<p>I was a bad high school student, and had about a 2.5 GPA. I wasn't dumb, I just didn't care. So when I decided to go to college, I obviously didn't get the financial awards that are so beneficial to many students. I believe I had a scholarship for $400, which was practically given to everyone. I am now finished with my first year in the College of Engineering at the University of Idaho, and I have a college GPA of 3.5. I did not take any extracurricular activities my first year, because I wanted to get comfortable with my studies first. However, I plan to get more involved with activities this year. Now my financial awards for the 2010-2011 year is only $800. My college debt is really stacking up and I was wondering if my lack of effort in high school has determined my financial aid for the rest of my college career? Am I ever going to get a decent amount of financial awards now that I am trying, or am I destined to continue using loans? Thanks!</p>
<p>Your aid at your state university is based on your FAFSA and your family’s income - not your high school grades.</p>
<p>If you’re under age 24, your family is expected to contribute to your education. That’s what the EFC is all about. What is your EFC from your FAFSA SAR?</p>
<p>Are you instate for your school?</p>
<p>What was your family’s EFC from FAFSA?</p>
<p>You’re confusing merit scholarships with financial aid. Scholarships are awarded based on high school grades and SAT/ACT scores. Sometimes college students can get small scholarships once they’re in college based on college grades, but bigger scholarships are based on high school stats and SAT/ACT scores.</p>
<p>Sorry for the confusion, I was associating financial awards with merit scholarships. I am under 24, instate, and have one parent who makes about 90k a year. The problem is that she doesn’t contribute towards my college expenses. But my question was answered with you saying the bigger scholarships are based on high school stats. I was just diagnosed with kidney disease so I’m stressing from thinking about the debt I will be accumulating from health and education expenses. But thanks for clearing it up for me!</p>
<p>Well, if you have a parent who makes $90k per year, you’re lucky to be getting any money at all. Financial aid is based on family income/assets. </p>
<p>What is your EFC?</p>
<p>What is the COA of your school?</p>
<p>Is this an instate school? </p>
<p>How much are you borrowing?</p>
<p>Are you a sophomore? If so, then maybe you should go to a CC to do your first 2 years.</p>
<p>My EFC was 08946, I am instate, cost of attendance is $18,700 for Fall 2010-Spring 2011. I am now living with my mother, so I could save on rent. I am burrowing 15k, and I will try and save as much as possible so I am able to return some of the debt after the school year. I am hoping to go further than a bachelor’s degree, and get a scholarship to a graduate school. So I am not sure if community college would be the wisest decision.</p>
<p>If you keep your grades up, you should get teaching assistantships to graduate school. No one really cares about extra curriculars now, so focus on your courses, take as much as possible, and get the best grades you can. Will you be able to work over the summer?</p>
<p>You’re very lucky to have such a low EFC with a parent who earns $90k. Do you have a sibling in college? That would explain such a low EFC with that income.</p>
<p>How are you borrowing $15k? That’s a lot to borrow each year. It’s really too much. At this rate, you’ll have $60k in debt…too much for an undergrad.</p>
<p>Grad schools will NOT care if you spend some of your first 2 years at a community college. If going to a CC for your soph year will save you $15k in loans, then do it.</p>
<p>Well, yes, your high school record and SAT scores do affect your merit money to a great degree simply because the most awards are given to incoming freshmen, in part, as an enticement to get the best students. Many of those awards are for all 4 years with some performance stipulation. Once you are in college, your performance there is what counts for grad/prof schools. </p>
<p>However, my son who was not a great student in high school just got a very nice departmental award. There are some such awards at a number of school for the best students in the departments. And, no, his high school record did not come into play at all for the award. Purely college performance. </p>
<p>Try to get info on what departments have what awards and what you need to do to get one. My son declared his major based on the fact that he had a good chance to get this particular award, and one stipulation was that you had to have that major. Or it could be work in a specific area, a particular course or set of courses that are the requirements. You need to look at what is available at your school.</p>
<p>Is your mom the one who makes $90K? If it is your dad, and he doesn’t live with you, then the FAFSA should be filed with just your mom’s income, even if your folks aren’t divorced. How much is your mom able to contribute each year? Have you found a summer job? Can you work ten or twelve hours a week during the school year? Going forward, you should be able to earn $3-5K a year towards your costs with an engineering major (and perhaps you can even find lab work with one of you professors.) I’d really hope that your mom can contribute something towards your education.</p>
<p>It sounds like you’re doing fabulously in engineering with a 3.5 at the end of your first year – Congratulations. I wouldn’t suggest going to CC at this point.</p>
<p>and have one parent who makes about 90k a year. The problem is that she doesn’t contribute towards my college expenses.</p>
<p>the high income parent is his mom.</p>