Parents won't let me apply for scholarships....

Paying for College
1

<p>Hello CC!</p>

<p>Recently, my parents have barred me from applying to scholarships. We have an EFC of roughly 40k, but my parents have told me they will only pay 20k a year, and that I must get scholarships. However, when I approached them about a Ben Kaplan course [Not like the Kaplan SAT prep, Ben Kaplan is a scholarship coach who gives a lot of good and unique, insider information on top scholarships], for about $150. I offered to pay for it, but they said:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I was too young to apply/think about scholarships
[I'm currently a freshman in high school, but the course will give experience for the rest of my high school career]</p></li>
<li><p>It was not worth it [The package was 65% off at that time only as well as I knew the information in that was very unique and good, beyond CC level of experience. Most of his clients net over 20k in scholarship money]</p></li>
</ol>

<p>From there, they banned me from applying to all scholarships...</p>

<p>So my question is: How do I get them to reconsider their ban? Or should I even?</p>

<p>Additional Notes:
I have not talked to my father in several weeks now due to some stuff....
Also, I yelled at my parents after the decision on how their arguments made no sense, which quickly escalated to me calling them idiots and clueless about life...</p>

<p>I might have messed up here...</p>

2

<p>YOu do not need to pay anyone to help you with scholarships. That is a waste of money. Ther si plenty of information available (sterd here on CC) to research scholarships. Do not pay for scholarship applications either. There was only one legit scholarship of which I am aware that had an app fee and its funding has, IIRC sadly been exhausted.</p>

3

<p>Anyone who is charging money for “secrets” about applying for scholarships also probably has bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. So thank your parents for saving this money. </p>

<p>The best money comes from the colleges and universities themselves. To get that money you need to have stellar grades and ACT or SAT scores. In many cases, the type of merit money you would need to get your costs down to 20k each year doesn’t even require a single extra-curricular activity. So concentrate on your grades, and exam-taking skills. Pick a couple of ECs that you do enjoy, and go from there.</p>

<p>Here is one thread to start with. Read through it and get some ideas: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html?highlight=bobwallace[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html?highlight=bobwallace&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Is this one of those on-line webinar things? I think it’s too early to be useful in any real way…but that’s just my .02</p>

<p>ETA: I agree with above posts.</p>

5

<p>You really are too young for this. You need to wait.</p>

<p>Besides private scholarships aren’t really what you want. Those are hard to get and usually only for one year.</p>

<p>When you’re a junior in high school, you need to see which SCHOOLs will give you merit for your stats. That doesn’t cost anything.</p>

<p>Your parents just don’t want you to waste money.</p>

6

<p>Your subject line is inaccurate. They are not letting you pay for a service that you do not need now, and probably will not ever need (given that you post here and plenty of others here will point you to where you can find good scholarships, such as the well known <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-17.html#post15743177[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-17.html#post15743177&lt;/a&gt; thread). That is a lot different from not letting you apply for scholarships.</p>

7

<p>Yep, parents got this one right. You’re two years away from worrying about a scholarship. There are no magic beans. Hang on to the cow.</p>

8

<p>BTW…</p>

<p>If you have an EFC of $40k and your parents will only pay $20k, then don’t make a common mistake and think that you need to get $20k in scholarships to make up for the shortfall. Merit will get applied to “need” FIRST.</p>

9

<p>Ack, I can’t type. But you get the message. Don’t pay for “scholarship advice”. The only person who will make money on that one is them. No harm in looking around, especially if you want to see what it takes to get a 4 year renewable scholarship. Oh, and dont yell at your parents or call them names. Bad form.</p>

10

<p>Sign up for a free service called FastWeb. You fill our a profile and then they send you scholarship opportunities you can apply for. BUT, keep in mind that many of them are one time scholarships; so they might help you pay for freshman year, but after that you could be stuck with the cost of an expensive school.</p>

<p>Other posters are correct that the best scholarships are merit aid offered by the schools you are applying to. Be sure you apply to some in-state (or reciproricty states) schools with price tags that would be substantially covered by that 20K as financial safeties.</p>

<p>Finally…I think you did mess up. Your parents are correct that you do not need to pay a service for scholarship help. But you are not too young to apply for scholarships, there are some options for students who are only freshman. You might as well start looking at the options. But you might go back to your parents and tell them you have been researching, and that they are correct that you do not need to pay for a service. And that you are sorry (sincerely) that you called them names.</p>

11

<p>My main point was:</p>

<p>“From there, they banned me from applying to all scholarships…”</p>

<p>They ** have banned me from all scholarships ** at which point there was a large fight. However, your advice has been very helpful.</p>

12

<p>Your parents obviously aren’t clueless if they were smart enough to warn you away from some scholarship scam. Stop annoying them with this stuff. You can’t apply for scholarships for years, at which time this conversations will have been forgotten. Now go apologize for opening up a big mouth to them.</p>

13

<p>I think the ban will turn out to be temporary, based on the fact you are a freshman and almost wasted your money on a scholarship scam. My solid stat son got great merit aid at a number of unis just by making sure he was in the top 10-25% of applicants. Sure they are not top 25 schools but they all offer a solid education. The idea that someone has a special inside track is nonsense. If you want to improve your scholarship chances check out a prep book for the sats or acts from your library and start studying for the exam. Cut your parents some slack. They may have more on their minds then the fact you are applying to college in 3 years.</p>

14

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<p>I seriously doubt that there is any course or seminar anywhere that is beyond the CC level of experience. However, you will need to put in some time to learn what you need to know. The information is all here for the asking. Spend a few minutes each week reading the financial aid forum posts so that you understand how financial aid and scholarships work. By the time you’re a junior in HS, you’ll be very prepared and probably more knowledgeable on the subject than your guidance counselor.</p>

15

<p>I appreciate your honesty about the situation! Many people wouldn’t admit that they did anything wrong. A sincere apology for yelling and calling names would go a long way here. You could write it if you find it hard to say it. Your parents might be so shocked that their mouths would fall open, they might scratch their heads in confusion, and they might be more willing to discuss things with you in the future.</p>

<p>You are not too young to be thinking about scholarships, but there are very few for which you could apply now anyway. CC has a wealth of information, and it is free. </p>

<p>By far the best deal going is the national merit scholarship. If you have a shot at it, prepare for the PSAT and the SAT and plan to take the SAT in October of your junior year, right before you take the PSAT. I recognize that the PSAT is supposed to prepare you for the SAT, not the other way around, but there are thousands of dollars on the line here, and you can always retake the SAT, but the PSAT is a one-shot deal. </p>

<p>I found Fastweb to be full of totally irrelevant scholarships, even after inputting personal information to narrow down choices. I read through thick books of scholarship listings from my local library. Even in recent publications, many scholarships listed were no longer offered or their websites didn’t exist. The best thing I did to research scholarship alternatives, in addition to reading CC, was to research options in my area. One way was to search local high schools’ guidance counselors’ websites. My children went to a private school, and i found a lot of info on public school websites.</p>

<p>I prepared a large spreadsheet noting deadlines, whether need was considered, and requirements. My children didn’t apply for scholarships if need was a consideration.</p>

<p>My two children received over $250,000 in scholarship offers, not including the many offers of free tuition, room and board my daughter received for being a National Merit Scholar.</p>

<p>Now would be a great time to think of how you can spend your summers well, to work on getting good grades, and to do your part to repair your relationship with your parents.</p>

16

<p>The national merit is for sure an excellent scholarship in many cases, but be aware that many schools do not offer it, and the corporate provided scholarship is not a big amount ( 2500/ year IIRC). That won’t meet the OP’s need</p>

17

<p>I believe Schokolade was referring to the scholarships offered by various Schools to National Merit Finalists. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

18

<p>There is no need for a coach. Become your own coach and start reading these forums. Also start putting together a list of colleges where you will receive significant merit aid. Here are some ways to save: </p>

<p>Merit Aid - based on grades and test scores (some of this aid can cut the tuition in half) </p>

<p>Room & Board - If you can commute this can save a bundle. </p>

<p>Tuition Discounts - Based on the college. If your parents or sibling attended you may get a tuition discount. Other discounts are available. </p>

<p>The key is RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. That’s how many people here on CC have become so knowledgeable. In the end you will probably know more then your guidance counselor.</p>

19

<p>ask your parents when you will start being allowed to apply to scholarships, and go from there</p>

20

<p>OP if I told my daughter that I would give her 20,000 dollars for college each year and she called me a idiot, I’d be 80,000 dollars richer in four years. Consider yourself as lucky that you have YOUR parents. And remember they are not obligated to give you one penny. Watch your mouth!</p>