President Obama Proposes Hacking Byrd Scholarship: TAKE ACTION NOW!!

Paying for College
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<p>Wow, “BuddyMcAwesome” . . . really??? And you’re at Princeton?</p>

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<p>Who cares where white, we wouldn’t get it anyway!</p>

<p>Financial aid is the dark side of education!</p>

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<p>“Key eliminations include Educational Technology State Grants, which sought to make all students technologically literate by the end of eighth grade; Literacy through School Libraries, which provided up-to-date materials for school libraries; and the Byrd Honors Scholarship Program, which provided scholarships to gifted high school seniors. Those cuts amounted to $161 million.”</p>

<p>[Department</a> of Education Fares Well in Budget Deal - High School Notes (usnews.com)](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2011/04/13/department-of-education-fares-well-in-budget-deal]Department”>http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2011/04/13/department-of-education-fares-well-in-budget-deal)</p>

<p>The only large merit scholarship available to students at first-tier colleges appears to have been eliminated.</p>

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<p>While it’s been on the chopping block every year that I can remember, my fear was always that when Byrd died that this scholarship would too.</p>

<p>Sad to see all of these educational programs go, so short sighted, and for peanuts budget-wise.</p>

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<p>Not sure I understand what you mean, are you saying that you believe that the Byrd scholarship is awarded on the basis of race?</p>

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<p>I find it beyond infuriating that concerns about the national debt are being used to justify cutting social programs that amount to a pittance-I imagine the whole Byrd scholarship program could be funded by omitting a few Tomahawk missiles from the Pentagon budget–but I can’t really muster up any concern about this particular cut. I don’t see why the Federal government needs to be in the business of awarding merit scholarships with no need component. Those who have no need will be able to attend college anyway–probably getting merit awards from their colleges as well–so what is the compelling government interest here? I’d rather see this money used to increase Pell grants.
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<p>I am for getting rid of this scholarship.</p>

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<p>Me too, but only for Pells at public colleges. (Do we really need to subsidize students to attend Harvard? Last time I checked, H had more cash in the bank than the federal govt. H would easily cough up the cash to support its low-low income students.)</p>

<p>Obviously, every state managed the Byrd program differently. In California, it was ALL about test scores. Non-2400’s need not apply. Even a 36 would be parsed by individual components scores, i.e, a ‘real’ 36 vs. a 35.75 vs. 35.5 rounded up. Sheesh.</p>

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<p>Why is the Byrd Scholarship considered bad?</p>

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<p>I am only for getting rid of Byrd if Pell is adjusted for COLA and age of parents.</p>

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<p>What does COLA mean? You mean the Coca Cola Scholarship? And how would adjusting based on age of parents be useful or meaningful?</p>

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<ol>
<li><p>COLA – sost of living. Right now, PELL/FAFSA work on rule that someone earning 40,000 per year in Peoria is the same as on the coasts. Easy enough to fix, the fed govt has COLA for use in paying fed employees, it could be exported.</p></li>
<li><p>Age of parents – to be expected to spend 5.6% (or whatever) per year on kid when you are 59 v. 43 is really a big difference. It can clobber savings. Not everyone has access to 401K (or equivalents).</p></li>
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<p>So COLA = Cost of Living Adjustment, right? You said “sost of living” which doesn’t make sense.</p>

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<p>The government needs to help more people, but specifically the poor and working class. Expanding Pell’s EFC range could be helpful, as could increasing the amount based on institution cost. Also, when I filled out the IDOC, I was shocked that they asked so many more useful questions than the FAFSA, which really needs to get more specific.</p>

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It was pretty obvious what was meant. One letter was off due to a slip of the hand. No need to jump on someone for that.</p>

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<p>Who exactly fills out the IDOC and what is the IDOC used for? Financial Aid?</p>

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IDOC is a service offered by College Board for putting together tax forms and additional information (monthly family budgets, rent/mortgage information, travel costs including gas and tolls, lots more) for financial aid. It is not widely used, however. I only filled it out for one school (Notre Dame) out of many; it shows much more of my family’s need and unusual situation than the FAFSA or CSS Profile.</p>

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<p>Do some colleges require IDOC? Why would people file a IDOC? Would filing a IDOC increase your financial aid?</p>

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Some colleges do require it. Here, on the far right column, it says which: <a href=“https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv[/url]”>https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>People file it for schools that require it. It provides more detailed information on a family’s financial situation, so you get better aid, in the sense of more appropriate aid, since it fits your true need (beyond just FAFSA EFC).</p>

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Also, paladins are lawful, haha. You would probably be more interested in the Holy Liberator, if you have Comp. Divine from 3.5 Ed.</p>

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<p>Oh well, I was hoping they would grandfather in those who had already been awarded the scholarship. $4500 isn’t chump change and the $1500 for this year was better than a stick in the eye.</p>

<p>They are right though, my son will be able to continue in college as will his roommate at their in-state public. It was a nice honor for my son. Both he and his roommate from solidly middle class families who went to rather ordinary middle class schools.</p>

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<p>what is the middle class anyway?
Is it income or standard of living?</p>

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