<p>My son applied to Vanderbilt. I just did the Vanderbilt F. Aid calculator and it came out incredibly generous, as in, our contribution would only be around $7,300. Should my son even bother applying for the scholarships since the grant aid is so generous? (Assuming he was accepted)</p>
<p>Thank-you.</p>
<p>there are a couple of reasons to apply for scholarships which are full tuition with financial aid still offered re your estimated cost of attendance vs your room and board which is ostensibly not paid if you are a full pay client. The Cornelius Vanderbilt students have a 5000 dollar one time stipend to use plus they are designated College Scholars which has some advantages for optional small seminars and for earning points that allow them to have honors diplomas should they opt to do that. The Chancellors Scholars have a stipend as well. The Ingram Scholars have at least one…I think two…summer experiences underwritten in the arenas of research or enrichment or public service. In today’s tough market, internships and summer experiences take a lot of effort to land. </p>
<p>Last reason to apply for merit scholarships whether you win them or not: More essays and more ways for the admissions staff to read about you in different veins. In a school like Vandy where the student body is make up essentially of equals and there are many equals on the wait or non-admit outcome lists…you should submit as many essays as you can purely for admission reasons. That is my thinking.</p>
<p>however if you luck out and your son is admitted, how wonderful that your estimated costs of attendance is less than many good state institutions would assess you. </p>
<p>best wishes to your son and enjoy your final weeks with him</p>
<p>This makes sense, Faline2. I will still encourage him to apply for the Cornelius scholarship. It seemed crazy that we qualify for so much aid but they ask interesting questions that other schools don’t ask such as when was your home purchased, so maybe they understand finances better than other schools.</p>
<p>Thank-you for your well wishes and advice throughout the last year, Faline. I appreciate it!</p>
<p>You are so welcome. Keep in mind that Vanderbilt and many peer institutions also do the CSS profile while coming up with your share of the costs. This can work in your favor or against you (ie if you are partner in a business, own land or a farm or rental properties etc) they will also consider the fuller picture of your assets. Make sure he applies to one really safety college he admires that will admit him and has the means to meet your financial need, and focus if possible on the shorter list of colleges that have eliminated loans from their financial aid packages. Borrowing looms ahead in many graduate degree pathways and if you can avoid it now all the better.</p>
<p>definitely apply for any and all scholarships, vanderbilt makes it very easy to do so. i applied for them on a whim and was shocked when i was awarded one. true, the need-based aid is stellar at vandy, but another nice thing about a scholarship (in addition to those mentioned above) is that should your financial situation improve, that money will still be there. good luck to you and your son!</p>