<p>Let's say you get accepted into a university that says it will pay for all of your costs. Can you get apply for scholarships anyway, and use that money towards perhaps saving up for non-funded study abroad or something?</p>
<p>Are you asking if you can apply for outside scholarships? yes, because full-ride scholarships don’t usually cover the complete COA. </p>
<p>Are you asking if a university gives you a full-ride scholarhip, can you apply for more scholarships that the university offers? Typically, no, unless the other scholarships are for something else specifically…like specifically for study abroad. Sometimes a school will allow you to accept a full-ride scholarship and a department scholarship if that scholarship is offered to everyone with certain stats. My kids’ college offers an engineering scholarship on top of the NMF big scholarship to any who are NMF and major in engineering.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if you’re asking about receiving a full-ride merit scholarship or a full-ride “need” financial aid. </p>
<p>Usually the school’s scholarship page will state whether a student can receive (and stack) 2 or more of their scholarships. Some limit scholarships to the amount of tuition, others limit scholarships to COA. </p>
<p>BTW…very few merit scholarships truly cover a “full-ride” of tuition, room, board, books, fees, personal expenses, travel, etc, so I’m not sure what your asking.</p>
<p>Yes. But it depends, you have to check the fine print. You can “stack” many scholarships…up to the full COA. BUT…I think you’re asking if you can go OVER the full COA. In some cases yes, you can basically be PAID to go to school.</p>
<p>Let’s say your Uni offers you a full ride. Tuition, room, board. MIGHT even cover more…such as some funds for Int’l travel, books, laptop, etc. Then perhaps you get an outside scholarship…an extra $2500 from your parents’ employer for National Merit Finalist. Can you accept that? I don’t know THEIR rules, that’s where you have to check to see how it can be applied. I know, at our big state Uni, my D is currently “stacking” scholarships she’s getting there. But they specifically say that one can ALSO accept other scholarships UNLESS they are for something specific that is already covered. </p>
<p>Say your school scholarship will cover “all tuition”. And your outside scholarship says it’s for TUITION only. No, you can’t take that. But if it’s just a monetary amount, and can be applied however, you CAN put it on your account. </p>
<p>But then, what else can you add into your account to offset it? You mentioned “non-funded” study abroad. Most Unis charge you their normal tuition for you to go study abroad, then it’s the cost of living and air fare that are additional. So…are THOSE things that you can charge to your account, or not? </p>
<p>Then, the bottom line, what happens if you STILL have money left? Dunno. Ask your Uni. I know my neice (though it was long ago) had a FULL full full ride and was offered other scholarships. At least two of them (small, local, $500 types) said they’d just cut her a check. This was a long time ago though, and she refused the scholarships so someone else could have them.</p>
<p>You can always apply for outside scholarships. How the money would be treated would depend on whether the ‘full ride’ is all merit based money or if it includes need based aid. If it is all merit money the the outside scholarship should not affect it. If all or part of it is need based aid the outside scholarships will reduce your ‘need’ so will reduce the need based aid. Most schools will reduce loans and WS before reducing grants. But you would need to check with your school for their policies.</p>
<p>Agree that you need to check with the school. My D1 had a full tuition, R&B merit scholarship and also won a couple of outside awards. Her college cut her a check at the end of each semester for the amount above what was due to the school. So, this money could be used to cover books, travel, living expenses, etc.</p>
<p>I was assuming, based on what the OP said, that he was talking about if a school covered all costs in the COA icluding books, travel etc. Agreed if that is not the case then outside scholarships can help with other costs in the COA such as books etc (as long as there are no specific rules about what they can be spent on).</p>
<p>I think we need more info from the OP. I’m not sure if he/she is talking about a full-ride (tuition, room, board, books, transporation, misc expenses, etc) scholarship or financial aid. I don’t think there are any/many scholarships that cover a true full COA.</p>
<p>One thing to remember is that all scholarships received must be reported to the financial aid office. At the end of each calendar year the school will provide a 1098 form for tax purposes because scholarship money in excess of tuition, books and fees is taxable income.</p>