<p>I'm an incoming senior and I am kind of concerned that I need to start college stuff and look for scholarships and stuff? Oh gosh that's a scary thought. </p>
<p>do you have a green card or are you an intl.</p>
<p>your parents are divorced…you need to ask them how much they will spend on college.</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids </p>
<p>I’m an American Citizen and I’ve lived in the US for 7 years, (well I have dual citizenship with both the US and England)
And I’m guessing around 20K they’re willing to spend combined.</p>
<p>The best aid comes from the colleges themselves…so apply to schools,where you are guaranteed to receive scholarships. </p>
<p>$20,000 a year, plus the $5500 Direct Loan should pay for you to attend your own instate public university. Start there.</p>
<p>The time to look for scholarships is NOW. Start looking for schools where you would qualify for guaranteed merit aid based in your GPA and SAT or ACT score.</p>
<p>The exception…local,scholarships from your area will not likely be available for application until after January of your senior year…ask at your school about those. But keep in mind, these are usually one year awards, and smaller amounts.</p>
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And I’m guessing around 20K they’re willing to spend combined.</p>
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<p>Dont guess…ask them. You may find that they will pay much less, or pay more. When parents re divorced, things can go crazy. Sometimes, the noncustodial parent refuses to pay, sometimes one household has a lot more money than the other household, yet expects to pay as little as the poorer family. sometimes, when a parent has remarried, the step parent becomes a problem. your stepdad’s income will be included when determining how much your family should pay.</p>
<p>ask each parent.</p>
<p>The best scholarships are from the colleges, because those are for four years, usually. Outside scholarships are usually freshman year only, so dont help much.</p>
<p>give us your stats, your major, and find out how much each parent will pay.</p>
<p>From experience, look for outside scholarships as you’re applying to schools as well. Most (the good ones with large amounts of money) have deadlines that are around the same time as admissions deadlines. You can’t guarantee that you’ll get any aid from colleges either no matter how good your stats.</p>
<p>^ Uh, if you pick the right schools you CAN assure your get merit aid. Winning the scholarship lottery is MUCH more difficult. </p>
<p>OP, what is your home state?</p>
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<p>First…unless you are an instate resident for CA, those CA schools are going to be pricey for you. UCB and UCLA will cost you at least $23,000 plus your EFC.</p>
<p>The Ivies, MIT, Duke, USC all require the Profile. And they will also cost you well in excess of $20,000 to attend. The Ivies and MIT do not give merit aid. </p>
<p>Your mom is remarried. Here is what she will need to provide for need based aid applications:</p>
<p>For FAFSA, her income and assets as well as your step dad’s income and assets will be require on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>For Profile…your mom and stepdad will put their financials on the Profile and your dad will have to complete the non-custodial parent Profile.</p>
<p>I would strongly suggest (agreeing with mom2) that you have a serious discussion with your parents about how college will be funded…and how much they WILL be contributing. </p>
<p>The net price calculators will not be accurate for you because your parents are divorced. </p>
<p>If you are truly a competitive applicant for MIT, the Ivies, etc, you should consider applying to some schools where you would get guaranteed merit aid. This would be awarded to you regardless of your family situation.</p>
<p>Re: are you a first generation immigrant? How would this help you?</p>
<p>It is pretty important to determine if you have in-state residency for tuition purposes in California. That opens up quite a few decent options in-state.</p>