<p>Does anyone know of a web site that have mostly need based awards?</p>
<p>MY EFC is very low. So, I would like to began my search. My mother is a single parent with 4 children. Three of us in college.</p>
<p>Any suggestions where to look, so that I will not end up with a lot of loans?</p>
<p>Focus on getting the FAFSA (and Profile if required) in on time. Most of your aid will come through each college by virtue of these applications.</p>
<p>Getting outside grants/scholarships often just results in an aid package from the college that's reduced by the amount of the grant/scholarship.</p>
<p>With a low EFC, make sure you're applying to some colleges that meet 100% of need-- particularly those that have a high ratio of grants to loans.</p>
<p>How do you know what schools meet 100% need?</p>
<p>Go to College Board; look up the schools you're considering. They have stats on each school, including full costs, and a breakdown of financial aid, % need met, and % grants/scholarships vs. loans.</p>
<p>Checking UCLA, for example, they show (among other things):</p>
<p>Average need met: 86%
Scholarships/Grants: 68%
Loans/Jobs: 32%</p>
<p>Lots of info there to help you narrow your college search.</p>
<p>Also, would outside scholarships reducing the loan amount or grant/scholarship amount?</p>
<p>Good question! Depends on the school-- you'd need to check with their financial aid department to find out.</p>
<p>Kyra -- the most important thing to do is to get the FAFSA and/or profile in ASAP. Much of the state grant money, Federal supplemental grant money and college grant money is distributed on a first come, first served basis with a priority date in the spring (here in colorado it is April 1st). After that date, your amount of money given in the form of grants will be lower.</p>
<p>what colleges are you applying to and what are your stats -- that way we can suggest some colleges for you to check on.</p>
<p>I am looking at HBCU's. My two top choices are Howard and Hampton.</p>
<p>Kyra -- </p>
<p>I did some checking and found out some things about Howard.</p>
<p>first -- the priority deadline is February 15th -- you have to get your FAFSA and/or profile in by then!!!! this is very, very important. With your mother's income so low, taxes should not be too hard -- estimate if you have to, but DO THEM TONIGHT!!!!! The FAFSA requires a PIN number which takes several days -- you cannot wait on this.</p>
<p>ask here on the board for any help, but waiting could cost you thousands in grant money.</p>
<p>Here are the college board stats on Howard regarding financial aid:</p>
<p>Average percent of need met: 70%
Average financial aid package: $16,042
Average need-based loan: $17,502
Average need-based scholarship or grant award: $4,340
Average non-need based aid: $12,989
Average indebtedness at graduation: $11,288 </p>
<p>Percent of total undergraduate aid awarded as:
Scholarships / grants: 36%
Loans / jobs: 64% </p>
<p>Note that loans are awarded at a higher level than grants -- so you will end up with loans at Howard.</p>
<p>Priority Financial Aid Deadline for Hampton is March 1st -- a little more time, but you still need to really get that in now!</p>
<p>Here are the Hampton stats from college board:</p>
<p>Percent of total undergraduate aid awarded as:
Scholarships / grants: 39%
Loans / jobs: 61% </p>
<p>they do not report the specific information -- but again, loans still make up the bulk of the package.</p>
<p>To check out other schools for yourself, go to the collegeboard website -- <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com%5B/url%5D">www.collegeboard.com</a> -- and put in the name of the college at the top in the search bar and click the circle next to colleges. then go through the description until you get to deadlines (this is where the financial aid priority deadline is) and the financial aid section. </p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>since they are heavy on loans, If I get ouside scholarships, will that reduce the loan amount or the grant amount?</p>
<p>you have to check with colleges on that. There is no policy, some colleges will post it on website some do not. Some will decrease your loans some do 50/50.</p>