<p>Hi all, </p>
<p>I think this may have been covered in another thread once but I cannot for the life of me find it. So here goes:</p>
<p>1.) Can scholarship money be applied to the $2000 "start up" fee for the NA? </p>
<p>2.) What have other successful candidates done with any scholarship money they have earned? </p>
<p>My parents are encouraging me to apply for numerous scholarships and some of them will send me the money directly (and I provide them with proof of use, etc), others to the college, etc. so I'm in a bind as to what would happen if I went to USNA.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies and ever present help :)</p>
<p>yes scholarship funds can pay for the start-up fee...
depending on the kind of scholarship - the money does belong to you.</p>
<p>It works like this....USNA deducts from your midshipman pay ( 35% of an ensign salary) your school expenses - which for a Plebe leaves you about $50 a month as 'spending money'....if you have scholarships, many of which goes to the school, not you - USNA takes them like any other college - figures out the charges you are paying anyway ( in the form of your 'pay' - since technically you are a member of the Dept. of the Navy and receiving a salary) and refunds to you any extra money - just like any other college would.</p>
<p>If you get the scholarship money directly to you...well then, you have it for your needs however you choose. My dd got some of both kinds and yes, it can be a help - even to a 'free' school like USNA.</p>
<p>One irony of Plebe Summer is that the plebes are actually "earning" money. Last year the mids calculated their daily pay and it was pretty funny. During the academic year plebes receive approximately $200 each month to cover expenses: $100 on their midstore account; $100 deposited in their NFCU account. The midstore account is referred to as "held pay," and whatever they haven't spent during plebe year is returned to them during youngster summer. For example, if a plebe only spent $200 in the midstore during the year, they should expect to see a deposit of $1,000+ "held pay" in their NFCU account during the summer. However, parents don't get too excited because summer training/cruises is when the mids spend money like crazy! Be prepared to give your kids a couple thousand dollars spending money when they're in Japan, Alaska, Hawaii, Italy...next summer.</p>
<p>P.S. Thank goodness plebes can't put food on their midstore account! :)</p>
<p>My son had two scholarships that were paid directly to the Naval Academy. One is a four year local scholarship which when they found out he was going to the Naval Academy (even while understanding that they are in debt up to 11K through their junior year) reduced his scholarship significantly. They could pay for some of his books per the Academy but the scholarship committee decided it would be better spent by another student going. My son will get about $4k and the next student will pick up the other $10k. But if you have scholarships they certainly reduce the amount you will owe the Academy and if and when you graduate, you'll receive whatever is left in your account. Thirty years ago it was about $2,000 which paid for your Marine uniforms or if you Navy, lined your pocket for a few months.</p>
<p>You all are forgetting the $6000 loan which is repaid over the 2 (or is it 4) years. This is in addition to the $2500 or so initial fee. Some scholarships can be used against the $6000, some not.</p>
<p>Scholarships paid directly to the student can be used to offset the $2500, or used for additional expenses, such as the printer, etc.
CM</p>