<p>I'm from a relatively poor family that will not be able to pay very much of my college expenses, I'm looking at places like Purdue, Tulane, and Virginia Tech for engineering but I don't know if I could pay for purdue even if I got in. I really want to minimize my debt coming out of college but my stats are not amazing enough to get me many merit scholarships (29 ACT (31R, 31S, 29E, 26M) and 3.6 GPA). I've applied for every scholorship my school offers as well as all the dosomething's and a few others. Are there are other ones that are hidden or hard to find? I will obviously be apply for FAFSA but it will only help so much. Thank you so much.</p>
<p>You will be submitting a FAFSA…not applying TO FAFSA. The FAFSA is a financial aid application form. It is used to primarily to determine eligibility for federally funded need based aid. This is based mostly on your parents’ incomes and assets.</p>
<p>Will you qualify for need based aid? </p>
<p>If you are low income, you should look at possible aid for low income students in your state. Does your state have any aid for low income student’s?</p>
<p>It looks like you are instate for VA. That being the case, purdue will likely be unaffordable as an OOS student. Did you apply to ODU? Their engineering department is fine, and is less competitive for admissions than VT.</p>
<p>Have you discussed college finances with your parents? The reality is parents are the first ones in line when it comes to paying for college. How much can your parents contribute annually for college for you?</p>
<p>You have stated that you are from a ‘relatively poor family’, but you also posted the following:</p>
<p>“My parents will help a lot (they are willing to pay a majority of my college either in or out of state) with the costs, but some loans will be involved as they want me to “Have something” in my education. Granted I don’t want to go to a $60k a year school if no financial aid is available, but If the better education will help get me a high paying job…it makes sense”</p>
<p>So, are you poor or not?</p>
<p>but If the better education will help get me a high paying job…it makes sense"</p>
<p>You will NOT get a better paying job just because another school costs more money. VT is plenty good enough</p>
<p>You will not get paid more if you go to Purdue or Tulane. It just doesn’t work that way. </p>
<p>Do not take out a bunch of loans. </p>
<p>Seriously, when you graduate and are working, you’re going to meet fellow new-hires who’ll be paid the same as you are, and they won’t have that debt because they went to affordable (maybe lesser) schools. Your company isn’t going to pay you more.</p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>Doesn’t the state of VA have state aid for low income families? If so, then go to VT. With state and fed aid, it should be more easily affordable.</p>
<p>Companies are not gong to purposely choose a Purdue grad over a VT grad just because of the school’s name.</p>
<p>My parents will help a lot by taking out loans and selling things but I don’t want to make them do that. This whole name thing has already been discussed, I live In VA and to my knowledge the only aid is FAFSA, my parents already have 2 siblings in college so theiy don’t have any other money. </p>
<p>Back to the reason I made this thread, are there any non-merit scholorships I haven’t applied for? Even a $500 scholarship will add up. Thanks</p>
<p>I just want to kindly point out that it is spelled ‘scholarship’, not scholorship: when applying for ‘scholarships’ it is important to spell correctly.</p>
<p>No one can easily give you a list of non-merit scholarships you haven’t applied for; there isn’t a scholarship fairy (or a tuition fairy). </p>
<p>The parents on CC are trying to help you think realistically about paying for college. A $500 scholarship, loans that a poor family could obtain, and selling ‘things’ may not help you enough.</p>
<p>I do understand people are trying to talk to me about tution, and I understand it isn’t realistic to attend an OOS when I will have to take out massive amounts of loans. But I do have reasons to get out of Virginia and if I get into Purdue it will be an option for me.</p>
<p>You need to think ahead. In 4-5 years you’ll be graduating with an engineering degree (hopefully). </p>
<p>when you get that first job, you’ll be paid the SAME as the grads from other schools…even much lower ranked schools.</p>
<p>How are you going to feel if a big chunk of your income has to go towards big loans, month after month, year after year…while your colleagues are able to put their paychecks towards buying a new home, savings, etc? </p>
<p>I also don’t understand how a “poor family” is going to qualify for these loans…</p>
<p>Ask the schools you get accepted to for a list of private scholarships available. Google ‘engineering scholarships’ and all subcategories you qualify for like female, minority, Virginia resident, etc., if they apply to you. Ask your high school for a list (most have them). There are some scholarships available, but often they are just for freshman year, for certain schools or states, for minorities.</p>