<p>Hi, I'm not currently applying to colleges and haven't filled out FAFSA or anything like that, but I will be soon and I had some questions. </p>
<p>If schools let me stack schollys until it reaches COA, is that only for the first year?
What I mean by that, if say I'm going to a 34,000 tuition, 45k total COA school. And say that school gives me a 20k scholly, through the school. That still leaves me with 25k per year to pay, so 100k over 4 years. Can I try to get near 100k in outside scholarships(this is probably a lot harder than it sounds, I know) or will they stop me at 25k, just covering my freshman year?</p>
<p>Do you think I would get many decent schollys from an outside source with a 3.85 UW GPA, 2100/32 SAT/ACT and I'm Eagle Scout.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>You need to check with the individual school to find out how they handle outside scholarships.</p>
<p>usually outside scholarships are applied in this order:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>they reduce the self help aid to the student (work study & student loans)</p></li>
<li><p>then they reduce the institutional aid (scholarsips and grant monies given directly by the college)</p></li>
<li><p>most outside colleges cannot be used to reduce your family's EFC.</p></li>
<li><p>some colleges will allow you to use your outside scholarship for a one-time purchase of a computer for school.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>If your school "gaps", meaning it does not mee 100% of your demonstrated need, you will have to find out from the school if you can use the outside scholarships to fill the gap.</p>
<p>also remember that all scholarship $$ over the cost of tuition and fees is taxable income to the student.</p>
<p>
[quote]
That still leaves me with 25k per year to pay, so 100k over 4 years.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>In addition to the points that sybbie states, your scenario is still a very long shot as far as being able get 25k/yr in outside scholarships. Of course there are "big" scholarships out there, but the odds of getting them are extremely small. Most of the attainable (eg. local) outside scholarships are for relatively small amounts (1k or less) and are for freshman year only. And the number of outside scholarships available past freshman year shrinks substantially.</p>