<p>I have been reading CC for the last year and love all the advise given. My D is a Senior and we have been experiencing all the excitment and stress this year has to offer. We have had a huge disappointment with a college rejection and huge excitement with acceptances. However the scholarship ride has been the most disappointing. There is the Lilly Foundation Scholarship, (a full ride to any college within the state) in past years there have been 2 given to the county which we live. Due to cut backs, this year there was only one awarded. The top whatever % from each school was given applications then 10 from the entire county was choosen to interview. IMO there were 4 kids that were above and beyond the others (and my D was one). However the scholarship was awarded to a girl who already has a scholarship. She has 21st century scholar. This is a scholarship that is granted in the jr high years, it has income guidelines and if you qualify in jr high and keep your gpa above a certain number and stay out of trouble you will be given this scholarship upon graduation. I was shocked that she even applied for the Lilly scholarship already having this and shocked again to find out that she was awarded this. There is a place to list on the application any other scholarships you have and although i do not know if she marked it, I would think that this is something the scholarship committee looks into. It just seems so unfair that a scholarship is wasted when so many are in need. I am trying to not have bad feelings toward this girl and not feel cheated. Even if she didn't win, that doesn't mean my D would have. I just feel this is a complete waste. Thanks for listening to me vent!!!</p>
<p>In my experience with outside scholarships is they are a bunch of BS. Most outside scholarships go to people that know someone, IE Senators and Congressman, so much for that route.</p>
<p>But there is still good news, I don’t know how familiar you are with the way College scholarships work, but I also have learned very much from this forum. With that said,a couple of questions.
What is D’s GPA?
What is D’s ACT or SAT?
What is D’s class rank?
Are you URM?
What State are you in?</p>
<p>Many outside scholarships do not take into consideration other awards. They want the best possible winner and if that person has to choose between awards or can layer it, that is just the way it goes. Many times the award will just replace financial aid from a school. It gets too complicated to go looking into who is a one and only for an award and who isn’t. </p>
<p>It does seem that some kids get an embarrassment of riches in term of acceptances and awards while someone else just about as qualified is not so lucky that given year. It’s much nicer when the wealth is spread more evenly.</p>
<p>I don’t know which county in Indiana you live in, but many counties consider financial need for the Lilly scholarship. Our county prefers applicants who are the first generation in their family to attend college. The 21st century scholarship pays up to the tuition costs for any of Indiana’s PUBLIC schools. The Lilly pays tuition (and a book fee I think) for ANY school in Indiana ie all the private schools too- a huge difference depending on the chosen school. A 21st Century scholar who attends a private school would indeed need the Lilly scholarship to cover tuition. Or maybe even forfeit the 21st Century scholarship and save the taxpayers some money!</p>