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<p>You suppose you’re the only student putting out dozens of applications, hoping for a few lucky wins? The reality is that your chances of getting any significant amount of money is very slim.</p>
<p>And what about next year, when those scholarships won’t be available? What do you do then? Drop out?</p>
<p>Sounds like you need to educate yourself more on financial aid. It’s a learning process that takes times. What you will have to pay n 2012-13 will be largely dependent on what your parents made in 2011. If for some reason salary that year was very different… and was a one time thing (big commission check or something) then you can put that information in your financial aid forms and schools might take it into consideration. At this point there isn’t much you can do except wait to see what your options are and then go over them with your parents to see what you can all put together for a plan. Good luck.</p>
<p>Dreamoftravel quote:</p>
<p>Thanks. Quick question, would it make a difference if my father made less than half this salary in 2010 and all year prior?</p>
<p>2011 was a lucky salary year.</p>
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<p>Not really…at least not for a number of your schools. It might at Yale. What are your new ACT scores?</p>
<p>Your chances of getting a few thousand from private scholarships is low…and few are for multiple years. Most are for frosh year only and have a “need” component or require high stats.</p>
<p>Did you get a full tuition scholarship somewhere? If so, where?</p>
<p>Since your dad made an unusually high amount of money in 2011, I can see why your parents aren’t willing to pay much for college. If he usually makes around $60k (which is what you’ve suggested), then getting a recent huge boost might mean that they needed that money to pay for other things or to put into savings.</p>
<p>As far as the “hypothetical” scenario that your parents will be paying little…what are your parents SAYING. At this point, why are you dealing with hypothetical??? At this point, your parents have likely actually indicated what they will pay. What are they saying?</p>
<p>DreamofTravel - if your dad normally makes a lot less, consider taking a gap year. If his income is more “normal” in 2012, you may qualify for financial aid. If he has another great salary year, perhaps your parents will have more to contribute to college.</p>
<p>BTW, posters on this forum have a lot of experience with financial aid and are using their vast experience with financial aid and scholarships to help random strangers because they don’t want someone’s future ruined by massive debt. They may seem negative, but they care a lot.</p>
<p>I have one trick to save you money…it has been done before.</p>
<p>Most universities have large steam tunnels under campus. It is entirely possible to get a cot and live in those. You could probably come up with free food somewhere. $10,000 saved right there. Good luck.</p>
<p>Haystack…that is so funny!</p>
<p>American, NYU, BU and GWU do not meet the full need of all accepted students. They are all priced in the $50K range. NYU in particular is well known for its poor financial aid. BU has some excellent scholarships but the ones in excess of $20K take a separate application and are highly competitive. You might get some scholarship money at American but you will still likely have at least a $30,000 bill to pay annually, or more. GWU bounces between the most expensive and second most expensive of universities. </p>
<p>In all cases…you would need to be at the very top of the accepted applicant list to garner the very significant aid you hope to get. </p>
<p>At this point, just wait and see.</p>
<p>talk to your school guidance counselor who may be able to give you some specific advice. they may also have a list of local scholarships whose deadlines have not passed. Although not usually large $ amounts perhaps they will help a little and show your committment which may encourage your parents to step in more. Good luck</p>
<p>you did get honest advice in the above posts. Sorry it wasnt what you wanted to hear.</p>
<p>I won the $10,000 scholarship! I also just checked the status of a few other scholarships and am a finalist for one $15,000 corporate scholarship (I was able to apply through an internship I did two summers ago overseas)!</p>
<p>That’s optimism right there. Trying and working towards a goal. If anyone here is in a similar situation, get a plan B (like the $8k school mentioned above), but ALWAYS work towards your dream, plan A.</p>
<p>@polarscribe: Yes, I am going to apply to more.</p>
<p>One question: Does financial aid renew every year at these schools? Don’t I send the FAFSA or CSS every year?</p>
<p>If it is need based aid, you will need to reapply annually. Check YOUR school to see what is required of returning students for renewal of need based aid. </p>
<p>If it’s merit aid, there is usually something in the award package that tells you if the award is renewable, for how many years, and what the provisions for renewal are (a minimum GPA…and some schools do require the financial aid application forms anyway).</p>
<p>Congratulations on the scholarship. Is IT renewable for subsequent years?</p>
<p>My plan B school is $8k every year.</p>
<p>I’m talking about plan A. For example, if my father makes less money next year, would I be able to apply for financial aid again (GWU, American, other schools…)?</p>
<p>The scholarship is one-time, non-renewable. I can apply again but it’s not renewable. I’m still in the same situation, obviously.</p>
<p>Your institutional need-based financial aid will be reassessed each year based on your family’s income for the previous year.</p>
<p>But if your school does not promise to meet full need (and of those you mentioned, only Yale does) then there is no guarantee that if your father’s income drops, you will receive any more aid than you’re getting this year.</p>
<p>Congrats on the scholarship! Also, look into local scholarships in your area. They are usually for smaller $$ amounts, but there is much less competition. Ask your guidance counsellor for suggestions…every dollar counts. Good Luck!</p>
<p>As a parent, but not knowing your family’s financial situation, i have a hard time understanding a parent not footing most,if not all, of a child’s education…</p>
<p>No, that’s not the case. They expect to cover most of the tuition, but I’m still trying to get as much outside aid and scholarships as possible.</p>
<p>Did you apply for financial aid at all of the schools you applied to? It is good if you did, as some schools say you cannot change you mind and apply for need-based aid in a later year if you did not apply in your freshman year. </p>
<p>Although obviously it would not be a good plan to choose a college with the idea that you have these one time scholarships to pay the first year, and maybe your dad will make less and you will qualify for a lot of need based aid in fugure years. That would set you up for a HIGHLY stressful soph/junior/senior year scenario, I think.</p>
<p>I’m sure he will pay a good part of the tuition.</p>
<p>Yes, I applied for financial aid to all my college applications.</p>
<p>Hypothetical? You either know your parents are going to pay or not by now. </p>
<p>I suggest talking with them and moving from the hypothetical to reality… then asking your questions.</p>
<p>My questions were answered. Thanks. Only thing I’m doing now is applying to scholarships.</p>
<p>At this point most of your aid will come from the schools that want you, but you might be lucky!</p>
<p>It would be smart at this point to get an amount from your Dad…a “good part of the tuition” is alittle vague. Now that finaid is pretty much finished you at least should know what your expected family contribution is which would be the very minimum at “meets need” colleges. At the very minimum you can then get your head around what you are looking at come spring.</p>