<p>I have applied to some scholarships that my high school offers because I really wanted to reduce my loans. So I was just wondering, if i get the scholarship, how would it affect my financial aid? I know that outside aid will lower financial packages, but would it lower enough to the point where getting the scholarship was pointless?</p>
<p>The only way you will know for certain is to talk with FA. There is generally a threshold you have to reach before it starts to cut into your various aid components. I am not certain if institutions handle it the same, but one university I spoke with recently told me if my son received more than X dollars, then they would start removing his aid–first his work study and then his need based aid package. It may work differently at UCSD and it may depend on whether or not yours is merit aid. If the scholarships are not paid directly to the university, perhaps there is no way they can be tracked, but all in all, the news may not be good as the “merit” scholarships ironically will work against your “need.” Don’t even get me started on the hypocrisy of this.</p>