<p>Hello, </p>
<p>I am a high senior with a GPA 2.5 and an ACT score of 17 (taking it again 9/11/2010). Are there any scholarships that are not GPA based for: African American, LGBT, minority, ect. ? And if they are GPA based are there any for 2.0-2.5 GPAs ? I am trying to start writing my essays for scholarships now. </p>
<p>Thanks for any help that can be givin!</p>
<p>College financial aid is either based upon a student’s merit or a student’s need. Scholarships are merit-based and are given to students whose credentials are so high that a school could not otherwise hope to attract them. Since your stats are not high, merit-based scholarships aren’t realistic. But financial aid - both federal and institutional - can also be given on the basis of financial need. Is your family likely to qualify based upon their income? You can use this online calculator:
[FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator - Finaid)
to determine what your Expected Family Contribution may be per year. You would be eligible to receive the balance of a college’s annual cost in aid (though not all colleges guarantee to meet 100% of your financial need).</p>
<p>Community college may be an option that could be both low cost and provide an opportunity for eventual access to a 4-year college.</p>
<p>I agree that starting at a CC will be best with those stats. Right now, the stats are too low for many/most colleges - especially the ones that would give aid.</p>
<p>If you go to a CC first, get high grades, then you can transfer to a school that gives good aid.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback! Do community colleges give finacial aid to students? Do CCs take scholarship as well? I’m planning on going to a CC in Hawaii … !</p>
<p>Well, most colleges participate in the Pell and Stafford loan programs. A CC in Hawaii sounds like a great idea, especially if you can meet the residency requirements and/or the costs are low enough that you can afford it with the federal loans or out of pocket.</p>
<p>Do community colleges give finacial aid to students? Do CCs take scholarship as well? I’m planning on going to a CC in Hawaii … !</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>Is your family moving to Hawaii? If not, that is probably not a good idea. </p>
<p>CC’s don’t typically have aid to give other than Pell to low-income students and student loans. And, you’d have to pay OOS costs and of course, room and board. </p>
<p>Is your family low income? Would you qualify for a Pell Grant?</p>
<p>At Hawaii CC, the OOS cost is $281 a credit…Since most students take 30 credits a year, that’s $8430 per year plus room, board, and books (probably another $12k -15k per year). Even if you got a full Pell Grant, it wouldn’t even cover tuition.</p>
<p>BDancer - Here’s the challenge that you have. You’ll need financial assistance and are asking about scholarships. Colleges may award scholarships to top students for whom they want to compete, or outside foundations and agencies may offer scholarships in order to support students with significant academic promise. But your academic record is below the average for U.S. high school students and well below that for college-bound students. I’ve seen on another thread that your goal is to go to the U. of Hawaii or Hawaii Pacific, but you don’t state an academic reason for that goal, nor do the schools seem to have much in common with one another. The impression that all that gives is that you’re primarily just looking to enjoy an extended visit to Hawaii for a few years, and you’re just not going to find anyone who will think that that is a goal that they should help to financially support.</p>
<p>I’d suggest that you take a look at your interests and your goals beyond college and consider some academic paths that hold a legitimate appeal for you. If you’re undecided about those interests, then the local community college route would probably be the most cost-effective way to compile academic experiences that will help you to make a decision about your best fit for your junior and senior years. (Note that the cost of living in Hawaii is, along with NYC and San Francisco, one of the highest in the nation.)</p>
<p>Gadad is exactly right. Read his post again and take everything to heart.</p>
<p>Right now, with a 0 EFC the most aid you’re likely going to get is a $5500 Pell , some TAP money (if you’re a NY resident and go to school in NY, and a $5500 student loan. That’s enough to live at home and go to a CC or maybe a local state school (if you can get accepted). It is NOT enough to pay for the costs of going to school in Hawaii…especially since you won’t get TAP in Hawaii.</p>
<p>I would recommend going to your local CC for 2 years, save as much money as you can, and then if after 2 years you can afford it and have good grades, transfer to a school that will work for you. :)</p>
<p>Your stats won’t qualify for scholarships. Scholarships are for a reward for top stats…they aren’t just for those who “want” them.</p>
<p>So you’re saying that the student doesn’t actually live in Hawaii? That means that she won’t get the Hawaii Incentive Program and other state grants from their government. If so, then it might not be such a good idea after all. It’s a good choice to attend the community college in your state. I’m not going to say that all CCs are equally good, or that they’re all the same, but it’s financially not a good idea to spend the money unless and until you have a plan to move there and establish residency before going to school.</p>
<p>^^^ Residency is a good point. It’s not a factor at private schools like HPU, but the difference in tuition at UH for Hawai’i residents and non-residents is $13,500 a year. To become a Hawai’i resident, you’d need to abandon all legal and financial lies to your current state, move to Hawai’i, and begin earning a living wage and paying taxes there for at least one year BEFORE beginning any higher education, either CC or university.</p>
<p>Gardna…the OP is a NY resident I think. If so, then the OP shouldn’t abandon the TAP opportunities there. </p>
<p>Actually residency IS as factor for HPU. It’s one of those privates that gives more $$ to HI residents. I guess it doesn’t want mainlanders with higher stats snapping up all their money.</p>