With my acceptance I got my tentative financial award. I know that it works that if you get outside scholarships, Dartmouth reduces your student contributions. However, my family contributions are extremely high (and my family isn’t paying anything) so will outside scholarships reduce that number, also?
Also, how is it decided where your financial aid is applied? (tuition, room, books, travel expenses…)
Can’t help with your first question, but, when D moved off campus. her FA was applied logically – to tuition and the minimum meal plan. If you’re living on campus, not sure it really matters. Charges - FA = your bill. 
My kid got accepted and the award was not what we expected either. The parent contribution was very high so we appealed and they gave us almost double of what they originally offered. Have you try tried to appeal your award? The financial aid office was very helpful and assisted us navigating through the process and options and process. I would give them a call.
@futuresmiling No, I haven’t considered appealing. How do I go about it? Is there a risk of them rescinding my financial aid offer? I don’t want to be greedy, but extra aid could really help.
I honestly don’t get why students have to report outside scholarships to colleges. The scholarship is YOUR money. I don’t believe colleges should decide how it is used.
Because when you applied you presented that you needed a certain amount of money to attend that college. Now you’ve received some of that money so you need less.
Money you earn is YOUR money. Money you win in the lottery is YOUR money. Money your grandfather gives you is YOUR money. You need to report it all.
@twoinanddone But why even apply for a scholarship if the college is just going to take it out of the grant they give you? It defeats the whole purpose. I call BS.
The point of a scholarship is to HELP students who don’t get ENOUGH fin aid from their college (which is the case most of the time). Personally, I get aid from my school, but paying it always puts at least some financial stress on my parents.
If I could get a scholarship to lighten that load, that would be amazing. Oh, but wait. I now have to report it to my college who will probably just credit that money to the amount in grants they were going to give me, so my contribution ends up being the same…
Essentially, the scholarship YOUR achievements have earned you will go into the pockets of the college. How is that not BS?
Because the money that you are receiving in need based aid is given through the generosity or other people who have graciously donated to Dartmouth (alumni, parents and grandparents fund, etc) **who make it possible for you to get financial aid. ** Are you saying that your outside earnings should be yours and you not contribute to your education while me and others who have donated to Dartmouth should continue to donate to fund your education even though your outside scholarship means that you will have less of a need?
Your parents are first in line when it comes to your attending college. Financial aid is given on the basis of demonstrated need. There are very few if any schools that provide need based aid that will allow you to reduce your EFC. The expectation is that this is paid from past earnings (savings) from present income and future (loans).
If you earn an outside scholarship, it reduces your need. Keep in mind, the outside scholarship, reduces first the self help aid; this means any loans, your student contribution through summer earnings or work study.
In order for an outside scholarship to reduce your parent’s EFC, you would have to receive enough outside scholarship that would cover all of your need based aid. Your outside scholarships are never going to reduce what your parents have to pay. If you already believe that your parents will not pay their EFC, then Dartmouth may not be a financially feasible option for you
If you feel that there is something about your financial situation that the school should take into consideration (a job loss, unreimbursed medicsl exoenses, care of a special needs child or elderly oareny)?then request an appeal. Make sure that you provide documentation
@17staffene : The FA “appeal” is called a request for review.
The form & info is here: http://admissions.dartmouth.edu/financial-aid/supplemental-forms
Outside scholarships are not necessarily granted on the criteria of “need.” I know someone who won a $15K Pepsi scholarship. I am fairly certain her family would have been full pay.