<p>DS is a junior active in FIRST robotics and Project Lead the Way. He should also be a NMF (PSAT 230) if he doesn't mess his grades up to much. I contacted University of Rochester to see is the NMF school scholarship and FIRST scholarship could be combined and was told they do not stack scholarships.</p>
<p>Is it the norm to not stack school scholarships. Does anyone know what schools do and do not allow for stacking?</p>
<p>Im not sure what you mean by stacking. Are you referring to using merit aid to pay your EFC?</p>
<p>Yes, in other words U of R has a $17,000 guranteed NMF award and if you are given that you can not recieve any other merit awards from the school. So he could not recieve both the robotics scholarship and the NMF money from Rochester. He could apply for outside scholarships and/or financial aid (which we won’t qualify for much).</p>
<p>The merit aid at Rochester may have a need component.</p>
<p>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1194610-some-colleges-adverse-stacking-financial-aid.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1194610-some-colleges-adverse-stacking-financial-aid.html</a></p>
<p>We found each university is different. For example, Texas A & M would let you stack their scholarships and bring in outside scholarships. Northeastern will let our D have full tuition but can’t stack any of their scholarships on top of this. They will allow outside scholarships (not NM) to offset housing costs. Reed would expect outside scholarships to reduce what the university is giving to meet our need.</p>
<p>It is a very confusing process. I’ve found the finacial aid offices to be very polite and clearly answer my questions. It’s great that you’ve begun this early to explore all the options.</p>
<p>Is the First scholarship also from URoch?</p>
<p>Some schools will not stack scholarships so that they can spread scholarships around to more students. You just get the biggest one awarded.</p>
<p>Some schools will let you stack, but won’t let you stack beyond the cost of “tuition only” (not including Room and Board or other costs). </p>
<p>Some schools will let you stack as much as you get and will refund the difference to you after school starts. </p>
<p>My kids were able to stack NMF scholarships, engineering scholarships, corporate scholarships and private scholarships. It’s up to each school.</p>
<p>Getting lots of merit and being able to stack can effectively reduce your EFC if all of the merit covers need and then cuts into the EFC.</p>
<p>
Rochester does not have a need component to merit aid.
[University</a> of Rochester : Financial Aid](<a href=“http://enrollment.rochester.edu/financial/undergrads/scholarships.shtm]University”>http://enrollment.rochester.edu/financial/undergrads/scholarships.shtm)</p>
<p>The FIRST scholarship is also from URoch. I guess they just want to spread the merit money around. So I guess the take away is talk to ever school and no deal is close to as good as Alabama.</p>
<p>There are some schools that do allow “stacking” of scholarships from all sources including outside scholarships, need based grants, everything…up to the cost of attendance. This is NOT the norm. Most schools reduce your NEED by any outside scholarships you receive. In other words, you don’t have as much need for the school to fill if someone else fulfills part of that need. Also, most schools do not allow their scholarships/grants to be used to pay your family contribution (EFC) so scholarships will not reduce that amount.</p>
<p>You need to contact each college to see their policy.</p>
<p>When schools reduce need based awards, they usually reduce loans first…then self help (work study) and then grants. BUT YMMV depending on the school.</p>
<p>With your son’s PSAT scores, assuming a decent enough GPA and good SAT scores, he should be able to find a decent merit award someplace that will pay a goodly chunk of his college costs.</p>