholarships that did not require proof of financial need. We both kept our expectations really low, but I was shocked when she was selected a winner for one of those! It is not a whole lot, but it will cover her books for all 4 years. The committee was mostly impressed with her involvment in HS sports - go figure :rolleyes:!</p>
<p>I would encourage applying for several that have a possibility of winning...ie. she meets criteria, like leadership, community service, writing strong essay etc. Last year, my son won the Bestbuy Scholarship, ($1500), YMCA ($1500) and Kiwanis ($500). He didn't apply to many other than those as he selected carefully. I wanted him to apply to Coca Cola scholarship but he realistically said, no way would he win it...Hard to expect our kids to get a certain amount as they can't control the outcome. Similarly, I've rewarded my kids for studying/preparing for SAT/ACT, more than their score...</p>
<p>If you don't apply, you have no chance of receiving one. We had a long list and chose the ones that seemed more available to the middle class. Mine received several local scholarships (all were renewable for 4 years), of at least several thousand per year. We also had good luck with the Coca Cola, Toyota, Elks, Best Buy, YMCA and Target scholarships. Again, not the big awards but when combined with school merit awards, it added up to very little out of pocket in the end. Even the ones that they did not win gave ours good experience and the feeling that they were contributing to paying for their education.</p>
<p>By CC standards my son is below average, but in the "real world" his stats would be considered above average but not spectacular. </p>
<p>He applied to over 40 scholarships prior to freshman year. I have to admit that I did a lot of the searching and would forward him the info so that he could complete the applications. This process started in the summer before his senior year, as many scholarships have Sept and Oct deadlines. </p>
<p>THe results, a $200 local scholarship, a $2000 one time scholarship and a $6000 renewable scholarship. The scholarships he received were really based more on his community service than merit (although I think his stats were also considered)</p>
<p>We had already agreed that he would contribute to his personal expenses and books at school, that he would contribute $1000 towards his tuition and would take out any loans offered (He works a lot and earned over $4800 in 2007 and 2008). When the scholarships came in we agreed that once the loan amounts and work study amounts were eliminated we would apply 50% to his remaining contribution towards tuition. Basically he ended up with no loans and only had to contribute $500 towards tuition. </p>
<p>THis worked out great and he continues to look for scholarships.</p>
<p>I have found that a lot of the outside scholarships end up being need based. You may find one for Eagle Scouts, or Presbyterian trombone players, or whatever, but if you read lots of the forms carefully, you'll find that there is a need component.</p>
<p>I also get the feeling that some of the local scholarships (elementary school PTA, sports booster club etc.) may unofficially take need into account to decide between two kids...and really, I think that is okay. I mean, if the committee members just know that the dad of Candidate A is a major CEO and the mom of Candidate B is a single mother working at Target, all other things being equal, the scale would probably tip to Candidate B.</p>
<p>missypie - our experience differs from what you seem to have found. Both local and national scholarships that mine applied for/were awarded, did not seem to put a heavy emphasis on need. We are middle - middle class and that did not seem to be an obstacle. Ended up with several local and national awards along with school merit awards. I beleive that you have to be selective when choosing which ones to apply for. Besides, if you don't try - you have no chance of receiving one.</p>
<p>OP, Have your scoured your D's college website for scholarship posibilities? S1 got two non-need based merit scholarships from his state u. Both required separate applications (i.e. were not awarded with his acceptance). I know some scholarship deadlines have passed by now but it wouldn't hurt to look. Sometimes you have to turn over a lot of rocks to find them. </p>
<p>We found one on the departmental webpage for his major. There was just a tiny link that said "scholarships" at the bottom of the page. He clicked on it and saw that the deadline was not until March so applied and ended up getting a 4 year renewable scholarship that was almost enough to cover tution each year.</p>
<p>D got nothing. I did not push too hard, but we ended up applying to tons with zero results. We were happy that she applied only to colleges that offer Merit $$ and are in-state, since she got a lot from our state for graduating at the top of her class. She was accepted to all schools with substantial merit $$ at each. She is very happy with her choice (sophomore in junior standing), they continue piling more and more Merit $$. We are paying little portion of her R&B, books, sorority. Tuition and over 50% of R&B are covered by Merit $$.</p>
<p>D1 got merit aid from college and one from her grade school
($1000) and one from local sports involvement ($1000). She had ok stats but is a good athlete.</p>
<p>D2 will get full tuition + fees from her U for athletic team. Hoping to hear about academic soon. She is applying to several local sources. She should get her local sport scholarship but probably not her grade school one since it is based on overcoming adversity and she doesn't have the hook her sister did. We'll see what happens!</p>
<p>Have you considered telling your kid that you want to see her make a financial contribution to her education and getting her thoughts about it? She might be more successful or at least try harder if it is her idea.</p>
<p>My kids varied in their success securing outside scholarships from none (despite lots of community service) to 6-- including one major, national one. I wouldn't necessarily put a number on the requirement but, instead, I would focus on scholarships where the child really seems to fit the description. So if they're looking for financial need, or entrepreneurship or activism in a certain field and you don't picture your child when you hear the description, move on and focus your energies on closer matches. All my kids did much better with U merit $ from schools that award it.</p>