Chances for recieving merit and/or financial based aid?

<p>Ok, I'm Tommy from Alabama..</p>

<p>Here's a few of my "stats"
3.0/4.0 GPA ~85/100 average.. this is with the 100-90 A 89-80 B etc..
32 ACT
Rank 101/186
Few advanced classes.. only AP Calculus and advanced english</p>

<p>I know my GPA is very low.. but I've heard that the ACT is quite important in determining who will receive scholarships and who won't. A guy at my school recently got a full ride to Auburn University for a 32 on his ACT and a 3.5 UW GPA. Is there any possibility that I could get any sort of large scholarship based on my statistics? My dream college is the University of Florida, and unfortunately I've heard it's hard to get into, much less get a scholarship for. I don't come from a wealthy family, and they haven't saved any money for me to go to college. They refuse to pay for any part of it so I'm all on my own here. Is there any hope for me CC?</p>

<p>ACT or SAT is very important, but GPA is usually important, too for scholarships. Typically high test scores and high GPAs are needed. </p>

<p>Have you applied anywhere? Many scholarship deadlines were Dec 1st (including Auburn’s). If you had applied to Auburn by Dec 1st, they probably would have awarded you something, but maybe not the full scholarship that requires a 3.5 GPA.</p>

<p>Miss State might give you a good scholarship, but they usually require a 3.25. However, they probably would award you something. Their deadline is Feb 1st.</p>

<p>It doesn’t sound like you can afford UFlorida. As an Out of State student, the Cost of Attendance is $37k per year. Florida doesn’t give financial aid to OOS students, so you’d be responsible for those costs. And, you’re right, Florida doesn’t admit many OOS students and you won’t likely qualify for a scholarship since you need to be a Florida resident. From their website… *To be eligible you must: be a Florida resident; *</p>

<p>Have you applied to anywhere yet?</p>

<p>Since you’re “on your own” for college, you may not have a lot of choices. You may have to apply to some lower tier schools in your state (like UNA or USA) to get a scholarship (if their deadlines haven’t passed.)</p>

<p>Your class rank is going to kill you unless you are at an elite high school, so really great schools are out of the question. Since you want a full ride, you’ll mainly be looking at safety schools. The reason for this is that your parents will still count in your EFC and if they refuse to pay, you need merit based aid to cover it. </p>

<p>EDIT: Ok, I just saw what state you were from. Auburn is probably your best bet for a decent school to cover some cost, but you have missed the deadline. Maybe apply and hope for a scholarship, I don’t know how they are on late applications.</p>

<p>Take a look at LSU. Although you missed the priority date for full consideration for scholarships (Nov 15th), you may still have a shot at the Golden Oaks or Tiger Scholarship. Good Luck</p>

<hr>

<p>Golden Oaks Awards</p>

<p>Qualifications: </p>

<p>Nonresident students with a combined Critical Reading and Math SAT score of 1330 or a composite ACT score of 30 as well as a 3.0 computed grade point average are eligible to receive this award.
Nonresident students selected as recipients of Chancellor’s Alumni, LSU Alumni Association (Top 100), or LSU Distinguished Freshman Awards are eligible to receive this award.
Award: </p>

<p>Exemption from the payment of tuition and nonresident fees.
An opportunity to become a Chancellor’s Student Aide and earn up to $6,200 ($1,550 per year) working in a campus job. </p>

<hr>

<p>Tiger Scholars</p>

<p>Qualifications: </p>

<p>Nonresident students with a combined Critical Reading and Math SAT score of 1170 or a composite ACT score of 26 as well as a 3.0 computed grade point average are eligible to receive this award.
Award: </p>

<p>Students with a 26-27 ACT or 1170-1240 combined critical reading and math SAT score and 3.0 GPA will receive half an exemption from the nonresident fee.
Students with a 28-29 ACT or 1250-1320 combines critical reading and math SAT score and a 3.0 computed GPA will receive a full exemption from the nonresident fee.</p>

<p>^^^</p>

<p>Looks like LSU is a good opportunity for merit $$$.</p>

<p>Do you know what your family’s EFC is? Even if they won’t pay, their EFC will come into play. If their EFC is 0, and you’ll qualify for Pell, then you’ll still get additional sources of money in addition to the scholarships.</p>

<p>[FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml]FinAid”>http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml)</p>

<p>Ok so LSU has very nice rewards for me… But I really want to go to school in Florida, so anywhere else is a last resort. Do you know any smaller schools in Florida where I could go for the summer to beef up my GPA and then transfer to UF? Or is that even possible?</p>

<p>*Do you know any smaller schools in Florida where I could go for the summer to beef up my GPA and then transfer to UF? *</p>

<p>first of all, UF doesn’t take many OOS students. What do you mean? Are you asking if you can take some classes THIS SUMMER and then “transfer” to UF in the fall? That is impossible. First, you couldn’t apply in time, and secondly, you won’t have the money.</p>

<p>UFlorida won’t give you the aid you need. They don’t give merit scholarships for transfer students or OOS students. You’re OOS for Florida. You can’t change that as long as your parents live in another state.</p>

<p>So, unless you can full pay for UFlorida as an OOS student, you wont’ be able to go there.</p>

<p>I realize that UFlorida is a dream for you, but you have money issues. The money isn’t going to fall out of the sky and your family can’t afford to pay for OOS UFlorida ($37k per year).</p>

<p>I know it’s frustrating, but as you know, we can’t always get what we want. :(</p>

<p>It’s best now to focus on what you can afford by scholarships, etc. </p>

<p>Do you know what your family’s EFC is?</p>

<p>Yes I see that also. But I figured since I want that to become my permanent residence after college then after my first year I could get it switched to in-state right?</p>

<p>No, I don’t know anything about EFC.</p>

<p>No, you can’t. Your state of residency is based on where your PARENTS live until you’re 24 years old. Your parents are paying taxes for Alabama, not Florida. It’s taxes that support state schools. Your parents’ taxes support Alabama schools, which is why you’d get in-state rates for those.</p>

<p>Otherwise, students would simply move to other states and establish residency. Schools and states are very STRICT about this.</p>

<p>If you go to U Florida, you’ll always be considered out of state. </p>

<p>To find out your approx EFC, use this: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml]FinAid”>http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml)</p>

<p>Let us know what your EFC is so we might be able to better advise you. :)</p>

<p>My son is getting some decent acceptances, but the merit offers aren’t huge because his GPA isn’t as strong as his test scores (3.5 GPA, 2110 SAT, 32 ACT). Any suggestions? Can we negotiate with top school choices to see if there’s any more aid possible? We are not likely to qualify for much need-based aid thanks to the screwy FAFSA formulas (do they really think we can afford $40K per year, more than $3,000 per month???).</p>

<p>^^^
Hi, I sent you a PM. You’ve missed some deadlines, but there are still scholarships that would work for your son. </p>

<p>Check your PM.</p>

<p>Alright, I’ve completed the EFC form and my EFC is zero.</p>