Native American Aid

Paying for College
1

<p>I’m a Native American and I was wondering what schools give the best financial aid for Native American’s. I’ve heard Michigan and Florida State do but I haven’t seen the info anywhere.
Please keep things in my range as far as schools (No Community Colleges or Ivy)
I’m going to be a Senior Next Year so I’ve still got a lot of schools on my list.</p>

<p>GPA: 3.73
Strength of Schedule: 9 AP Courses
Extra Curriculars: Eagle Scout, President of Young Republicans, Editor in Chief of nationally ranked school newspaper, Pro Life Club.
SAT: 1920
My Essay’s very strong as are my Recommendations.
Keep in mind I’m applying as a Native American .</p>

<p>Thanks so much.</p>

2

<p>why no Ivy? Dartmouth has wonderful need-based financial aid, and is no-loan, i.e, 100% grant. Dartmouth was founded as an educator of Native Americans, and welcomes apps from them.</p>

<p>Vanderbilt is also 100% grant.</p>

3

<p>With my grades I couldn’t get into Dartmouth. Their too selective. They’d laugh at a student with a 3.73 GPA applying there. Thanks for telling me about Vanderbilt. If anyone else has information please comment. Thanks Again.</p>

4

<p>I can’t answer your question but congratulations on becoming an Eagle Scout. That isn’t easy and it is a big deal.</p>

5

<p>

</p>

<p>Not so fast. Consider ED.</p>

6

<p>I’ll definitely consider it. But assuming I don’t get in what other schools are good for Financial Aid to Native American’s? Thanks</p>

7

<p>Unfortunately, the schools that are best with need-based financial aid, are all highly selective. I’m not aware of any scholarships targeted to Native Americans. Boosting your test score above 2000 would really help at a highly selective school.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

8

<p>I googled “Native American scholarships”, and these are a few of the results:</p>

<p>[FinAid</a> | Other Types of Aid | Native American Students](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Financial Aid for Native American Students - Finaid)</p>

<p>[Native</a> American Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.free-4u.com/native1.htm]Native”>Native American Scholarships)</p>

<p>[American</a> Indian College Fund](<a href=“http://www.collegefund.org/]American”>http://www.collegefund.org/)</p>

9

<p>Are you Pell Grant eligible? If so, please look at the Gates Millenium scholarship. It is one of the best scholarships out there and you have strong grades and strong ecs. </p>

<p>Realize that if you are Pell eligible, if you have a low EFC or if your parents are willing and able to pay your EFC as estimated on a calculator, you don’t need to look for AA scholarships. With those stats (assuming that is an unweighted gpa), you could apply to some very good schools that meet full need, many without loans. I don’t know what you’re looking for in a school, but some schools that come to mind are Darmouth and Wesleyan. </p>

<p>If your family has $, then it makes sense to target the AA scholarships. </p>

<p>Please look over the rules on blood quantum and enrollment in a federally-recognized tribe in case you need to do any paperwork ahead of time:
[The</a> NHHEAF Network - Parents- Tribal Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.nhheaf.org/index.asp?page=par_fa_tribalscholarships]The”>http://www.nhheaf.org/index.asp?page=par_fa_tribalscholarships)</p>

<p>Here’s a good overview on scholarships: </p>

<p>[Native</a> American Scholarship and Tribal Sponsor Programs: College Opportunities for Native American Students](<a href=“http://www.collegescholarships.org/nativeamerican.htm]Native”>Native American Scholarship and Tribal Sponsor Programs: College Opportunities for Native American Students)</p>

<p>Some colleges have specific scholarships:</p>

<p>Creighton University has a diversity scholarship for AA:</p>

<p>[Native</a> American Merit Scholarship](<a href=“http://admissions.creighton.edu/MyApplication/Scholarships/NativeAmericanMeritScholarship/tabid/1123/Default.aspx]Native”>http://admissions.creighton.edu/MyApplication/Scholarships/NativeAmericanMeritScholarship/tabid/1123/Default.aspx)</p>

<p>St Lawrence in NY:
[St</a>. Lawrence University: Admissions and Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.stlawu.edu/admis/scholarships/pds.html]St”>http://www.stlawu.edu/admis/scholarships/pds.html)</p>

<p>Case Western in OH gives a lot of scholarship $ and has a half tuition diversity scholarship</p>

<p>Some other scholarships:</p>

<p>[Idaho</a> State Department of Education - Native American Education - Students](<a href=“Error Page Not Found / Idaho Department of Education”>Error Page Not Found / Idaho Department of Education)
[NIEA</a> - National Indian Education Association](<a href=“http://www.niea.org/media/scholarships.php]NIEA”>http://www.niea.org/media/scholarships.php)
Scroll down to “outside Native American scholarships”
[American</a> Indian Resource Program | Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.airp.uci.edu/scholarships.php]American”>http://www.airp.uci.edu/scholarships.php)</p>

<p>Please don’t forget to look at tribal colleges. The tutions are quite low.</p>

<p>Oh, and I’ve seen a number of state colleges that have smaller scholarships for AA students. Off the top of my head, I think if you’re interested in those, you should check public colleges in Oklahoma, the Dakotas, Minnesota, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.</p>

10

<p>OP, a NA with your stats would be highly competitive at the Ivies and other top schools. Are you interested in schools with relatively large Native student bodies? If so, Montana, North Dakota, and Oklahoma all offer said specifically to directed Native Americans. There are probably others that I’m not aware of, too. Good luck!</p>

<p>However, check eligibility requirements… you may not be eligible for some sources of aid because the Lumbee aren’t fully federally recognized.</p>

11

<p>Honestly the amount of Native American’s at the school doesn’t matter to me. I’m just looking for a good political science school that’s east of the Mississippi, doesn’t cost too much, and I can get in. Our family income is rather high so I wouldn’t qualify for Pell Grants. Before looking at this I was considering schools such as Penn State, Michigan, Johns Hopkins, George Washington, American, Bowdoin, and Amherst. If anyone has particular schools that are east of the Mississippi and offer good aid for Native American’s please comment. Other than that, thanks to all of the people who have commented. It’s very helpful information. I’m just hoping to find a list of schools that fit my academic profile, geographic range, and are relatively cheap for Native Americans.
Thanks Again.</p>