<p>I kinda disagree with there isn’t a lot of money out there. If you can put in the time and effort, you can surely reap the benefits. Like many other CC-ers have stated, check with your guidance counselors because you may find some hidden gems. Also, subscribe to fastweb.com, Peterson’s, college board, and scholarships. I have found a total of about 30+ scholarships that total more than $110,000 in value and guess what? I am applying to all of them. Though the competition may be stiff, you never know how far you will go. I applied to Elk’s MVS Scholarship on a whim and I just recently found out that I moved onto States. Have faith :-).</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>How many of those scholarships are for more than one year? </p>
<p>If you win any of these scholarships, and they aren’t for multiple years, don’t choose your college based on having that money. You’ll find yourself financially short during your soph, junior, and senior years.</p>
<p>I found about 10-15 of these that are for more than one year.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That you received? If so, congratulations.</p>
<p>I’m not against outside scholarships at all. I just don’t think that anyone who “needs” a lot of scholarship money to go to college should depend on them for 4 years (since they tend to be smallish and for only one year). Both my sons have rec’d outside scholarships, but they weren’t what made college affordable. They are just “bonuses” that pay for books.</p>
<p>For someone who needs a lot of money (in this case $55k/yr for Columbia), hoping that outside scholarships are going to make Columbia affordable is just not going to happen. Yes, he might win enough to pay for his books or even his meal plan, but he’s not going to make a serious dent in that $55k (for 4 years) from outside competition scholarships.</p>
<p>No not yet lol unfortunately :-/. I am filling these suckers out like crazy! A lot of them are pretty specific but they kinda work in my favor because one of my parents is a veteran and a disabled one at that. So…yeah. A lot of people in my high school are waiting until they get financial aid packages and then apply for scholarships but I am not going to do that. Even though my parents alone can qualify for aid at the schools I am applying, my non-custodial parent may be the roadblock to smooth-sailing. So I have to get to work!</p>
<p>Mom2CollegeKids: I agree with you. Has your son looked into work-study programs?</p>
<p>Just wanted to add to my above post…</p>
<p>If a high stats student really needs a lot of scholarship money for four years of college, then his best bet is to apply to some merit schools, in addition to his regular list. A high stats student (like the OP) could have gotten full-tuition scholarships from many schools if he had wanted some financial safeties. </p>
<p>If he still wants to get financial help for Columbia and he is a citizen, then he should look into the Smart Scholarship for soph-senior years.</p>
<p>Hmmm that may be his best bet. I applied to some really high-end schools as well but I also applied to University of Miami that gives merit scholarships that range from $16,000 annually to full tuition. Colleges these days, sheesh, smh…</p>
<p>*Mom2CollegeKids: I agree with you. Has your son looked into work-study programs? *</p>
<p>Thankfully, both my kids have generous scholarships from their university 
, plus a small outside scholarship from my husband’s company… For “pocket money,” they work for the university as tutors in math, science and Spanish (about 8 hours per week.)</p>
<p>Well thank God for that :-)! Speaking of God, I am going to need some divine intervention myself with all this work lol.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Where are you applying and what are your stats? Do you qualify for financial aid?</p>
<p>One moment…Lemme get it…
Background Info-
State: New Jersey
Race/Ethnicity: African-American
Grade: Senior (12th)
Gender: Female
GPA: 4.0
Rank: 12/442 students (top 2-3%)
SAT I: 1st time –> 1890= 630 CR Math 590 670 Writing 11e
2nd time —> 2100= 690 CR 620 Math 790 Writing 12e
SAT II: 620 Literature 670 Spanish & US History is in December!
AP Scores: US History (received score of 4), taking AP Calculus, AP Physics, and AP English Literature & Composition this year</p>
<p>ECs:
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (9,10,11,12) (Vice-President in 11th) President (12th)
Asian Awareness (9,10,11,12)
DECA (9,10,11,12)
Health Careers Club (9,10,11,12-) (Vice President in 11th and 12th)
Students United For Respect and Equality (9,10, 11,12) (Secretary in 11th and 12th)</p>
<p>Summer Experience
-People to People Student Ambassador Program - Japan, Land of the Rising Sun (9)
-Various speaking engagements (10)
- Medical Office Receptionist: translating from Spanish to English, making appointments, etc. (11)
Additional Information:
I have self-published a book in 2008 called “I’m Still Here”. I am currently on my third novel (writing is my passion). I have done various speaking engagements from my local P.A.L club to a business summer program at Cornell University, as well as several interviews with local and widespread newspapers. </p>
<p>Awards
Academic Excellence Award (9,10,11)
Black History Month Award (10)
DECA State Qualifier (10,11)
2nd Place Overall in DECA Hotel and Lodging Management Area (11)
3rd Place Overall in 1st Role Play in DECA Hotel and Lodging Management Area (11)
Award for 2nd Place Role Play in DECA Hotel and Lodging Management Area at NJ State Conference (11)
Candace for Black Women’s Volunteer Award (11)
Honor Society (12)</p>
<p>Applying to:
-Harvard
-Yale
-Princeton
-Columbia
-NYU
-Emerson
-University of Miami</p>
<p>I believe I qualify for financial aid. Both my parents are unemployed. One reason being because my stepfather has been diagnosed with a disease and therefore cannot work anymore and my mother is his primary caretaker. Now I could be confident in that alone but some of the schools require the CSS profile and my father (who has never claimed me on taxes and whatnot) makes a good deal of money :-/.</p>
<p>Very good stats and very good ranking! Congrats. :)</p>
<p>Hmmm…the affluent dad issue and CSS Profile will be a problem. :(</p>
<p>You need to also apply to some state schools that will only use your mom/stepdad’s income as safeties. Will you apply to Rutgers since you’re in-state? They are a FAFSA only school, so they’d only use your mom/stepdad’s income, and you’d get federal aid. </p>
<p>If you only apply to CSS schools, you’ll run the risk of getting a high EFC because of your dad’s high income (even if he’s never claimed you on his taxes).</p>
<p>Thank you Yeah I mean I would apply to Rutgers but the only thing is, I was never interested in that school. If I ever was accepted, I really wouldn’t want to go :-/. Forgive me for being idealistic but I just don’t want to go to a school where my heart is not going to be…The thing about the schools I am applying to that offer CSS is that they also ask for FAFSA too…I don’t know if it will make much of a difference though :-(</p>
<p>Please also consider applying to Denison and Kenyon. Both are good writing schools and give merit and financial aid.</p>
<p>*The thing about the schools I am applying to that offer CSS is that they also ask for FAFSA too…I don’t know if it will make much of a difference though 
*</p>
<p>No, it won’t make a difference. CSS schools are going to look at both parents incomes. They all ask for FAFSA to learn if you qualify for Fed aid. They’ll already know that your mom and stepdad don’t earn much from the CSS. Privates (that give good aid) have to consider both parents incomes, because they have some limited funds. They can’t give to students who have a parent with a high income.</p>
<p>I’ve never visited Rutgets, so I don’t know what there might be to like or dislike about it. :)</p>
<p>Have you recently gone on a campus tour at Rutgers? If not, you should do a tour with an open mind. Also, make an appt with the dept that has your major. I realize that at this point your “heart isn’t in it,” but since your dad makes a lot of money (and it sounds like he won’t pay for your college), then applying to CSS schools is going to likely result in some poor FA packages.</p>
<p>If it turns out that Rutgers is your only affordable choice, it’s best to try to “change your mind.” At first, my DS1 had no interest in attending the school where he’s at (he was actually very much against it, because he wanted to go OOS.). He went on a campus visit and met with the dean of the Honors College. He totally got hooked. This is his 3rd year, and he loves it.</p>
<p>SUNYs are inexpensive for OOS students. Being FAFSA only schools, Rutgers and SUNYs are probably going to be your cheapest schools unless you can get a great merit scholarship (which you might be able to get) :)</p>
<p>Less than half of the CSS Profile schools ask for non-custodial parent income. Check out the College Board website for the list of which ones require the non-custodial form.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>But, isn’t it true that most of the schools that don’t ask for NCP info don’t give much aid outside of fed aid? There are probably some exceptions.</p>
<p>Also, some schools have their own forms that ask for NCP info.</p>
<p>BTW…to Morgan: </p>
<p>NYU is awful with aid. I’d cross that off my list.</p>
<p>My sons were each offered $10,000 in merit aid from 2 (different) schools that are FAFSA-only and did not request any information from their non-custodial parent. We’re waiting to hear from 2 other colleges where generous merit aid is available. I can’t say what most schools do, but my sons’ experience has been that merit aid is available from schools that are FAFSA-only, and this aid is offered long before the FAFSA filing deadlines.</p>
<p>It’s true that some of the most selective schools in the country which offer grants and scholarships from their own institutional funds will require the non-custodial parent to fill out a form, either the CSS Profile or their own form. These schools typically don’t give out merit aid and so have different criteria for determining how their funds are awarded.</p>