<p>Hi. We submitted our FAFSA last week using the numbers from our income tax which was filed already, and our EFC amount is $4,971. So my Son will only be getting a $600.00 pell grant. :( That means only $300.00 a semester. Our income is $50,00 between my husband and I. We are not rich, and I guess they don't take into consideration our mortgage payment and other bills we have. So, basically we do not have any money left over after we get our paychecks. My question is will my Son's college (Florida State University) give him other grants (FSU scholarships) as well for being on the dean's list, good grades, etc? I really don't want him to have to take out a big loan. He is a freshman, and started in August. We are searching for online scholarships as well. Thanks for your time.</p>
<p>* My question is will my Son’s college (Florida State University) give him other grants (FSU scholarships) as well for being on the dean’s list, good grades, etc? I really don’t want him to have to take out a big loan.*</p>
<p>FSU relies heavily on Bright Futures to help students with good stats. Does your son qualify for Bright Futures? If so, what level would he get?</p>
<p>What are his test scores and GPA?</p>
<p>FSU does have some scholarships for students with very high stats.</p>
<p>He can take out Stafford loans</p>
<p>frosh 5500
soph 6500
jr 7500
sr 7500</p>
<p>Also encourage your son to work a lot over the summer and part-time during the school year.</p>
<p>There are some other Florida publics that give merit scholarships…like FIU and USF.</p>
<p>Online scholarships are very hard to get and often only for FRESHMAN year…so that won’t help you with the other years.</p>
<p>You say your son is already a freshman in his second semester? If that is the case he should have already received his FA package last spring? Are you saying your EFC has changed for the coming year?</p>
<p>Mortgage and other bills are not taken into account in the FAFSA process. Debt is considered a personal choice. The only exception of which I am aware is extremely large medical bills for which you would have to appeal to the school directly. </p>
<p>The formula assumes that you will be paying for college out of a combination of current income, savings, and loans. If you do not have savings you don’t get FA to compensate.</p>
<p>Thanks. Yes, my Son qualifies for Bright Futures. He got the Florida Academic Scholars. Did well on his SAT and ACT when he was a senior in H.S. (29 on the ACT) He made the Dean’s list for his first grades at FSU. He has a 3.88 GPA. I am hoping he will get a few grants from them. (Or would that be considered the merit scholarship?) Does he have to apply for the FSU scholarships, or do they automatically offer those to him? He also applied for the work-study at FSU. We don’t know much about that program, but it sounds like a good thing to do. Are you familiar with that program? And yep, he is going to get a summer job when he’s back home for the summer! He’ll be home for 4 months! Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>Yes, we made more than last year.</p>
<p>Yes, my Son qualifies for Bright Futures. He got the Florida Academic Scholars. Did well on his SAT and ACT when he was a senior in H.S. (29 on the ACT) He made the Dean’s list for his first grades at FSU. He has a 3.88 GPA. I am hoping he will get a few grants from them. (Or would that be considered the merit scholarship?) Does he have to apply for the FSU scholarships, or do they automatically offer those to him?</p>
<p>Since your son is ALREADY at FSU, I doubt he’s going to get any new grants or scholarships. Those are usually awarded when a student is an incoming frosh.</p>
<p>I doubt he’s going to get more money for his GPA…too many kids have high GPAs in college.</p>
<p>Does BF cover all of his tuition?</p>
<p>Sounds like he’ll have to use a student loan (6500), his Pell Grant, and summer work to cover his costs. Work study will only really cover his “day to day” expenses since it’s paid out in pay checks thru-out the year as he works. </p>
<p>How much can you contribute each year? Since it sounds like you’re earning more now, can you contribute anything?</p>
<p>He needs to ask at his university about scholarships for continuing students. His department might offer some.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help everyone, it is much appreciated.</p>