I was thinking whether not applying for Comet but AES only could yield higher scholarship results?
Yes, all 5 are test optional for fall 2024
@rapid, please run the NPC on each as well as the colleges listed by @aquapt above.
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@MYOS1634 Nope, it doesnāt work that way. There isnāt an application for AES all students that are accepted are automatically considered for AES. AES is Academic Excellence Scholarship and only considers Rank, GPA, Rigor (APs, DEā¦) and SAT/ACT test scores, they do not consider ECs and Recommendations. There are five tiers of AES an incoming freshman could earn based on their high school academic performance. The lowest tier is $1,500 per semester, and the highest tier is $8,000 per semester. Only the very highest level students are awarded the $8k a semester whish is just slightly over the cost of tuition.
UTD will always award the most generous scholarship. For example, my son was awarded AES but he was also Nation Merit. The National Merit replaced the AES, it did not add to it.
The Comet Promise covers full tuition and fees for all four years and has lower requirements for keeping the scholarship too. I donāt think this student would qualify for the highest level of AES. Full tuition and fees is a pretty sweet deal, bonus he lives close enough he can commute and not have to worry about coming up with room and board.
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So should if I am offered both, I should take the Cometās Promise instead of the AES as they cover full tuition (except R&B)?
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Accept what ever they offer, in the end they will offer which ever is the highest which Iām pretty sure will be the Cometās promise.
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Thanks for clearing that up. So it sounds like Comet Promise is the highest offer OP would qualify for anyway. Full tuition is a great deal though, especially since @compscy wants to study what is UTDās strongest major.
Once that app is done, @compscy needs to apply to the Honors college
The App needs to be in (" they strongly prefer") by Nov 1.
OP can also try this scholarship if they have time, due to their video game. (Link to Terry)
@compscy have you run the NPC on the colleges listed? Itād help determine whether you qualify for full financial aid at most meet-need colleges or only at colleges thzt donāt consider non custodial parent.
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yes, certainly no reason not to try for the Terry Scholarships. OP are you first gen? Iāve heard that can help with the Terry Scholarships. Make sure the ap is in by the deadline. Itās a pretty selective scholarship, I think UTD averages awarding about 20 a year, but it canāt hurt to try!
Hereās what I got for Lafayette. I was never asked for second parentās financials though, just the one I live with. Iām not sure if I did the right one though, I just looked up the NPC calculator on Google.
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I am not a first gen. One of my parents went to a university and one went to a trade school
So since I qualify for the Cometās Promise, I would not be awarded the AES right? I know that the promise doesnāt include room and board, but do these other scholarships (including AES) include room and board?
Lafayetteās FA page at Financial Aid Ā· Admissions Ā· Lafayette College leads to Net Price Calculator , which uses the College Board template. It asks for your parentsā marital status and also asks for their combined income.
Because Frequently Asked Questions Ā· Admissions Ā· Lafayette College says that both divorced parents must complete FA forms, the result you got using one parentās financials is likely too optimistic (unless the other parent has no income or assets). Redo the Lafayette NPC including both parentsā income and assets.
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Your thread title said you have a successful online game. Please be aware any money you make from it will affect your EFC down the road. Your earnings will be assessed at a higher rate, I think it is still 20%. Somebody more knowledgeable can comment on that.
Ok, so Lafayette indicates youād have to pay 15k (without loans).
Is that your best offer? (Each college has their own formula to calculate aid so you need to use thr NPC on every one).
Is that affordable for your parents?
What about Vanderbilt?
I would consider it successful in my opinion for what itās worth, but itās nothing insanely popular and huge to be humble
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20% is what student assets are assessed at.
@kelsmom can you please tell what student income is assessed at per FAFSA?
Would it be smart to leave out the earning amount in applications? I was worried that was going to happen.
Unfortunately, only Terry Scholars includes R&B and only top students get it (among the top25 -25 people, mot 25%- applicants.)
However CollegiumV and the Honors College "unlock"a lot of opportunities.
Typically First gen= neither parent graduated from a 4 year college. Does this apply to you?
Did your game earn you more than 7k in 2022?
You will be required to list your earnings on the financial aid application forms when the proper year comes up. The financial aid forms use prior prior year tax info (and you do need to file taxes on your earnings too). So for money earned in 2023, those earnings would be included on the 2025-2026 financial aid forms. Money earned in 2024 would be on the 2026-2027 forms.
If you earned money in 2022, that would be on the 2024-2025 financial aid forms.
Assets are what you have for money. Those are reported as of the day of filing your financial aid forms. So any of your earnings you will have MUST be reportedā¦bank accounts, money under your mattress, etc. and that amount does add 20% to your family contribution calculation.
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Sorry, I meant assets not earnings.
I havenāt cashed out the earnings into my bank account. It only goes into my bank account when I withdraw it. Itās currently sitting there until I put in my banking details and whatnot and withdraw/cash out.
It doesnāt matter where your earnings are āsittingā. If you have the earningsā¦they count. You can even have uncashed checks, and they still will count as earningsā¦and assets.
You need to be very honest with your financial aid application forms. Getting need based aid when knowingly providing incomplete or inaccurate information is considered fraud. So please. Donāt do that.
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