<p>So I found out I'll be getting the Automatic Zero EFC, but with my sub-par stats (50% class rank, 1680 SAT) I won't be getting in anywhere that can meet full need probably. So I'm looking for scholarships, but my endless googling has gotten me nowhere besides scholarships based at certain universities.</p>
<p>So is there a source for need based scholarships that I can use anywhere?</p>
<p>Thank you in advance for your time.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that scholarships are generally an award for academic accomplishments. Since you know that your stats are modest, your chances for scholarships that would be enough to really help with college costs are very low.</p>
<p>Also, private scholarships are often only for one year, so you’d be short of money for years 2, 3, and 4.</p>
<p>Your most affordable options are going to be your local public universities and community colleges where you can commute.</p>
<p>What schools are near your home.</p>
<p>What state are you in?</p>
<p>truni, do a search her for a thread by momfromtexas. It’s a bit old now, but the info is good. She was able to find very generous merit aid for BOTH of her kiddos and one had very modest academic stats. She was very tenacious in her search and also she and her kids were very open minded about college choices. They knew that finances had to be considered and momfromtexas found schools that met their financial needs. Worth a search.</p>
<p>momfromtexas <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/3485476-post1.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/3485476-post1.html</a></p>
<p>Son #1 had a 1250/1600 SAT and 3.6 GPA. He is in his second year at a 4th tier public and has a 3.5 GPA. He has been enjoying exploring classes in fields that are not part of his major. Son #2 had a 1410/1600 SAT and 3.8 GPA.</p>
<p>What is your SAT breakdown? What is your M+CR SAT?</p>
<p>What is your GPA?</p>
<p>600 Math SAT</p>
<p>570 CR SAT</p>
<p>2.84 GPA</p>
<p>Already took some CC classes and transferring to another college. I’m in Texas.</p>
<p>I’m looking for scholarships that are primarily need based and don’t or barely look at academics.</p>
<p>I have worse stats than the kid in that example.</p>
<p>Does anybody have any info on these? Do they exist?</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of “need based scholarships”. I’ve heard of academic scholarships where they also look at “need”…but you need the academic stats for the initial consideration.</p>
<p>What state are you in?</p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>^ ^Ditto. I have never heard of a purely need based scholarship that does not take academics into account. They look at academics and need.</p>
<p>I’m in Texas. Majoring in Finance and/or Economics.</p>
<p>I found a few here and there that don’t require good grades or SAT scores, but they only provide scholarships for MINORITIES in need (which I think is really dumb, pretty much reverse discrimination since I’m being punished for being white).</p>
<p>People can establish a scholarship fund individually or at a school and designate the money to be used for any type of candidate they wish. There are funds which give scholarships to students with certain majors, students with German ancestors, students with vision impairments, students who are deaf, students who are Catholic. There are hundreds of these funds around the country. In fact, often the scholarships they are looking to provide do not go to anyone because no one applies. It’s nothing personal against YOU if you don’t fit whatever criteria they are looking for.</p>
<p>Forget about scholarships…you need financial aid.</p>
<p>Since you live in Texas, your best bet is going to be going to a Texas public college or university.</p>
<p>Texas has its own financial aid program for low income students (You may have to apply). it’s called TASFA [AIE</a> - TASFA Application](<a href=“http://www.aie.org/State/TASFA/]AIE”>http://www.aie.org/State/TASFA/) </p>
<p>So, you’ll get aid from Texas (about $3000) and you’ll get Pell (about $5550), and you’ll get a $5500 student loan. If you submit your FAFSA soon after January 1st and list your schools, you should also get about $2000 in work-study. </p>
<p>BE SURE to have your parents submit FAFSA as soon as they can after the first of the year. Those who apply for FA early get the best aid packages.</p>
<p>So, you’ll have about $14,000 for college. The work-study money would be for spending money throughout the year.</p>
<p>Now, look at some of the state schools that will admit you for your stats. </p>
<p>What state schools are you interested in?</p>
<p>I’m looking at Texas A&M- Corpus in state, but just so you know, that TASFA is only for students who can’t use the FAFSA (source: <a href=“http://www.aie.org/State/TASFA/2010-2011_tasfa_application.pdf[/url]”>http://www.aie.org/State/TASFA/2010-2011_tasfa_application.pdf</a>). So pretty much rules that out.</p>
<p>What a bummer! </p>
<p>I would think that Texas residents would be outraged that their tax dollars are going to non-citizens and not to their own low income legal residents. Outrageous! </p>
<p>I’m looking at Texas A&M- Corpus in state</p>
<p>You need to apply to more instate publics. </p>
<p>Are you getting application waivers? You qualify.</p>
<p>Your stats aren’t high enough for grants/scholarships for privates and out of state publics. </p>
<p>Is there a Texas public that you could commute to? </p>
<p>The cost for an instate Texas public is rather low…so you’re less likely to be gapped.</p>
<p>The problem with privates and OOS publics is that their costs are so high that it’s very unlikely that you would not get a huge gap in coverage. </p>
<p>OOS publics and privates cost between $25k-50k per year. It’s highly doubtful that you would get that much money in grants/scholarships.</p>
<p>What other instate Texas publics could you go to? </p>
<p>Which one do you live close enough to commute to?</p>
<p>If you answer those questions, we can look their costs up and see if they’re affordable.</p>
<p>It doesn’t really matter if I’m close enough to commute. I live independently of my parents and thus pay for all my own living costs, so pretty much anywhere in Texas.</p>
<p>Why do you say I need to apply to other in state schools? I’m guaranteed admission to this one based on class rank and SAT scores.</p>
<p>How exactly do I get application waivers? I know I should qualify, but I want to apply before I January, which is the earliest I can fill out the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Why do you say I need to apply to other in state schools? I’m guaranteed admission to this one based on class rank and SAT scores.</p>
<p>you need to apply to other Texas publics because you might get a better FA package from a different public (one might give you merit or some other grant). All state publics do NOT give identical aid packages!!</p>
<p>Also, other Texas publics might have cheaper housing/meal options. All aren’t identical. I know in our state, the price of student housing can vary by several thousands at the various publics. </p>
<p>How exactly do I get application waivers? I know I should qualify, but I want to apply before I January, which is the earliest I can fill out the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Not exactly sure. Are you in high school? If so, then your GC should know. But, also some here on CC will know.</p>
<p>What you’re looking for does not exist. Unfortunately, your route probably needs to be 2 years at a community college with good grades to transfer to a school that will give you need based aid.</p>
<p>*Not exactly sure. Are you in high school? If so, then your GC should know. But, also some here on CC will know. *</p>
<p>I’m not in high school anymore. I’ve looked on school websites and haven’t found anything. I guess I’ll just call each school individually and ask.</p>
<p>*What you’re looking for does not exist. Unfortunately, your route probably needs to be 2 years at a community college with good grades to transfer to a school that will give you need based aid. *</p>
<p>They most definitely do exist. You just have to be a minority to get them. I have taken a few community college classes (with a 3.75 GPA) but can’t afford any more as my hours at my job have been cut. And I can’t go back to community college next year because they don’t give out enough financial aid for me to pay living costs (gas, housing, insurance, food, etc.). I’m pretty much stuck to going to a full time college, as weird as that sounds.</p>
<p>Since you’re not a high schl senior your chances are even lower for getting scholarships.</p>
<p>I don’t think you’re stuck going to a full time college unfortunately. It’s more likely you’re stuck taking community college classes as you can afford them. The colleges that give enough aid to make it affordable for the low income require top grades as do outside scholarships. While the may be some outside scholarship money for minorities, I’d have to guess there’s not much. Every organization I know that gives scholarships gives them to the best students that apply.</p>
<p>I don’t think you’re stuck going to a full time college unfortunately. It’s more likely you’re stuck taking community college classes as you can afford them. The colleges that give enough aid to make it affordable for the low income require top grades as do outside scholarships. While the may be some outside scholarship money for minorities, I’d have to guess there’s not much. Every organization I know that gives scholarships gives them to the best students that apply.</p>
<p>Well I’ve applied to about 15 scholarships as of now, and none of them require a transcript or SAT score. Just a short essay and/or financial need.</p>
<p>Also, some state schools, do give out what basically amounts to tuition waivers plus the Pell grant and possibly SEOG grant coupled with some work study and Stafford loans should easily meet full need.</p>