Hi guys,
I’m really looking to get a full ride or lots of merit aid from some schools. My family doesn’t qualify for FA but defiantly can’t pay the whole deal without loans. I live in California and prefer schools on the west coast. Ever since I somehow got a 36 on the act, my parents have really been researching merit aid and I’m wondering if you guys have suggestions? My GPA uw is 3.9ish and w is 4.5 but I heard weighted doesn’t matter. I have 4s and 5s in 7 APs and I’m a junior. Interested in bus/Econ. Thanks
Can you and your family pay for the in-state costs of a UC or CSU?
If not, take a look here, but check college web sites, since some colleges have changed scholarships (usually worse) recently:
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/
@ucbalumnus I’m in a similar situation as the OP. My family’s lower middle class (around 110k); so we can’t qualify for any FA at my current community college. I’m starting to believe I may not qualify, also, for a lot of financial aid when I transfer to a 4 year.
My parent’s are close to retirement. They don’t have much in savings or monthly spending money. They’re still paying off bankruptcies, home debts, etc.My brother is attending a CSUN next year, and that adds on to the expense stress. I don’t think my parents can contribute much or anything to my college expenses after I transfer.
As for me, I’m hoping to find a minimum wage job that’ll allow me to save up for the next 2 years.
I wanted to transfer to any UC, (mainly Berkeley) to pursue CS but I don’t think i’ll be able to afford tuition, books, food, and living (because i’d have to live nearby the campus)
Is it possible to loan all of my tuition (for the next 2 years) using the Stafford Loans? If i can, would it be wise to do that? or should I just settle for a CSU? If i cannot loan all of my tuition, do you know the maximum loan for stafford loans? Lastly, is there any possibility that I can receive any decent amount of FA?
Do I honestly have no other options?
I do understand not attending UCB won’t be the end of the world.
If you also have leadership, community service, etc. , then maybe Cal State Fullerton, Loyola Marymount, USC, Washington & Lee, Puget Sound, Seattle U, Seattle Paciific, Pacific Lutheran
For more options and automatic merit based on your stats expand your geographic boundaries beyond the west coast.
University of Alabama!
@KYDEGU First, do not hijack someone else’s thread. Start your own thread.
Second, that is NOT lower middle class. The median household income in the US is <$52K.
Good for you for looking at this while in your junior year of HS.
Did you take the PSAT this fall? Any chance you would qualify for NMSF status? I know the cutoff is quite high in CA.
The first question you need to get answered from your parents is how much they WILL be able to pay annually for your college costs. That is a very important price point for you to know.
110 doesn’t go as far as you’d think in most CA…
You have great stats, your best shot at merit aid is from private colleges. Take a look at USD, LMU and Santa Clara for starters.
Did you take the PSAT? Being a national merit finalist opens up very good scholarship opportunities at several colleges.
$110,000 is still significantly higher than the median household income in California, which was $61,489 for 2010-2014, according to http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/06 .
You may be able to get merit and FA at Rice but I doubt it would be a full ride. My daughter got a very nice FA package that included minimal loans but we do have to pay for room and board.
Run the NPC for Stanford, if it comes out affordable, it is worth a try with those stats.
https://financialaid.stanford.edu/undergrad/how/calculator/
@“Erin’s Dad” k
How much will your parents pay each year?
We need to know that to direct you where you can get enough merit.
For example, if your parents can pay $15k per year, then you’d need a full tuition award.
For an ACT 36, not only would you get free tuition from Bama if you apply before Dec 15th, but Bama would also give you add’l merit awards. Apply now and quickly send scores and transcript.
Don’t forget Yale.