<p>i've been told time and time again that most of my money will come from the schools i apply to- and that i will get everything paid for.i am applying for scholarships but i haven't received any yet and the even if i did get one, it probably wouldnt even make a dent into a year's worth of college.</p>
<p>what are the chances of getting a full scholarship from the school and how often does that happen? and if it does, is it like a scholarship i apply for and compete against other freshmen for or is it almost like a grant...? i have no idea and am really confused.</p>
<p>Grants are usually need based (if you have financial need based on your financial aid applications).</p>
<p>Scholarships are usually merit based - ie dependent on any or a combination of ACT/SAT/GPA/rank/leadershipetc.</p>
<p>The top schools (IVYs) do not generally give merit scholarships just need based aid.</p>
<p>Many other schools give merit scholarships. To be eligible for merit scholarships you need to apply to schools where you are in the top few % points Stats wise. Some you will compete against other freshmen (a board of people look at every one that is eligible - usually based on minimum GPAs and ACT or SAT scores - and then decide based on other additional factors such as leadership or ECs). Others may be automatic if you meet minimum GPAs, ACTS etc (usually high cut off).</p>
<p>Full scholarships exist but are probably not common.</p>
<p>Well it depends on your families financial situation (how much they can/will pay for school or if you qualify for need based aid) your statistics and the school you go to. The IVYs give very good need based aid to low income students.</p>
<p>We have financial need. My daughter did not apply to goes to a State U and has some good need based grants and work study but would have had to have a fair amount in loans if she had not qualified for some very good merit awards based on her academics. She will have very little debt.</p>
<p>"so chances are ill have to get a lot of loans and be full of debt when i graduate college? i was trying to avoid that, if at all possible..."</p>
<p>Reread swimcatsmom's post: "To be eligible for merit scholarships you need to apply to schools where you are in the top few % points Stats wise." This is key. It worked for me and many people I know.</p>
<p>is there a chance of getting more money from a school also based on minority status, what kind of high school i go to (because its a different kind of school) and community service? or would those kind of scholarships just come from anywhere and not the school?</p>
<p>ps. "very little debt" is like $10,000? i've heard of some people having somewhere around 70-100,000 in debt. i really don't want that</p>
<p>those merit scholarships- how often are they given out? does it matter which school? or are they whenever students need them, or what?</p>
<p>i'm not trying to get into IVY league or anything but schools that are a little better than average</p>
<p>Yes, it helps to be an underrepresented minority. But without specifics (your stats and what schools you are interested in, it is impossible to comment intelligently.</p>
<p>well, my mom is also a college student and we both have part time jobs. so our income is almost nothing.but she worked a full-time job before we moved so next yr when she files her taxes it will say how much she made right? but all tht money went to our move</p>
<p>i have not yet taken the SAT (im taking it in may). does volunteer work matter at all? or no?</p>
<p>schools im interested in:
Bard College (NY)
Boston University
Univ. of Minnesota, Twin Cities
American University (Washington D.C.)
Univ. of Maryland, College Park
Univ. of Penn.</p>
<p>i have others, but those are mostly, my main ones. Bard is my favorite though.</p>
<p>My D just got accepted into Bard and they are offering a $12,000 scholarship. We were quite surprised because I'd heard stories of being only offered loans and work study in financial aid packages. So don't be discouraged. Now she has to decide if Bard is her favorite. Good Luck!</p>
<p>12 grand won't even come close to covering a whole school year at Bard tho. its about $45,000. how will she pay the rest? loans? im almost afraid of loans.
i dont want debt at all.
but i assume its unavoidable right?</p>
<p>Once you get your SAT scores you will know better where you might get scholarship money. Look at your state schools, too. Always have a financial safety you can pay for even if that is the community college. Once you know your scores and have an accurate gpa you can start to compare them to the schools you like. </p>
<p>The top schools don't give merit scholarships only need based on the fafsa and the profile. Go to college board on line and find the financial aid calculator and have your Mom do it. Then you will know what they might expect you to pay. Schools will expect your father to help, too, even if he doesn't live with you. You need his financial information, too, to put in the calculator. </p>
<p>If you are in the top 5% of a schools statistics and they give merit aid you might get some, but it rarely pays for the whole thing. If you are low income and apply and get accepted to a need only school they should give you grant/work study and loans to pay for it. Merit schools give need aid in addition to the merit aid. </p>
<p>You should go to the library and get a book about college financial aid. It sounds like you are confused about how it works. Go to your school counselor and ask for help!</p>
<p>the problem with my school, and the area i live in, my counselor doesn't know a whole lot. i've had to ask other people for help.
kids going to college around here isn't a priority, or even a thought.
80% of my friends will not go to college, they will just stay here and work. so the teachers don't even really know much either.</p>
<p>so it's really hard to get help with different things, like college essays and SAT prep you know? it's difficult for me.</p>
<p>Boston U, which you are interested in, has a very comprehensive site, with a list of scholarships available, the criteria by which they are awarded, and the average SAT score, GPA, etc, of past recipients, plus charts showing the percentage of applicants receiving different levels of aid by income and achievement, and whole lot of other information on loans, grants, etc. Boston</a> University Admissions - Financial Aid Taking a look at their site might give you an idea of how financial aid works in practice.</p>