<p>I was wondering what people's idea of full ride actually was.
Just covering school tuition? it paying even for your food, books, supplies?
What does your school cover when they give people full rides??</p>
<p>I don't have a full ride btw, but I do have a grant that completely covers my tuition (38K). However, I'll have about 20K in loans still from other supplies and housing fees... sigh. What's the average college student loan anyhow?</p>
<p>It's rare that a student gets R&B included but some due. I remember a parent (who was still very grateful ) saying when I heard "full tuition scholarship", my heart raced but then I realized it was just tuition,not R & B, which was almost 10,000 a year. (I'll take that!!) That and books/extras came to about 15,000 the first year, less after that, but it was a big help.
I have read the 20,000 you mentioned was an average, but that is growing with the cost of college going up with 30.000 not being uncommon.</p>
<p>When I hear "full ride," I think tuition, room and board. Then depending on the school, they may also include books, transportation, stipend or study abroad. Or all of the above.</p>
<p>Full ride is tuition, room, and board. Some schools might even go beyond that and pay for your books and give you a stipend, but this is very rare.</p>
<p>Few colleges give full rides. Most give full tuition scholarships at the max.</p>
<p>Is the $20k for the whole 4 years or for 1 year? If it is for the whole 4 years it is about the average total student debt. If it is per year it is a lot.</p>
<p>A true full ride to be would be full tuition, related fees (lab fees, engineering class fees, etc) housing, meal plan, and books. A full ride should at least include tuition and room & board.</p>
<p>The best schools at giving full tuition, room, and board seem to be public schools in the south. I think it's because they are trying to shed their image of inferiority to public schools elsewhere by attracting top students. (UGA, LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, etc.) </p>
<p>Most private schools seem to max out at full tuition.</p>
<p>Yeah, I agree with that SaveOnUndergrad
SEC is definitely out here trying to make a name for ourselves. We already dominate football and are heading to dominate the academics as well.</p>
<p>I consider a full ride to be the following: a) your parents don't have to pay anything, and b) neither you nor your parents have to take out any loans. It's still a full scholarship if the student does some work-study (which really just covers personal expenses and such).</p>
<p>I consider a full ride something that covers COA. However, since that is an "average" number that may not be a full ride for any given person and be a bit of a windfall to another. Schools often consider a full ride an amount exclusive of what they feel the student should be covering on his own. Full ride is also a term used when the institutional need is 100% covered. Also work study and subsidized loans are often included in "full rides" at some schools. There are also scholarships that include summer travel, internships, subsidies that are really more than a full ride, but are called such. </p>
<p>Be aware that the term is used loosely in general talk. Many of the "full rides" turned out to be fish stories in my experience.</p>
<p>Son's full ride is tuition, room, the "Choice B" board plan (the one most students have), books, travel, and incidental expenses money, with no loans and no work study. Fed aid goes towards tuition, and the school basically comps itself for the remaining tuition and room/board. Son gets a check at the beginning of the semester to use for books/travel/expenses. Last year that was about $750 a semester; this year it's closer to $1000 a semester. I think the difference is because sophomores are expected to have higher textbook expenses, but I don't know for sure.</p>
<p>So when I think full ride, I think tuition, room/board, and books, at least. That's what my goal has been for my children. Let's hope daughter is able to do as well!</p>
<p>S1 has a full ride... tuition, fees, student health insurance fees, room & board, & books, but once he moved off campus his stipend went DOWN 400.00 a month- less than what his dorm fees were. Meanwhile, his rent went up so we are paying the difference. Not complaining but it IS a full ride and we ARE paying money out. He could go again for free is he lived in the dorms and ate at the dining hall.
S2 has a full tuition scholarship. We will be responsible for all other expenses.
I am very thankful for both scholarships.</p>