I realized I made some errors, let me clear it up with the income situation. I don’t know why, I was thinking too far when I said she will be making min wage. The income will drop to about 34k for two people in the household. My younger brother is the other one, his goes away at 16. Home state is Ohio, really want to stay in state obviously. Major is mechanical engineering, want to work in manufacturing or automotive with the degree. Thank you for letting me know about the first gen factor. Due to the engineering major, I cannot go to the smaller schools in Ohio, like Bowling Green, Kent State, or the smaller private colleges.
@gwh2016 Ah, thank you for trying so hard! Will do!
Are you from Ohio? Make sure to apply to some instate engineering schools like U Toledo and U Cincinnati.
Temple gave full tuition for 3.8 GPA and 32 ACT.
I’m sure it is a long shot and very competitive, as all these outside scholarships are, but since you are interested in automotive, what about the Buick Scholarship?
@mommdc yes, UToledo is most likely where I will be going unless something else good happens. I qualify for their highest general merit scholarship. Yes, live in Ohio. I also am within 3% of my class if you have experience with rank? Thanks for the reply!
If you apply to Ohio State, make sure to apply early (before Nov 1) and also aply for separate engineering scholarships.
I think Toledo and Cincy both have coop program.
look into Buick Achievers Scholarship
@mommdc I will not be applying to Ohio State because their general merit aid is so stingy. (As far as I know, just quickly looked over their scholarships one time and said nope). And I do not like the nature of their “pre engineering program”. If you don’t have a high enough GPA during the preengineering program, you cannot continue on your years in the regular program. They’ll put you in some exploratory engineering thing, or you can transfer. And yes, Toledo and Cincinnati have mandatory co ops, so that security of them helping you find one is nice.
http://main.abet.org/aps/accreditedprogramsearch.aspx
you can search for accredited engineering programs at the above link, by type of engineering, degree and state.
There are several listed for Ohio.
I am confused. Does you mother work, or doesn’t she? She wouldn’t need to file a tax return(or be entitled to a refund) based on a new car, moving, or donations. And if your sibling is 16 SS will continue 2 more years. If you are very low income, why aren’t you focusing on need based financial aid?
@planner03 I answered this to someone else, I honestly do not know. I’m sorry, that’s just what she told me. She has always in the past showed up to the tax filing places, and the people just say that she is a case where she does not need to file. She still meets with a person to double check, and I think a couple bank statements get sent in and general housekeeping stuff. I don’t know why this year was different, and she is difficult to talk to. It would be hard to just ask her “Hey, why did you file taxes this year?” She does not work. Hasn’t had a job in over 10 years, to put it bluntly she is “mooching” off her dead husband’s money because she is so out of practice in the work field she refuses to go back to work. Sibling is not 16, I screwed that part up in my original post. When I leave high school, income will be at about 34k, due to decrease in benefits. I believe she will still attempt to live off the 34k. The thing is, I’m not very low income. Or, at least I don’t think a family of 3 at about 50k is low? Is it?
If your dad is not alive and in contact with you, or is low income (I’m not clear if your mom’s husband was your dad), then you may have an excellent chance at good need-based aid. You might have to consider leaving Ohio but maybe not too far…
Adding to all the great advice so far:
Is Wright State University an option? They have engrg. Is it equivalent in quality to U Toledo? (sorry , don’t know much about Ohio universities)
Run the NPC with the 50K yearly income, and whatever you know about existing cash assets. See what the EFC comes out to be. If your mother can give you a copy of the tax form she filed, that would be better.
Looks like you can improve on theACT - so definitely try that. The public universities care about GPA and ACT / SAT scores. The outside scholarships are really like a lottery - you may be better off focusing on merit or honors programs in the smaller state univesities in Ohio. You’re lucky that some of them have engineering . You seem like an ambitious student and I am sure things will work out for you.
I would second the advice look at schools that are good for need-based aid. You may need to do a financial aid appeal because the social security survivor benefit is ending, but this should be workable at a school that meets a high percentage of need.
In the college board big future site, on the left panel, for location I chose “Ohio” and under paying I chose “Meets 80% or more of need” and unchecked “include schools that do not report this information.” That gave me 11 colleges. That’s a small list, considering I didn’t check things like graduation rate or availability of majors. You should also add on a neighboring state or two as well.
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search
Another great tool for locating colleges that are generous with lower income kids is Debt By Degrees, check it out here:
Checking for clarity. You will be in high school doing dual enrollment for the 2016-2017 school year…and will be starting college the 2017-2018 school year? Is that correct?
@thumper1 Yes, I will be a senior this fall, but am not taking any high school courses. I will be entering college fall of 2017, you are correct.
try applying to a private school. If your mother is making minimum wage, they could give alot more money as they have a significant lack of low-income students. Try applying for the questbridge scholarship.
A lot? NOW? For the 2016-2017 academic year?
Not likely. This OP is looking for scholarships for school starting in August or September 2016.
@thumper1 No, like I said Ohio pays for the dual enrollment this year. I will need scholarships when I start my “official” freshman year in 2017. I answered you above, sorry for any miscommunication.
Hi:
OP, I understand your concerns, However, given you current stats you have many opportunities for highest merit at almost all of the State universities and many of the private ones. A higher ACT will further open up your opportunities at OSU, Miami Of Ohio, UC and some of the more competitive LACs that offer engineering in the state.
It reads as if you are In Northwest Ohio. If you are interested in moving across state take a look at Youngstown State’s and the University of Akron’s engineering programs. Both school’s colleges of engineering are highly regarded in State. Don’t forget OU.
Also many of the state universities DO have merit awards for first generation college students. Your current stats qualify you for these scholarships.
The cost of attending (COA) one of the state universities on average runs between 20,000-27,000. The cost of an LAC in state runs between 35,000-65,000. Run the Net Price calculators. It may turn out that with the merit offered an LAC is cheaper. NPC will also give you a sense of the need monies you will receive. LACs tend to be more generous with institutional need money. In NW Ohio, I I don’t recall whether it is Findlay, Tiffin, or Heldelberg that has the engineering programs, but don’t rule them out until you run the NPC and look at their scholarship offers.
Your stats qualify you for honors program almost everywhere in the state. Many of the state universities offer 1k-6k
honors scholarship on top of the merit scholarships.
Finally, I’m not sure if it extends to students in Northwest Ohio but there is a program called College Now. One of its main focuses is to help first generation students. apply and receive funding to attend College.There is a website, I think it is worth checking out.