<p>My household income is around $15,000 a year, yes...I am poor. I am the son of a widow and my Mother is the only/primary caregiver. A total of 4 people reside with me in a two bedroom home, it use to be 5(father passed away a year ago). My mother is a substitute teacher and has a part-time salary. She has attained a BS degree, thus making me a 2nd generation college student. I'm also a first generation American. I'm Hispanic(Cuban) and a resident of Florida. I have done extensive community service and I plan to get a job in August. I have also done about 16 AP/IB/College courses(I'm going to take 6 more college classes, yet senior year doesn't count...) and maintained a fairly adequate GPA(A average). I plan to improve my SAT scores in October, I currently have a 1710(I know, Its not good). I have also engaged in several clubs during my high school career.</p>
<p>What scholarships, grants, or loans should I look into? I want to apply to out of state schools as well, one in particular is located in California(UCSB).</p>
<p>Outside of federal aid, you will not be eligible for financial aid at UCSB. As an out of state student the cost to attend UCSB is over 40k. Please keep in mind that the goal of a public university is to provide an affordable option for their taxpayers. This is not an affordable option for you and your family. Most public schools will only have financial aid (scholarship- merit money) for the very tippy top of the application pool.</p>
<p>Are you eligible for Bright Futures? have you checked out ventures scholars?</p>
<p>[Ventures</a> Scholars Program - <a href=“http://www.venturescholar.org%5B/url%5D”>www.venturescholar.org](<a href=“http://www.venturescholar.org/]Ventures”>http://www.venturescholar.org/)</a></p>
<p>Have you taken a look at the Questbridge sub-forum?</p>
<p>Wow, you have done great with your resources, but going to an out of state public on the other side of the country doesn’t sound “right” for a family in your situation. What is the attraction? Maybe we can help you find a more cost effective alternative.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved father.</p>
<p>*I want to apply to out of state schools as well, one in particular is located in California(UCSB). *</p>
<p>You will not get the aid you need from an OOS public school like a UC. They don’t give the aid needed to pay for their high OOS costs. They can’t even help all of their instate kids.</p>
<p>UCs cost almost $50k per year for OOS students. :(</p>
<p>You will get Bright Futures in Florida if you have the right stats. Do you qualify?</p>
<p>If you get higher stats, there might be some schools that will work out for you financially (not the UCs or many other OOS publics). </p>
<p>Most schools (private and public) do not have much aid to give so you have to choose carefully.</p>
<p>I plan to improve my SAT scores in October, I currently have a 1710(I know, Its not good).</p>
<p>Right now, your stats aren’t likely high enough to get accepted to some of the privates that “meet need.”</p>
<p>You say that your mom’s income is $15k…does that include social security payments for your mom and siblings?</p>
<p>You can’t borrow much…</p>
<p>5500 frosh
6500 soph
7500 jr
7500 sr</p>
<p>Pell Grants are $5550 for a 0 EFC.</p>
<p>Unless you’re able to really increase your scores, your most affordable choices will likely be your instate publics…or maybe a small private that wants more diversity and won’t require high stats.</p>
<p>I saw your responses on the UCSB thread; I hope you will take them with a grain of salt. Do you know your UC GPA?</p>
<p>No, I don’t know my UC GPA, and I don’t think its all that great . Yet, I do qualify for bright futures in Florida and I have a definite chance of acceptance at University of Florida(best University in Florida). I’ll also be guaranteed a full ride. Although, I want to broaden my options. California seemed like one, until now.</p>
<p>David1994. do check out Questbridge as it can help match you to private schools likely to take your test scores more into context and that will give you the financial aid you need. You can also pick a few schools that interest you, just to see how it goes, since you seem to have a solid financial safety school that is pretty much guaranteed to take you. The rest is all gravy. </p>
<p>The problem that I see is that your test scores are low for those schools that tend to meet full need. You can give it whirl, and see how it goes. You want schools that not only meet need but also limit or give out little aid in terms of loans because owing all of that money when you get out is a weight on you. </p>
<p>I agree with momtwocollegekids that the CA state schools are not a good bet for you, though if you are really interested, you may want to add one on your list. Unless you are considered a “catch”, state schools do not tend to throw much money towards OOS kids, and CA is strained to meet the needs of its own kids.</p>
<p>* Yet, I do qualify for bright futures in Florida and I have a definite chance of acceptance at University of Florida(best University in Florida). I’ll also be guaranteed a full ride.*</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>Can you clarify? I don’t think you get a “free ride”. I think you’d get “free tuition” with Bright Futures. </p>
<p>A free ride is free tuition, room, board, books.</p>
<p>^No, I understand that. What I mean is that “UF” is most likely going to grant me scholarships for tuition, room, board, books, etc., not the state. They have several scholarships that I fit into that pay for nearly everything. I fit under a certain socioeconomic status. Also, I am very familiar with Questbridge and I have even applied for the college prep scholarship. Yet, I feel insecure about applying again for the national match scholarship after being denied the previous scholarship I had just mentioned. O my God, I should probably just go to UF and forget about these other schools…</p>