<p>I decided to check my SAT scores today, and they turned out to be very good, just as I expected them to be. So, what kinds of scholarships are available? Should I apply before or right after the FAFSA application this January 1st? </p>
<p>Fastweb only had a small selection of scholarships that involved stuff that I would never do to get a scholarship (like submitting photos of animals in a shelter).</p>
<p>The best merit scholarships are offered by the colleges themselves. Please read the merit aid section of the FAQ at the top of this forum. </p>
<p>Quite a few have earlier deadlines than Jan 1, with many in November or December. Many also require that you apply Early Action to the college.</p>
<p>Check colleges that you are interested in. Their websites will provide information on requirements for their merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Use the search engine on this site to check for schools with guaranteed merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Ask your school guidance counselor for information on local scholarships that you can apply for (my daughter had three renewable scholarships that she got that way).</p>
<p>FAFSA is only for federal loans and grants. The application does not get you scholarships for grades or test scores. Schools often use the information to determine need for aid, but it doesn’t get you any merit aid.</p>
<p>Also, some schools require the other applications for financial aid. Again, check the schools that interest you to see what they require.</p>
<p>What if I want to go to San Jose State University?</p>
<p>^^^
Then check San Jose’s website for scholarships.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for scholarships that can be used at the college of your choice, then you’re not likely going to find what you want if you need money for all four years. Private scholarships (like from Fastweb or local businesses) are usually for small amounts and ONLY for freshman year.</p>
<p>If you need scholarship money to go to college, then you have to apply to the schools that give money for your stats.</p>
<p>What is your intended major?</p>
<p>San Jose State gives minimal merit aid:</p>
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</p>
<p>Pipcard: BobWallace is right. San Jose State may be your dream school (not sure why), but if you have great stats and financial need, you may be able to beat SJS’s cost at private universities. You should expand your search.</p>
<p>Pip…if you’re a Calif resident and qualify for Cal Grants, then you’d get free tuition at a Cal public</p>
<p>
Aerospace/astronautical engineering.</p>
<p>
I want something in the Bay Area, unless there’s something better that is also located in California.</p>
<p>Another post says you live in the Bay area. That being the case, you are fortunate to be an instate resident in CA. You should check the website of the college for scholarships. Is you total family income below $80,000. If so, you would be eligible for the Calgrant, I believe. Do you plan to commute or live at your home?</p>
<p>
Doesn’t living at your home require you to commute, anyway?</p>
<p>I’d rather not live at my home, but on-campus.</p>
<p>Some folks commute from off campus apartments.</p>
<p>Back to your original question. You have great SAT scores…is your GPA similarly high? And does your family qualify for the Calgrant?</p>
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It’s about 4.0, and I never asked my parents about their income yet.</p>
<p>And they just told me that they don’t qualify for the Cal Grant.</p>
<p>Ok…did you ask your parents how much they’ll pay? </p>
<p>If you don’t qualify for a Cal Grant, then you’ll be “full pay” at San Jose State…(about $20k per year or so for tuition, fees, room, board, etc).</p>
<p>If your parents won’t pay that much, then you need to apply to schools that will give you large merit for your stats.</p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>Again, private scholarships and FastWeb are dealing with one year only scholarships most of the time. Those won’t pay for the other 3 years.</p>
<p>I already said that my desired major was “Aerospace/astronautical engineering”.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1523536-website-calculates-automatic-full-tuition-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1523536-website-calculates-automatic-full-tuition-scholarships.html</a></p>
<p>Are there any colleges in California that provide major merit scholarships? They don’t need to be full tuition.</p>
<p>See chart:</p>
<p><a href=“Colleges and Universities That Award Merit Aid - Graphic - NYTimes.com”>Colleges and Universities That Award Merit Aid - Graphic - NYTimes.com;
<p>There are some Calif schools that offer merit scholarships, but you need AeroE.</p>
<p>How much will your parents pay? </p>
<p>The problem I see is this. As an instate student, if you pay full freight at San Jose State, the cost would be about $20k per year. </p>
<p>So, since you’re asking for scholarships to reduce the cost of San Jose, that suggests that the cost there is too expensive.</p>
<p>So…when you say that you don’t need “full tuition”, then you’d end up paying MORE at another school with merit. For instance, if you got a partial merit scholarship to Santa Clara or U San Diego, your remaining costs would be over $35k per year…which is MORE than San Jose.</p>
<p>Once you tell us how much your parents will pay, we can better help you.</p>
<p>What is your Math + CR score?</p>