Just read the actual bill. The wording is a bit odd at first, but basicically it says that NMFs get full COA for an instate attendee, and are also exempt from OOS fees, so essentially OOS gets full COA.
Hi, I’d like to ask you a question and hope that anyone had done in same situation would help us.
My son is a Benacquisto scholar and going to be a senior at UF,. However, he just got offer for an intership out of state, he would like to take this internship and delay Fall 2018 semester and come back to study in the Spring 2019 . Do you know how the scholarship works if he leaves school for a semester.? I look at the webside they say if he skip a semester, he would have to meet renewal requirements to have the scholarship available again . Do you know what are renewal requirements ?
Your response is appreciated very much . Thank you
I have a couple of questions for those familiar with the OOS portion of this scholarship.
A) To be clear, this scholarship covers full OOS COA, correct? The UF website indicates that it merely waives in state COA, but I am under the impression that the program waives OOS fees.
B) Is the scholarship automatic for all NMF? I am curious if there are
- additional criteria established by UF for becoming a scholarship recipient
- any requirements with NMSC besides being a finalist. UF claims that the scholarship is awarded to NMS; does this mean any finalist given the award (and hence a college sponsored NMS) or only those with a prior corporate or NMSC sponsored scholarship?
@bvbfc09
A. yes, OOS waived, full COA
B. yes, any NMF is automatic
Can anybody confirm whether the Benacquisto scholarship requires on-campus housing or UF will just deposit the housing amount to the student’s account after the drop/add deadline, and the student can just withdraw to pay for his/her own off-campus housing?
@worriedcat UF deposits the amount directly into the bank account specified by the student. The student can then apply the housing money toward on-campus or off-campus housing at the student’s discretion. Similarly, although money is given for travel, books, computer, etc., those things are not required to be purchased by the student. This money can also be used as the student sees fit.
@BlueBlazer Thank you so much for your confirmation!
@worriedcat UF will first pay all of your outstanding UF debt, such as tuition and any UF housing charges and then deposit the remaining funds into the students bank account. Since they know the student has been awarded a scholarship, they will also automatically defer tuition and (UF) housing charges, until the state pays out the scholarship funds.
For those of you who have a Fl pre-paid, the pre-paid would be used first and then the remaining funds from Benacquisto would be deposited into the account as listed above.
@Gator88NE & @Luska19 Thank you for your helpful advice!
Not meaning to hijack, but I have a question pertaining to Benacquisto as well.
If I am to take summer classes, must I take 12 credits during the summer for my award to renew in the fall?
*I know Benacquisto does not cover summer classes, but I’m just wondering if there is a minimum number of credits to take over the summer for renewal.
PS. If anyone has Benacquisto questions, message me. I was helped by the community and I want to give back. Currently a second semester freshman at UF.
And for anyone who thinks it is too good to be true, even if you have other scholarships or Florida Prepaid, the leftover money is deposited into your checkings account. I know it did sound crazy to me… I couldn’t believe it until I could see it.
@AimingTop50 What are the tax ramifications for getting all that money? Did you have to set up the account with a parent?
Interesting question. I’m going to be in a similar situation in about a month. My daughter just finished her first semester out of state on pretty much a full ride. Her tuition was covered. I know I don’t pay taxes on her tuition or books covered by scholarship, but I’m pretty sure her other expenses (room and board) that she received scholarship money on will need to be filed on her taxes. She received an additional $9500 to cover her expenses. She also has prepaid, which I receive the amount of tuition ($116 per credit hour) from the state until all her 120 credits are gone. The prepaid only gives me back her tuition not differential or local fees, since her plan is so old. I don’t think I pay taxes on her pre-paid since the account was paid after taxes. Lots of questions for my accountant in February.
@AimingTop50 Are you not taking classes in both the Fall and Spring? If you are taking classes, Fall and Spring, then Summer has no impact on Benacquisto. If you’re not taking classes in Fall or Spring (Internships, etc). Then your requirements may be waiver, or they may require you take a full load (which is 12 credits over Summer C, 6 over Summer A or B). Check with your advisor.
Note, if you’re an in-state student, Bright Futures may still pay out over the summer, as long as you take at least 6 credits. Check with SFA.
Hi all,
D got accepted to UF OOS and likely to be NMF this week. I have a question about the Benacquisto scholarship. If it approved funding for a new student next year, then it does have enough funding for the next following 3 years for each accepted student or it is a one year at a time?
Thanks,
@Gator88NE (or anyone on this forum) Do you know if an out of state student who has been accepted into UF and is awarded the Gator Nation scholarship by UF, but is also a National Merit Scholarship Finalist (reg), could that student still qualify if they choose UF as their first choice by the NMSC deadline (but we would do earlier anyhow) for the OOS Benacquisto scholarship, granted they would not accept the Gator Nation scholarship (I know that the out of state scholarship is not stackable)? I ask this cause I thought I read somewhere that if your offered a merit scholarship from a college that you can no longer qualify for the OOS Benacquisto.
@GarpRules Check with UF, but I’m pretty sure you would still get Benacquisto.
They wouldn’t stack, because the Gator Nation is a “Tuition Reduction Award” that’s based on the OOS rate ($28K/year). However, with Benacquisto, they would charge you the in-state rate ($6.3K/year), which is lower than OOS Tuition minus the Gator Nation Tuition Reduction.
@GarpRules - I spoke with admissions as my S19 received a Gator Nation award of $20,000/year but will also qualify for the Benacquisto. When/If your student designates UF as their first choice, the merit package offer will be replaced with the Benacquisto package. If you have other questions/concerns, I highly recommend emailing UF admissions, I found them extremely responsive and helpful.
@Gator88NE @mountainmomof3 Thank you both!