Financial aid if my family makes $30,000/year

Paying for College
21

<p>Bunnzies, Questbridge is an organization that connects low income high achieving high school students with top colleges including Rice :slight_smile: through the College Prep Scholarship for juniors and National College Match for seniors. Questbridge families usually have income up to 60K so you definitely qualify from the financial side. You should also be aware that many top tier schools have a cap on how they value assets for very low income students as a percentage of income, so even if your family has equity in your mother’s business or even a home you might own, it will not change your status.<br>
Your grades and score will determine whether you are eligible from the academic side, 88% of finalist had SAT >1200/1600 although matched students have had SATs as low as 1300/2400 and ACT 21 (matched with Stanford!) this year. You can check the finalist profile here: [2013</a> National College Match Finalist Profile](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/ncm-finalist-profile]2013”>http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/ncm-finalist-profile) </p>

<p>There are Questbridge forums here on CC: [Questbridge</a> Programs - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/questbridge-programs/]Questbridge”>Questbridge Programs - College Confidential Forums)
and here is a link to the Questbridge website: [Mission</a> & Vision](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/about-questbridge/mission-a-vision]Mission”>QuestBridge | About)</p>

<p>You should start by reading this letter for prospective Questbridge students:
[Letter</a> to Student Applicants](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/introduction-letter]Letter”>http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/introduction-letter)
It will tell you about the programs and hopefully get you excited about your opportunities. Being a low income student who has done well in high school is an enviable position to be in at this time in higher education: if you can get into a college that meets 100% of demonstrated need (easiest to do with schools that are need-blind), you will pay little or nothing to go to a great college, and Questbridge will work closely with you to make that happen. You will also find you are eligible to apply for other generous national scholarship programs which would also cover the full cost of attendance of college for you. But you should start with Questbridge and apply for the College Prep Scholarship next March. You are starting the process early enough that you can learn about the programs and get all your ducks in a row ahead of time, and hopefully take advantage of the potentially amazing situation you are in.</p>

<p>Btw if Rice is your dream school, you should know that even without Questbridge, Rice is one of the great bargains in American colleges. Their tuition is substantially lower than comparable schools, they consistently set the income level for no-loan packages and free tutition about 20K higher than other similar schools. And Rice also has the most generous package through Questbridge: they pay for the full cost of attendance including books, travel and personal expenses, with no family contribution, AND no work study or expected summer earnings from the student, so you really will be going to college free (provided you maintain a 2.8 GPA which should be manageable). </p>

<p>I suggest you go to the Questbridge site and read a lot before you start asking questions. It is a lot to take in, but it will be helpful to do your research first. You can also join the facebook group for Questbridge kids applying in your year. They are very active and the kids help each other out and get very close.</p>

22

<p>Axand…there are some universities that offer good merit awards to NMSF, but the scholarships through the NMF are not so generous.</p>

<p>Plus, this student won’t REALLY know eligibility for national merit status until she takes the SAT. That is required, with a cutoff score as well. In addition, there is a GPA requirement.</p>

<p>It is NOT all about the PSAT, but that is the first criteria.</p>

23

<p>Thanks for all the advice! I’m learning so many new things thanks to you guys. :)</p>

<p>The Questbridge thing sounds amazing. I’d really like to try to apply for it, but I saw that it’s for seniors, so I guess I will just wait until next year. </p>

<p>I’m also interested in Baylor and UT in addition to Rice. Which is best to get financial aid? Also, I was planning on going to Rice and major in maybe biology or chemistry and then go on to either UT or Baylor for med school. Would going to a different school change the financial aid? Also, am I able to get financial aid for med school too? If so, is it possible to get my med school costs fully covered?</p>

24

<p>Bunnzies, Questbridge has a scholarship for juniors that I mentioned above.
You can read about it here:[College</a> Prep Scholarship Overview](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/cps-college-prep-scholarship]College”>http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/cps-college-prep-scholarship)
There’s a video on that page that explains what it is and what you can receive if you get the scholarship. About half the applicants get it so you have a good chance. Also being a college prep scholar counts as a national award on your college applications which is a big deal. So don’t wait. Look into it and apply in March.
Then, if you get the college prep award you will attend an all expense paid conference at Yale, Stanford or Northwestern next June and they will get you started on the whole application process. Plus you can win all kinds of other things - 6 week summer programs at an Ivy, all expense paid college visits, one-to-one mentoring with an Amherst student, new laptops etc.</p>

<p>Rice and Baylor have a combined bs/md program: [Future</a> Owls](<a href=“Office of Admission | Rice University”>Office of Admission | Rice University)
so go ahead and research this and other programs but keep your mind and options open. </p>

<p>You don’t need to worry about med school now. If you do well enough in undergrad there will options for funding. So take one step at a time. Organize your SATs and ACTs for this winter/spring and apply for QB CPS in the spring. (you should take both the SAT and ACT <em>at least</em> once by the end of your junior year) Plus there are loads of summer programs that are free for low income kids which you can apply for in the next couple months. Go to the CC forums on summer programs to find out about them and once you get hooked up with Questbridge they will tell you about all these things - summer programs, fall fly-ins etc. But for now, put one foot in front of the next :)</p>

25

<p>Bunnzies</p>

<p>Just FYI so you’ll know what exists and can consider different options.</p>

<p>There is Future Owls already mentioned by honeybee63 (10 students ONLY)</p>

<p>There is also JUMP (UT Austin included) [JAMP</a> Message from the Chair](<a href=“http://www.utsystem.edu/jamp/msgFrmChair.htm]JAMP”>http://www.utsystem.edu/jamp/msgFrmChair.htm)</p>

<p>Baylor2 Medical track [Baylor</a> University || Prehealth Programs || Baylor<sup>2</sup> Medical Track](<a href=“2022-23 Freshman Scholarship Programs | Undergraduate Admissions | Baylor University”>2022-23 Freshman Scholarship Programs | Undergraduate Admissions | Baylor University)</p>

<p>UT System medical programs (enrollment to SHAPE is still a pilot, not every year, but UT is building medical school)
<a href=“http://www.utsystem.edu/initiatives/time/pilot-partnerships.htm[/url]”>http://www.utsystem.edu/initiatives/time/pilot-partnerships.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

26

<p>Bunnzies</p>

<p>I don’t know much about Baylor or Rice but I can tell about UT.</p>

<p>Honors programs with acceptance to medical school close to 100%</p>

<p>[Dean’s</a> Scholars<a href=“more%20research-oriented”>/url</a></p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://www.cns.utexas.edu/honors/honors-programs-center/health-science-scholars]Health”&gt;Health Science Scholars | College of Natural Sciences]Health</a> Science Scholars<a href=“more%20medical%20school%20oriented”>/url</a></p>

<p>Honors have special scholarships, and CNS has a lot of special scholarships both for freshmen and continuing students. I have never seen any low income student in Honors program who was not full ride or close to full ride (no loans).</p>

<p>The university scholarships can also be very generous. Low income students in general are at risk of dropping out due to financial circumstances so UT has special programs to prevent it.
For example, PAS is raised to $ 60,000 [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.texasscholarships.org/types/osfs/pas.html]Texas”&gt;http://www.texasscholarships.org/types/osfs/pas.html]Texas</a> Scholarships: President’s Achievement Scholarship](<a href=“http://www.cns.utexas.edu/honors/honors-programs-center/deans-scholars]Dean’s”>Dean’s Scholars | College of Natural Sciences)
All students are automatically screened for this scholarship.
There are also other scholarships, awards and financial opportunities. </p>

<p>Plus, of course, Pell grant, Texas grant, Top 10% scholarship (it’s state aid, not university), various institutional grants, SEOG etc</p>

<p>As a matter of fact coverage is sometimes better than in Harvard and other full need met institutions (but not many people know about it)</p>

<p>I cannot guarantee that you will get something exceptional, of course, because you don’t have your test scores and your parents’ income.</p>

27

<p>Ohhh, I didn’t notice that Questbridge was for juniors too! Thanks for telling me! I’m going to try to apply for that when it starts. </p>

<p>Also, my older brother is a senior right now, so will he be able to apply for the National College Match, or is the deadline past already?</p>

<p>I’ll definitely take the SAT and ACT before my junior year ends, but I think I’m going to take it toward the end of the year though, so I can prepare for it.</p>

<p>When do I apply for those other scholarships that you guys listed? Would I apply right now during junior year or wait until senior year?</p>

28

<p>There are many fabulous schools that, if they admit you, will give you amazing financial aid.</p>

<p>For example, a number of Ivies, like Columbia, Princeton and Harvard, would charge your parents anything for you to attend. That means tuition, room and board would be covered. You very well would have to do a work-study job for about ten hours a week and not have any loans.</p>

<p>This is a list of schools that meet full need but some are more generous than others: [Colleges</a> That Claim to Meet Full Financial Need - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2013/09/18/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need-2014]Colleges”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2013/09/18/colleges-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need-2014)</p>

<p>However, besides keeping those grades, you have to get strong test scores and be involved in school and/or outside of school in activities, hopefully where you can be a leader of some sort. By the summer, start writing your essays and get feedback. </p>

<p>This site gives advice on essay-writing: [Essay</a> Hell | Where Stressed Out Students Find Expert Help on Writing College Application Essays](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/]Essay”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/)
And here you can see examples of essays that accepted Johns Hopkins students wrote: [Johns</a> Hopkins University Office of Undergraduate Admissions: Apply, Essays That Worked, Class of 2017](<a href=“http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/essays/]Johns”>http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/essays/)</p>

29

<p>Thanks for all the info! What is a work-study job? Would all financial aid require that, or is there like a catch to financial aid and scholarships?</p>

30

<p>Work study is employment - sometimes it is funded by the federal government or sometimes it is funded by the school but is a normal part of a financial aid package.</p>

31

<p>Probably about 90 percent of the NPC I have ran have included work study as part of the financial aid package.</p>

32

<p>Work study is a NEED BASED financial aid award. It is only awarded to students with financial need. And not everyone gets it. There is limited funding provided for federal work study per college. The federal work study monies are awarded on a first come, first serve basis based on the date,the FAFSA is initially filed for the year.</p>

<p>As noted, some colleges also have their own work study funds…but those are not a bottomless pit of money either.</p>

<p>Students at most colleges are responsible for finding, applying for, and securing their own WS jobs. </p>

<p>The other thing to remember is that work study earnings are not paid to the student until they work to earn the money.</p>

33

<p>Below are the financial aid packages of five (randomly chosen) of the 35 Questbridge colleges. If you were accepted through QB this year (usually with a family income of 40K or lower although can be up to 60K), this is what your FA package would be. As you can see there is some variation, but most all of the colleges do have a work-study requirement, averaging 8 hours per week. You will have lots of guidance in finding and applying for a job, usually on campus but not always. There will be an orientation for work-study students at the beginning of the year. As you may also notice Rice has exceptionally generous FA! And these packages cover your books, travel home twice a year and personal expenses, so you will really be working to pay for your own needs ~ that money doesn’t go to the college, and in some cases, esp the smaller schools, the college’s grant money helps to cover these expenses and the student contribution is minimal.
You don’t really need to worry about work-study or these detailed numbers right now. I just copied them so you would have an idea what you are working for! So keep those grades up and study for your SAT and ACT!</p>

<p>NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Annual Cost of Attendance
Total $63,193
Tuition $45,120
Room & Board $13,862*
Books & Supplies $1,878
Travel Varies*
Personal $1,926
Required Fees $407</p>

<p>How Costs Are Covered (Annually)
Total $63,193
Grants $58,093
Federal Work-Study/Academic Year Work $2,600
Student Summer Work Contribution $2,500
Student Savings 25%
Parental Contribution $0
Student Loan $0</p>

<p>UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Annual Cost of Attendance
Total $62,180
Tuition $45,602
Room & Board $12,902
Books & Supplies $1,500
Travel $580
Personal Expenses $900
Required Fees $696</p>

<p>How Costs Are Covered (Annually)
Total $62,180
USC University Grant $57,180
Federal Work-Study $2,500
Parental Contribution $0
Student Contribution $2,500
Student Loan $0 </p>

<p>DAVIDSON COLLEGE
Annual Cost of Attendance
Total $57,333 to $57,608
Tuition and Fees $42,849
Room & Board $11,834
Books & Supplies $1,000
Travel $175 to $450
Personal $1,325
Orientation Fee $150</p>

<p>How Costs Are Covered (Annually)
Total $57,333 to $57,608
Grants and Scholarships $53,233 to $53,508
Work-Study $2,100
Parental Contribution $0
Student Summer Work Contribution $0
Student Savings $0
Student Loan $0</p>

<p>POMONA COLLEGE
Annual Cost of Attendance
Total $59,730 - $62,309
Tuition $43,255
Room & Board $14,100
Books & Supplies $900
Travel $0 - $800
Personal $1,150
Required Fees $325
Health Insurance $1,779</p>

<p>How Costs Are Covered (Annually)
Total $59,730 - $62,309
Grants $57,680 - $58,570<br>
Student Employment $1,250
Student Summer Work Contribution $0 - $800
Parent Contribution $0*
Student Savings $0
Student Loan $0</p>

<p>RICE UNIVERSITY
Annual Cost of Attendance
Total $55,476
Tuition $38,260
Room & Board $13,000
Books & Supplies $800
Travel $600
Personal $1,550
Required Fees $1,266*</p>

<p>How Costs Are Covered (Annually)
Total $55,476
Grants $55,476
Federal Work-Study $0
Parental Contribution $0
Student Summer Work Contribution $0
Student Savings $0
Student Loan $0</p>