<p>Are there many general scholarships for undergrad studies? Like for merit or just based on financial need?? And can you use scholarships you won that are not associated with the school?</p>
<p>Dartmouth’s aid is strictly need-based. There are scholarships given with particular restrictions, such as “an outstanding student in major X,” but they are given out by the FA office, to my knowledge, and are part of the FA package. I doubt that they have trouble finding people with need who meet the criteria. :)</p>
<p>You can use outside scholarships, but I would think that they are probably deducted from your FA in one way or another, since there is always more need out there than schools can comfortably meet. The question about outside scholarships is whether they can be used to meet the expected student or family contribution. I really don’t know. I’d bet the FA website would tell you.</p>
<p>Spot on, Consolation! From the FAQ:</p>
<p>How will my financial aid award be adjusted if I receive an outside award/scholarship?</p>
<p>Students who receive scholarships from external sources can use funds to reduce the loan and/or job portions of their financial aid packages. If the outside scholarship is greater than the self-help level, the family responsibility can be reduced to the federal level. Dartmouth scholarship is reduced as the last resort.</p>