The game engine utilizes a virtual currency in which developers can cash out that currency to real money.
I don’t think I’d have to report a virtual currency in paper work, right?
@kelsmom how is virtual currency dealt with in terms of financial aid application forms.
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I assume anything you can cash out is an asset (like any investment).
The first $9400 of student earnings is protected. 50% of earnings in excess of $9409 are expected to be contributed to education. If the student qualifies for an SAI of 0 based on their parents’ AGI, none of their income is counted.
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Btw that Lafayette result would include not just tuition,fees, room, board but also their estimate of cost of travel, books, incidentals - which, if you’re thrifty, you can decrease; and it doesn’t include a loan (which you’re free to take).
In other words it’s better than Comet Promise.
Comet Promise is better than AES and Terry is better than Comet Promise. So, apply to Terry. If you get it, it’ll replace Comet and you won’t have to figure out how to pay R&B (Comet is a full tuition).
And if you get into a meet-need top school (Lafayette or others listed) you’ll have a choice.
If you enter both parents’ income, what result do you get? Can you contrast with @aquapt 's suggestions of Trinity TX, Wooster, and Vanderbilt? Indeed, these only look at your custodial parent’s income, whereas other colleges will look at both, even if one parent refuses to pay.
No you will not get both Comet Promise and any level of AES or Terry and AES. You can use AES for tuition or Room and Board but the maximum AES is $8000, a semester and only a handful of students get the top level of AES. Tuition and fees is almost $8000 a semester so if you used AES for room and board what would use to pay tuition? Also scholarships used for room and board is taxable income so you’d need to pay income tax on any scholarships used for room and board.
Please factor in your assets with your custodial parent’s to make sure you qualify for the Comet Promise.
- Be a Texas resident at the time of admission.
- Be admitted by March 15 to UT Dallas for the fall semester as a first-time college student or > transfer student pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.
- Have begun enrollment in the fall semester of the academic year, beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year.
- Submit a completed FAFSA or TASFA application with supporting documents to the Office of Financial Aid by March 15.
- Have a family income of $65,000 or less.
- Have demonstrated financial need as determined by information provided on the FAFSA or TASFA.
- Be enrolled full-time at UT Dallas.
- Please note: The March 15th deadline for FAFSA/TASFA submission is for the 2024–2025 aid year only.
I meet all (or will meet) all of these requirements, so I believe I qualify for the Comet’s Promise. My custodial parent makes under $65,000 a year, I am a Texas resident, and will be enrolled full-time.
And assuming I receive the Comet’s Promise, is it possible to have external scholarships to pay for room & board, assuming I pay the tax on them as you said.
I think what was suggested is that YOUR assets will be included in the FAFSA calculation. Make sure you do that.
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Yes , I was asking when you include your assets will you still qualify? Also if you’re 18 and haven’t done so yet, make sure you do as it is a requirement of any scholarship that uses any federal funds.
@3scoutsmom i don’t think you meant your reply to be addressed to me…but rather the OP or the whole thread.
Have you thought about applying to McDermott Scholars? It is a full-ride plus. They don’t look at test scores, but do look closely at transcript, leadership, extracurriculars, and service. EMSP Award - Office of the Provost | The University of Texas at Dallas
@HSGingers the McDermott is highly selective and only goes to tippy top applicants most recipients are also contenders for Ivy League schools.
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^ this is unfortunately true…
OP is applying to CS without Calculus from a HS that offers 17 APs – bad college guidance+FGLI explain the poor choice but McDermott will have most applicants for CS present similar ECs+calc1&2&MVC + a lot of rigor in all subjects, applyibg is not worth it.
Terry is already a stretch but not impossible bc they’ll take context into consideration.
Highly selective, meet-need colleges like Lafayette would also take context into account (and qualifying for Pell will also be a hook there for OP.)
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I know, I have a child currently in the program. There have been some changes in the past couple of years regarding how they handle the application process for McDermott. First, it is test blind now. Also, academically, students need to be in the top 10% based on transcript evaluation by admissions. Beyond that, it is completely based on extracurricular involvement including leadership and service. The finalist weekend is now on online interview. The application deadline is Nov 1st now, and the applicant doesn’t have to wait for an admission decision from the university, they just have to have already applied.
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@HSGingers I just don’t see this student a contender for McDermott. This student lacks volunteerisms and doesn’t have very strong vigor. Having been though the finalist weekend when it was still in person I can tell you that the quality of the candidates were outstanding many already had acceptances to very prestigious schools.
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I’d heard that about the finalists weekends.
@compscy this article was just posted today, on a Houston based College Admissions page. Right up your alley! Have you thought about Esports?
UTD is right up there!
ESPORTS & COLLEGE - UT AUSTIN & DELL TECHNOLOGIES OPEN NEW ESPORTS ARENA + OTHER TOP-RATED COLLEGE ESPORTS PROGRAMS❗️
Things you may not know about GAMING & ESPORTS at the COLLEGIATE level…
Yes, ESPORTS is classified as an ATHLETIC VARSITY SPORT (with 
Scholarships) & it is a billion+ dollar INDUSTRY (there are jobs & careers in the gaming industry).
ESPORTS is not for couch potatoes!
- Students who participate at the VARSITY level must maintain their academic GPA❗️
COLLEGE MAJORS related to GAMING:
-Business
-Computer Science
-Emergent Media
-Design (both 2D & 3D)
-Sound or Recording Technology
VARSITY LEVEL ESPORTS TEAMS
-Eligible for Scholarships
-Compete at the National level
-Come from a variety of college majors - many are pre-med, pre-law, engineering, liberal arts, and more.
UT AUSTIN & DELL TECHNOLOGIES launch: ALIENWARE LONGHORN ESPORTS ARENA
- Open the link below for details
UNIVERSITIES (a few) with COMPETITIVE & NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ESPORTS TEAMS:
- Texas A & M University
- Miami University - Ohio
- UC Irvine
- Maryville University (Missouri)
- University of Utah
- Illinois Wesleyan University
- Boise State University
- Georgia State University
- University of Akron (Ohio)
- UC Berkeley
- UT Dallas (Richardson, TX)
most of these programs include some athletic scholarship money for students who participate at the varsity level.
ESPORTS collegiate programs usually include participation for the varsity level and hobbyists.
There is an official organization for this field: NACE - National Association of Collegiate Esports.
FUN FACT - The UT DALLAS ESPORTS VARSITY PLAYERS receive athletic scholarships, jerseys & uniforms, and priority class registration:exclamation:
The journey continues…
Know yourself.
Know colleges.
Know Esports 
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I received a 1370 on my latest SAT, which was a 110 score improvement, but not enough compared to what is expected from CS. Should i go TO? @52AG82 @thumper1
To this list? Yes to UTD and to Ga Tech.
A&M _ i can’t find data but see how it looks.
The others - no.
- UTD (EA)
- Texas A&M (EA)
- UT Austin (EA)
- Georgia Tech
- Rice University
@compscy for A&M, you are auto admit, so test score would only really matter if applying holistically OR if you were NM S/F; no harm in including a 1370. If admitted to Engineering, you’ll still be General Engineering for a year+.
Can’t help ya on the other schools. I do worry that you need to get your applications in ASAP.
*great jump in test improvement! 
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do you mean yes to UT Austin instead of UTD? you mentioned UTD twice, for both yes and no