<p>From what I can tell from my aid package, my family only has to contribute 4.5k a year (EFC of 1800), and I take out a yearly loan of 5,500. Is it worth it for me to go for scholarships, since I don't have to pay much a year anyways? Worth it in terms of time and potential lowering in aid amount. Here's a link to my full aid package: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/893400-clarification-needed-uc-financial-aid-package.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/893400-clarification-needed-uc-financial-aid-package.html</a></p>
<p>In my opinion, it is always worth trying to get scholarships, but that’s just me. Although the loan isn’t as much as what other students take out for school, money adds up in the end. Write a couple essays, and you might even get the scholarship.</p>
<p>I have a teacher at my school that did her undergrad completely for FREE because she wrote essays and won scholarships. You never know, that might happen for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>But would the scholarship lower the amount of aid my school gives? I’m not desperate for cash, my parents agreed to pay 4.5k a year.</p>
<p>It can reduce institutional aid. It depends on the policies of your school. Some schools will reduce loans and self help first, but others won’t.</p>
<p>A scholarship is better than a loan. You will have to pay the loan back.</p>
<p>On the financial aid information we got, there is a specific section on how outside scholarships are handled. All the schools state that it would reduce work study first and then the grant from the school. But, these are “no-loan” schools. Your school may handle it differently.</p>
<p>Reach, if this information is not available through the school’s website or literature they sent w/your FA award, just call or email them. School’s have different policies regarding outside scholarships and UC is the best source for this info. </p>
<p>The other question is, at what point do you want to stop applying? For my D, once she hit her target “affordability” number, she didn’t apply for other (local/regional) scholarships that she would have been competitive for. She felt that they should go to others who needed them more and, in the end, was very happy to see them go to kids who she knew were struggling to make college affordable. Only you know what your family’s situation and personal feelings are on this, but congrats on your admission and on getting an affordable package!</p>
<p>5500 x 4 years = over 20k you will need to pay back after graduation. if you are happy to do that then don’t look for scholarships. If you are not happy to have such debt look in fastweb.com</p>