<p>I dont understand why is it that all of the Aids and Scholarships out there are for need-based? I mean the if your low income FAFSA (the US government) gives you money to pay for your college so why add schlarships. Add on the FAFSA form why are families that tried harder working and SAVED money penalized? It sucks scholarships should be on merit-based not need because FAFSA covers that already.</p>
<p>Anyone feel this way or different</p>
<p>All aid out there isn't need-based. Where have you been looking?</p>
<p>I understand there is merit based out there but more than 75% must be need-based (when FAFSA already covered that) it sucks</p>
<p>Fafsa says how much you "need," but how many schools actually cover it all?</p>
<p>Schools have to cover what the government list over your expected family contribution. (Most schools i.e. UVA has a Surplus of extra money and even on there web site say that they give out financial aid to both low and middle income families. ) I am just saying that FAFSA penalizes families that worked harder and SAVED up money. And on top of that most scholarships out there are need when its already covered by FAFSA and their school.</p>
<p>"Schools have to cover what the government list over your expected family contribution."</p>
<p>Um, which schools are you talking about? The only schools which do this are the ones which pledge to meet 100% of your demonstrated need; most schools don't have that guarantee.</p>
<p>i know UVA does, and the top 100 schools have the funding to meet the difference. The thing i am mad about is that most scholarships out there are for need only. So meaning that a family that tried harder and SAVED money is left with LESS options than low-income family, while there are MORE than enough options for funding for college.</p>
<p>JMIONE1, a lot of families struggle to make ends meet and don't have the luxury of being able to save money. Paycheck-to-paycheck living is a reality for millions of families. If anyone deserves assistance it's families that scrape by just to meet their basic needs. How else can you make sure the children of the "barely making it" are better off than their parents. Also, the US government does not give enough money to pay for an entire college education. Pell Grants and the like only go so far. Money for the poor and working class has to come from somewhere.</p>
<p>And keep looking for scholarships. There are so many--non-need based, for certain religions, ethnicities, careers! I applied to one for Black students interested in education funded by the local Korean-American business community.</p>
<p>I just think that they should open up scholarships that are not only for need based. IT seems that there are enough already.</p>
<p>Take myself for instance, Hispanic minority, First in my family to go to college, Parents immigrated to US (Both with no college education just high school), accepted ED to UVA. and now when i am applyig for scholarships they say i dont quaify, why because my parents Struggled to make a moderate salary, and on the FAFSA i had to put how much my family has in their savings accounts (for a rainy day). It just sucks, since there is more than enough help is out there for need-based.</p>
<p>Since you are hispanic, there are definitely lots of scholarships out there. I've applied for plenty (yes many were because of need) but I've applied for some becuase I played girls golf for h.s etc.</p>
<p>The government doesn't force any school to cover the difference between total cost and the EFC. Schools choose to cover the difference because of competition from other schools. The majority of scholarships awarded are from private entities and are completely justified in making whatever stipulations they wish in the awarding of aid. Need-based scholarships are popular as a way to help students go to school that may not be able to attend otherwise. You also need to remember that need is only one criteria - the students that get the scholarships are also very good academically. </p>
<p>I understand that you don't want to see your parents spend their saving on your education, but college is the rainy day they've been waiting for. Perhaps you should look at a school that isn't so expensive and falls below their EFC. You would have a much greater chance at merit aid. If the finances are such a strain, you probably should have applied RD.</p>
<p>"I just think that they should open up scholarships that are not only for need based. IT seems that there are enough already."</p>
<p>I thought there were merit-based scholarships??? Did I miss something??</p>
<p>some need based scholarships do have merit considerations, but there are opportunities for merit aid particulary at instate public schools through honors programs</p>
<p>It also seems worth it, if you dont already have 4 years of tuition in savings ( in parents names of course), to apply for aid, just in case. Situations may change, grants may come up that require FAFSA, and at some schools if you didn't apply for freshman year, it may be really difficult to get after.</p>
<p>Aid is available for many families, still college is not easy for anyone to pay for except for the very affluent. Think of what you would have to be living on to get an EFC of Zero. Our adjusted income after taxes is less than $50,000, still our EFC is over $10,000. Don't forget that some of that will be met with loans and work study not just grants. Students who have an EFC of 0, may not be attending a school that meets 100% of need. Many schools that do meet 100% of need are not need blind, so to be dependent on recieving a lot of aid, may limit your choice of schools, unless you are a one of a kind student. For students whose families are so impoverished that they are unable to make any financial contribution to their education, are probably living in public housing, on public assistance and go to the food bank for groceries.
Would those who are complaining about the poor getting aid, like to trade their circumstances for those who don't have money for basic necessities?
It is amazing that those students are even graduating high school, with all the pressures, let alone going to college. We need to raise the level of income required to get Pell grants, not resent who are looking for a way to a better life through education.</p>
<p>First of all...the FAFSA doesn't GIVE you money. It is a form that helps determine what need based aid you are eligible for. AND remember that the government aid (even if you are entitled to the maximum amount the government awards) doesn't nearly cover the cost of attendance anywhere. This aid (Pell grants, Subsidized loans, work study, etc) is usually supplemented by parent contributions, student contributions and in some cases contributions from the universities themselves (the amount of this is dependent on the university). Many schools also award merit aid based on student performance in some area...not all schools but many. Schools like the Ivies do not do this, but many many others do. SO need is NOT the only thing considered, unless you choose only schools at which that is the case. Correct me if I'm wrong, but of the over 3000 colleges and universities, I believe only a small percentage do NOT award merit aid.</p>
<p>JMIONE1, </p>
<p>you said</p>
<p>
[quote]
I dont understand why is it that all of the Aids and Scholarships out there are for need-based? I mean the if your low income FAFSA (the US government) gives you money to pay for your college so why add schlarships.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>the cost of attendance at UVA for a Virginia resident is as follows:</p>
<p>[ul]
Tuition & fees $ 6,790
Books & supplies 1,000
Room 3,050
Board 2,990
Personal expenses 1,835
Travel 200
TOTAL $15,865
[/ul]</p>
<p>The maximum pell grant (and you need a zero EFC) to get this is $4,050
The maximum subsidized student loan for a freshman is $2650</p>
<p>Total of $6,700 still a shortfall of **$9,165<a href="from%20a%20family%20would%20would%20consider%20it%20a%20major%20blessing%20to%20have%20this%20much%20money">/b</a>. This person is not geting a free ride as s/he will have to work to come up with a student contribution and will still have ot work on campus just to lhave some day to day luxuries (toiletries). A person in this type of situation is totally dependent upon the kindness of strangers. Okay they are eligble for state aid,
[ul]
College Scholarship Assistance Program (CSAP): max $2000
Virginia Commonwealth Awards: Award amount is up to $3,000
Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP): Award amount is up to $5,000 per academic year. Students must have graduated from a Virginia high school, have a cumulative high school grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (shame on the person with the 2.4 gpa who won't be eligible)
[/ul]</p>
<p>but they are not guaranteed to get top dollar form those programs either. The person who is fortunate enough to get top dollar from these programs will have a surplus of $835 (big whoop) but will still have to work on campus and maybe even loans before it's all over.
As thumper said earlier the person in this situation will have very few college choices as the majority of the schools in this country are not need blind, so having a large financial need is going to knock them out of the box.</p>
<p>You should consider it a blessing thay your family has money to contribute to your education (which is subsidized already by your being a state resident at a public school. Imagine being out of state and having to pay $31,765.). There is a saying I complained because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet. I think that you would find it very uncomfortable to trade shoes with the person who in your opinion is getting all of their free money.</p>
<p>Your rationale is that all scholarship should be merit based, apparently this route hasn't helped you either because if you had gotten all of this merit money that you believe all aid should be based on, the amount of need-based money that someone who is less fortunate that you is recieving would be a non-issue.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>Schools have to cover what the government list over your expected family contribution.>></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>NO THEY DO NOT. Schools are under NO obligation to cover the difference between the cost of attendance and your EFC. Some schools do this, but not the majority.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>i know UVA does, and the top 100 schools have the funding to meet the difference. >></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>There are over 3000 colleges and universities in the USA. For arguments sake....let's use the number 3000. If 100 guarantee to meet the difference between your EFC and cost of attendance, that means that 2900 do NOT. Those schools that guarantee to meet your need are in the very small minority, and are very competitive in terms of admittance as well.</p>
<p>
[quote]
when some stupid poor ass white cracker gets a free ride to the same college because his family's a bunch of dumb lazy rednecks
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That is one of the most ignorant statements that I have ever heard.</p>
<p>People don't choose to be low income...</p>
<p>I am low income, but it isn't because my parents are lazy. It has more to do with things that you don't seem to want to realize. Some just aren't lucky enough to have a normal family.</p>
<p>Living life on a daily basis not knowing whether or not your single mother is going to be able to afford paying the bills to keep you living where you grew up is not a fun time. Having to cut things tight just to have money for food. </p>
<p>I'd kill to be middle income and have my mother be able to put money towards college. At least it would have saved me the burden of having to spend 8 years of my life never knowing if I would have food on the table.</p>
<p>Please rethink your statements. If not to avoid a flame war, to realize how well you really do have it.</p>
<p>well normally I don't respond to ignorant posts but given the blinders of youth and my wealth of experience as a senior member ;)
I will respond</p>
<p>
[quote]
he general rule is that if you're middle class you get f'd in the a.</p>
<p>that's why i regret taking all these stupid extracurricular activities when i got no satisfaction from them, or taking all honors and ap classes when i get no scholarships out of them. heck the same goes with the sats. i'm getting nothing.</p>
<p>when some stupid poor ass white cracker gets a free ride to the same college because his family's a bunch of dumb lazy rednecks
[/quote]
</p>
<p>First thought - class remark....not
and everyone except for those who are actually needing public assistance to live , seem to consider themselves middle class whether they are taking home $35,000 or $350,000.</p>
<p>It is regretful that you didn't enjoy your time spend away from your studies, they should be things you enjoy and would do even if there wasn't a place for them on your college application.
It is never a waste of time to challenge yourself, you will need the best academic preparation to do well in college, and taking the most rigorous courses in high school does that.
There are lots of merit aid grants available.
Other threads have ideas and most states have incentives to keep their finest students at state schools. Honors programs at these schools are one of the best buys around.
If your SAT scores don't represent your capabilities, try applying to schools that have test scores optional or not required.
Many strong schools are taking other things into consideration than numbers.</p>
<p>I hope you and your parents are having a discussion ( and have had) about what they are willing to pay for your school, so that you can make an informed choice.
I know it can be very frustrating and overwhelming, but there are resources out there.</p>
<p>"that's why i regret taking all these stupid extracurricular activities when i got no satisfaction from them, or taking all honors and ap classes when i get no scholarships out of them. heck the same goes with the sats. i'm getting nothing. "</p>
<p>Then why did you do activities and take those classes? Doing something doesn't necessarily equal money. If that were the case, we'd get paid for everything from sleeping and eating to doing actual work for an employer.</p>