@dancelance Just chiming back in, re: laptop. OK, so if the 2K is a technology specific stipend, I get what you are saying. Also, that is an awesome perk. Here is my recommendation, based on the “use it or lose it” nature of the 2K:
I still don’t advise getting something super-loaded like a Mac, partly b/c that can be over 2K (for a unit with fewer bells/whistles than a comparable, less expensive unit), but I would take the opportunity to get a “tricked out” unit. ie: get something with a good processor, lots of RAM/memory, large harddrive (300 GB minimum), with a good reputation for lasting 4-5 years. Get the full Office Suite on it b/c you will need that for classes and it is covered. If you think you will ever need any design-related software in your major/classes, get the student rate for the Adobe Suite while you’re at it. I would also spring for Adobe Acrobat Pro so you’re able to create pdfs–you never know when that will come in handy for a class. I would get an extended warranty so you are covered for the duration of school, in the event something happens to your laptop. Plan for the worst case scenario–I had my laptop crash when I was a junior, and I’ve had new computers glitch & need to go in for a repair within a year of buying them. I checked, and Harvard has special deals with Apple & Dell (I recommend Dell personally, which is what I use).
Then use whatever is leftover, provided the stipend allows it, to get an external hard drive. You can get a 1 TB drive for about $100, maybe a bit above. This is so you can frequently back-up your laptop and if it ever crashes, you don’t lose your data/have to pay $$$ to recover it. Definitely spring for a printer–there is nothing more annoying than scrambling at 8 AM in the freezing cold of Boston to hustle your butt to the computer lab to print a paper. I suffered that fate many times over in the years I didn’t have a printer! That said, when choosing, pay attention to the cost of replacement cartridges/toner–select the printer that has the best rep + the cheapest cartridge replacement cost. One that is easily portable is also a bonus b/c you will be packing up your room every summer & either shipping it home or putting it in storage. There are many printers that easily disassemble & will fit in a box w/ other stuff.
And if you can make the essential of a laptop & printer work and have money leftover, then consider getting a tablet. I personally don’t see a tablet as necessary but I know many students don’t feel that way. iPads are cost prohibitively expensive, IMO, but an Android/Windows tablet may work in your budget. Good luck!
Dance- just a heads up- when my kids won local scholarships, they were required to show up at a donor lunch (or some such event), had their pictures taken with the sponsoring organization, etc. and then the organizations sent copies of the photo and a press release to the financial aid office and media relations departments of the colleges they were attending. Sort of bragging/goodwill.
Do not put your entire Harvard career at risk over a few thousand dollars in outside scholarships. There is a very strong paper trail for these scholarships. First- because donors to local organizations (Elks, Garden Club, etc.) who think they are funding low income kids to go to college need to see evidence that this is where the money goes to, not to fund operating expenses of their organization. Second- because someone has taken a tax deduction for the money that ends up in your pocket. So letters/receipts are issued as proof to the IRS that the donor gave the money and received no benefit in return (i.e. the money didn’t go to his or her own kid as a “donation” which clearly doesn’t qualify as a charitable donation.) And third- organizations (and Harvard) like to publicize and track who gets what.
There is no way you can keep these “gifts” from strangers under the table. The legality and the morality of it I leave to your conscience. But now that I am serving on the board of an organization which provides scholarships to first Gen students, I can assure you that the first email we send after distributing the money is to the college financial aid office in question to tell them “We’ve just named Joe Brown the Silver Spring MD Garden Club Scholar of 2015”, an award which comes with a $1K scholarship".
It literally would not occur to us that a student would not have been forthcoming with his/her college financial aid office about these funds.
And someone on our board last year suggested that we start sending checks which require two endorsements- the student and the college bursar (i.e. the student has to take it to to the financial aid office to be signed before they can get the cash). I was dumbfounded at the suggestion that we needed to do this, now I’m not sure he was wrong!
@dancelance
“Either way I just talked to someone and since I didn’t complete an application for the scholarship, it can be considered a gift. So it doesn’t have to be reported”
Unless that person works in the financial aid office at Harvard, I would not risk the gift you have been given. I don’t think call to Harvard to ask would hurt.
Good post on laptop considerations, especially the extended warranty. @dancelance If you still have room in the $2000 technology grant, consider stocking up on toner for the printer. Also, a flash drive, a laptop sleeve, surge protector if not already on your shopping list. my kids ended up not using the pricey laptop cable lock.
Clarification-I must have missed something in the past 7 pages? Initial post says money is needed for a laptop but now OP has a $2000 laptop/technology allowance In Post #96?
I don’t blame you guys for getting confused at this point because this thread had taken so many different turns, albeit helpful, but at the moment I don’t have enough money for a laptop. That was the original concern of the post. It was then determined that I can get by. The 2000 is a hypothetical reimbursement if I win up to 4200 in hypothetical outside scholarships, then receive 2000 more. I haven’t won this amount yet and I am still waiting on scholarships that I may not win. Right now I would be paying out of pocket without a reimbursement because I haven’t made close to 6200. Harvard waives work study, summer contribution, then laptop reimbursement in that order.
This is in the OP as well…and it’s not exactly true either. This poster has a full ride to Harvard including money for a laptop, and work study for personal expenses. The school is giving her in excess of $60,000 a year.
She has no loans in her financial aid award either.
If push comes to,shove and she comes up short on money, she can take a $5500 Direct Loan.
In my opinion, that is a far better choice than not reporting earned scholarships,to Harvard financial aid.
“Yes more me.” Don’t judge me when you don’t know what someone has gone through. I’ve worked for what I’ve gotten and I’ve been blessed for what I have. When others partied I literally was working on scholarship apps. I’ve had utilities disconnected several times and much much worse.
So yes @thumper1 I plan to use whatever resources at my hand, and use every penny of them. If this annoys you then I can’t help it. Better try to make the most of my scholarships than waste them.
If I sound brusque, it’s because my single parent has sacrificed so much to get me here, that I’ll do anything to help my family out.
A full ride is tuition, room and board and you have that. Plus some.
Anyways, I deduced that the billed direct costs minus the grants would result in a refund of $1,931
Also you said you will work this summer so that would get you started with a computer and books, supplies, etc for the first semester.
My financial aid will be readjusted since I’m not taking the health insurance so I’m not sure what will happen. Health insurance is part of COA and was not covered in full.
It’s May. You have a few more months. You might get some more scholarships or you might not. You will have money from work to buy what you need if necessary.
I don’t think you’re understanding what we’re saying. Most schools will reduce their grants, dollar for dollar, for every outside scholarship you get. Say your total costs at Harvard are $64,000. That includes everything-- room and board, tuition, books, transportation, incidentals, computer, etc. (COA). Harvard has taken all the grants you’ve been awarded, Pell, SEOG, Gilbert for $12,275 and then awarded you the rest of the money you need, about $50k, plus the work study. They’ll keep $61k for tuition and room and board, and give you the rest to spend on those books, computer, travel (for some students), toothpaste, snacks - whatever you want, about $3000. However, if they receive another outside scholarship for your account, or if you receive it directly and report it to Harvard (which you are required to do), they will reduce the Harvard grants or the work study. If you were to receive a $53k scholarship, that would totally eliminate the Harvard grant and work study. If you received $61k in scholarships, it would cover your Harvard direct billed costs, and they’d refund to you all the Pell, SEOG and other grants as long as the terms of the grants allow that (don’t require them to be used for tuition). If Harvard has told you it would stack your scholarships on top of its Harvard Grant, then great, all the scholarships you win are going to be yours to keep and pay taxes on. Make sure Harvard will not reduce your Harvard grant if you get outside scholarships.
Some students have been successful in winning more outside scholarships than the cost of the COA. It’s rare, but it can happen and the student can make a profit (and then write a book about how easy it is and make money off of the book too), but the terms of the scholarships have to allow that. Pell and SEOG are allowed to be refunded to the student, but the other ones you have to check.
Look at Craig’s list or eBay for a computer. You can easily get a more than adequate computer for 200-300 that will be adequate for your first year. Then when you have worked and save or gotten your technology grant you can upgrade if needed.
Start focusing on how to control your costs. Is there a cheaper meal plan. Buy used books or rent.