Is there money for me?

Paying for College
1

<p>I've scoured the internet for months on end, but I haven't really found any scholarships for me. The majority of the schools to which I've applied are expensive and unlikely to dole out large sums. I've already received the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship ($1,000), but it won't make much of a dent.</p>

<p>Here are my stats:
Major: Journalism
ACT: 32
GPA: 4.0
Class Rank: 8 of 416
Sex: Male
Race: White
Income: Middle Class
Parents: Both college graduates; married
Other: National Honor Society, Quill and Scroll, school newspaper editor, Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor recipient, 4,000+ service hours</p>

<p>If you know of anything, I would really appreciate it.</p>

2

<p>The best scholarships are those which are awarded by the colleges. Did you apply to any colleges with guaranteed merit aid for your stats?</p>

<p>What do you mean “the scholarships are too expensive”. Most scholarship applications are FREE.</p>

3

<p>With your grades, why haven’t you applied to schools that guarantee merit scholarships? Look at the thread that lists those schools, and see if you can still beat their deadlines.</p>

<p>Scholarships that don’t come through the school and will help with all four years are few and difficult to find. Most are pretty specific in nature so they are hard to recommend to others (my kid’s are for children of one of my employers, and another is geographically limited. Your school guidance counselor MAY know of one or two that might apply to you.</p>

<p>But your best route would be to reconsider schools. Many kids that have to “settle” for less than the most prestigious schools end up very happy and end up with good jobs. One of mine had to go to a state school and the other settled for a private lower tier school thanks to school and private scholarships. Both are thriving in their dream jobs.</p>

4

<p>The ones that I’ve applied give some aid, but it doesn’t give enough to make a significant dent (they don’t pay enough for me to have an opportunity to go there). For example, I received the $120,000 President’s Scholarship from Tulane, but costs would still be around $30,000 per year.</p>

<p>And my thread said that the colleges are expensive, not the scholarships. Sorry, if I worded that poorly.</p>

5

<p>One of my biggest issues has been working with my guidance counselor. I go to a Texas school, but live in Arkansas. Most of the scholarships there are tailored to Texas residents.</p>

<p>As for a state school, the only major school in Arkansas isn’t an option (as it’s journalism program would be doing well to rival a high school’s). </p>

<p>I just can’t be left at a bad program or be paying ungodly tuition. Any other suggestions?</p>

6

<p>How much have your parents said they can contribute each year for your education? Did you fill out CSS profile for Tulane yet? Did they give you any need-based aid? What is your family’s income level(AGI)?</p>

7

<p>I am not eligible for any type of need-based financial aid. That’s all I can really say without my parents being here (at school). </p>

<p>As for how much my parents are willing to pay, they’ve said they will contribute whatever is left over after scholarships. However, things are tight as is, and my sister will be going soon after me. I want to lighten the load as much as possible.</p>

8

<p>At the top of this forum, there is a thread about Competitive Merit-based scholarships, and another one on Automatic Merit-based scholarships. Go to the last page of those threads and look for the most recent up-date of the lists. You still have time to apply to some of the places.</p>

<p>You also need to get a $ figure out of your parents. “Whatever is left over after aid” can be a pretty huge figure. Can they guarantee that they can cover $30,000 each year for all for years? Can they cover more? Can they cover less?</p>

<p>Until you know how much money really is available, you can’t include anything on your list that doesn’t flat-out guarantee you a full-ride.</p>

9

<p>So at this point you need to be sure that you have options, financially. Please tell us that you have applied to U Arkansas by the priority deadline. If not, get in your app right away. So that you have a viable choice. Your stats are very good, and you should get merit scholarships, but you have to find some really exceptional options to get full tuition, which I’m guessing is what you would like to aim for. </p>

<p>An in-state U will be the most affordable option. A small liberal arts school, at which you are in the uppermost range of applicants, will be your next best bet.</p>

<p>We went through this exercise last year with my daughter, and the state U, with its Honor College, was absolutely the best bet financially. Good enough academically. You have strong opinions about your state U, but their graduates do move on to major broadcast networks, so perhaps you could really get to know the journalism department and learn to be happy to get an affordable college education. U Arkansas does have an Honors College as well. Believe me, you will not be alone as a high achieving student who couldn’t afford a $30K annual price tag for a private institution. The Four-Year Scholar’s Program looks good. Have you checked that out? </p>

<p>You should also consider that as an Honor’s College student you are likely to get more attentive mentoring and exposure to better professors, as well as having a built in small community of scholars.</p>

<p>I don’t know how far from home you want to go, but Ursinus in PA gives a big Creative Writing award. You do have to write a piece of some kind, but your stats are similar to a friend of ours who received that award last year. If you’re a really good writer I would at least look at Ursinus.</p>

<p>And I would emphasize that since it is past the priority deadline for Arkansas, and funds are always awarded ‘as available’ after that date, please do hurry if you are serious about alleviating the financial burden on your family.</p>

<p>Another strategy, and it’s only a strategy, is to go to your local community college, to their admissions office. Ask them about scholarships for Arkansas residents. They don’t need to know you have no interest in attending their particular institution. Just say you are researching your financial options, what is the best case scenario, etc. Same goes for any nearby institution.</p>

10

<p>U Alabama is on the list that Happymom referred to. They would give you full OOS tuition leaving about $15k/year for r&b and other expenses for your family to pay.</p>

<p>[Out-of-State</a> Scholarships - Undergraduate Scholarships - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out_of_state.html]Out-of-State”>http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out_of_state.html)</p>

<p>However, the deadline to apply is 12/15 and according to the FAQs link on that page, ACT scores and high school transcript have to be there by 12/15 also. I don’t know if that’s doable at this late date.</p>

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</p>

11

<p>Are you attending a Texas school because your Arkansas town is near the Texas border, or are you attending a Texas boarding school?</p>

<p>In both cases, the guidance folks should have information about schools in Arkansas. If you are in a Texas border public school, you are NOT the only Arkansas resident who needs help. Boarding schools typically have excellent guidance help.</p>

<p>It sounds like you have applied ONLY to expensive private universities. If you are not eligible for need based aid, you would need to apply to schools where your stats give you guaranteed merit awards OR where the costs are affordable.</p>

<p>How did you pick your application list? Have you discussed college finances with your parents? How much WILL they pay annually for four years for you to attend? Did you run the Net Price Calculators for the colleges? Do the numbers match what your family finances will support (your posts are iffy on this point…on one hand you say your parents will pay, and on the other hand you say you can’t afford to attend places like Tulane even with the aid provided…which is it?)?</p>

<p>Look at that stickie above for colleges with guaranteed merit awards. MAYBE you haven’t missed all of the deadlines.</p>

12

<p>Absolutely apply to Alabama TODAY. The scholarship deadline is very soon…Dec 15.</p>

<p>The app is SUPER EZ…takes like 5 minutes. No essays, no LORs. Also fill out the scholarship app…also no essays, no LORs…also super easy.</p>

<p>You’ll get FREE TUITION!!!</p>

<p>Bama is opening a brand new Digital Media Center in January for journalists, film, and communication majors. Bama built another one a few years ago, but quickly outgrew it with all the successes. So, a new and even bigger one has been built.</p>

<p>Apply TODAY!!!
<a href=“http://gobama.ua.edu/[/url]”>http://gobama.ua.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>Ohio U has a good J program and offers merit aid. [The</a> OHIO Signature Awards: Ohio University Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.ohio.edu/admissions/signature/index.cfm]The”>http://www.ohio.edu/admissions/signature/index.cfm)</p>

14

<p>TPott, did you see this thread that Alabama has extended their deadline?</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1588793-alabama-extends-merit-scholarship-deadline-jan-6th.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1588793-alabama-extends-merit-scholarship-deadline-jan-6th.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

15

<p>What about Youngstown State? [YSU</a> - Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (Scholarships)](<a href=“http://cfweb.cc.ysu.edu/finaid/sec_scholarships.cfm]YSU”>Financial Aid and Scholarships | YSU)</p>