<p>Your parents may change their mind if you get accepted to Harvard or Wharton. Although it does not make financial sense these opportunities are difficult to decline. So if they are willing to fund application fees - go for it (but still be prepared to walk away). Telling you as a parent who was in exactly same situation whose child had much better free opportunities than UF.</p>
<p>Even $60k in debt for H is too much. </p>
<br>
<br>
<p>Are those for multi-years or are they “one time only awards”?</p>
<p>Edited to add…I just looked at what I think you are looking at for Kiwanis…those are $10k awards but they only award $2500 per year. </p>
<p>You can try, but this strategy is a huge long shot. </p>
<p>Your prepaid can be used outside of Florida. Your BF cannot. </p>
<p>Are you a NMSF?</p>
<p>There are schools where you could combine your prepaid payout with a large merit scholarship and have most costs covered.</p>
<p>BTW…FL prepaid and BF won’t cover all of UF’s costs. How is your bro getting money back? Does he get other merit?? Is he a frosh that is also getting housing paid from the prepaid? If so, next year he may not get money back. </p>
<p>@mom2collegekids Many of the ones that I found were multi year awards. The Kiwanis scholarships varied a lot. They’re all local. The largest one in my area is $4k per year, but there are others that are around $1k per year. I figure that there’s no reason not to aim for as many scholarships as I can. Even if I don’t get into an Ivy/decide not to go, it would be nice to have the extra money. </p>
<p>I missed the NMSF cutoff by one point. (Under circumstances that really made me mad. You actually helped me a little on this thread in December: <a href=“Appeals Process? Please help - National Merit Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>Appeals Process? Please help - National Merit Scholarships - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>He is a NMS and has a lot of other (merit) scholarships. Last I heard, he was getting $6-7k back per year.</p>
<p>"BTW…FL prepaid and BF won’t cover all of UF’s costs. "</p>
<p>I don’t know why you say that. Prepaid is designed to cover the tuition/r&b and whatever else you prepaid for. There are many different options when signing up, like 4 years of tuition, “2+2” which is 2 years at community college then 2 years at a 4 year college, r&b, etc. It’s possible her parent did buy the full 4 year school tuition plan.</p>
<p>Bright Futures is a ‘refundable’ award, so if your tuition and fees are paid, you do get a check from the school for the BF. I know a lot of kids at the Florida schools who have picked up a few small scholarships, have Prepaid, have BF, and do get money back.</p>
<p>While you’re figuring this out, it doesn’t hurt to begin to apply for outside scholarships. Yes, the really big nationals that cover full COA have a need component but there are some generous scholarships that don’t, e.g. beginhttp://<a href=“Most Valuable Student”>www.elks.org/ENF/scholars/mvs.cfm</a>. They give 30K-50K with no need requirement. There are books written by students who fully funded 4 years at places like Harvard with outside scholarships, e.g. <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/How-Go-College-Almost-Free/dp/0060937653”>http://www.amazon.com/How-Go-College-Almost-Free/dp/0060937653</a>. Your parents may feel more willing to help if you’re able to go to them with some Ivy acceptances, and a plan: the merit scholarships you’ve earned, plus loans, plus whatever you can be refunded from your FLA prepaid etc. If they see you are taking responsibility for your education, they may be willing to help close your gaps at an elite private. But in the meantime, pursue your instate options as well. </p>