I think i got too many scholarships! HELP

[collegedude19]

So if I’m technically getting work study covered… how am I supposed to have “spending money”?? Or can I still get a work study job even though it won’t be manditory??

[twoinanddone]

You can still get a job, but it won’t be a work study (federally funded) job. If you accept the work study, it is there to satisfy need. If you meet that need by another scholarship, the need is gone. Many student do that - take a scholarship, the school removes the work study part of the package, and the student works off campus or even an on-campus, non-work study job.

You might ask the FA office to adjust your COA to increase the travel budget. If you can show that $1000 is just not reasonable for you, they might. COA is an average cost to all students, and some have much larger book expenses than listed, travel, living, etc. I don’t think you’ll convince them that your incidental expenses are higher than average, but price a few airline tickets from your home to school and be able to show that even only going home at Christmas will be more likely $2-3k than the $1000 in the COA.

[BrownParent]

You still have said what your EFC is. Is there any gap between EFC and COA? What did your package show?

[ProudMomx3]

So if I’m technically getting work study covered… how am I supposed to have “spending money”??

I don’t think you still understand how your FA works. If you are doing the 3k work study you receive a pay check and that is your money for expenses. If you get an outside scholarship that replaces the 3k then after the college processes the scholarship you can request the 3k be distributed to you.

[ProudMomx3]

@brownparent what I see on their website actually states “Books/Misc(approx.) $2,665” so I think that includes personal expenses? My S will be attending a different school but his student budget for books and personal expenses is only $2610 so it is in the same ball park.

[Mom2aphysicsgeek]

In the following examples, assume that each student is an eligible student and each college or university an eligible educational institution.

Example 1.

Jackson is a sophomore in University V’s degree program in dentistry. This year, in addition to tuition, he is required to pay a fee to the university for the rental of the dental equipment he will use in this program. Because the equipment rental fee must be paid to University V for enrollment and attendance, Jackson’s equipment rental fee is a qualified education expense.

Example 2.

Donna and Charles, both first-year students at College W, are required to have certain books and other reading materials to use in their mandatory first-year classes. The college has no policy about how students should obtain these materials, but any student who purchases them from College W’s bookstore will receive a bill directly from the college.Charles bought his books from a friend, so what he paid for them is not a qualified education expense. Donna bought hers at College W’s bookstore. Although Donna paid College W directly for her first-year books and materials, her payment is not a qualified education expense because the books and materials are not required to be purchased from College W for enrollment or attendance at the institution.

Example 3.

When Marci enrolled at College X for her freshman year, she had to pay a separate student activity fee in addition to her tuition. This activity fee is required of all students, and is used solely to fund on-campus organizations and activities run by students, such as the student newspaper and the student government. No portion of the fee covers personal expenses. Although labeled as a student activity fee, the fee is required for Marci’s enrollment and attendance at College X. Therefore, it is a qualified expense.

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch06.html

[billcsho]

First, you do need to report external scholarships to the school. Note that any money coming in will reduce your need and therefore your need based aids. Once you eliminated your need, you may stack the merit aid up to the CoA (or slightly more that that depending on school policy). So your grant money will likely be reduced accordingly when you receive additional scholarships.
Second, check if any of the scholarships are not renewable. Most of the external ones are not renewable. Ask the FA office if the grant money will stay the same next year if there is no change in family income/asset. Some schools do bait and switch that only offer larger grant for the first year.
Third, check with the external scholarship agencies if they can defer the scholarship to next year.