Is it worth it?

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi fellow CC users! Like many of you, I am working to win scholarships so that college won't be a massive financial burden for my family and me. I was working on an application / scrolling through CC when I stumbled upon this post: </p>

<p>"I don't understand why applicants slave over these essay contests for outside scholarship money. If you should win, say 1,000 in scholarship money, any college you are enrolled at is probably going to reduce your grant award by $1,000, or dollar for dollar! So you have not improved your financial situation at your college. You just put $1,000 back into the college's coffers, so your scholarship money which you earned by writing an essay has benefited the college, not you! </p>

<p>Before embarking on entering these essay competitions for scholarship money, I would check the schools financial aid policies on "outside scholarships."</p>

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<p>So now I am wondering if I should even be putting in the effort for these scholarships when they won't affect the amount of money that my family is forced to pay. So, as the title questioned, is it worth it?</p>

<p>Thanks and Happy New Year!</p>

2

<p>It depends on the school. Some school might reduce the size of the student loans if you win outside scholarships.</p>

3

<p>Many kids do not get aid.</p>

4

<p>I would check the schools financial aid policies on “outside scholarships.”</p>

5

<p>It is only worth it if a school allows “stackable” scholarships or if you do not receive need based aid. Have a conversation with the fin aid office at each school.</p>