College tuition question

[jeankeri]

So is the only time such scholarships would be beneficial is if a) we would have zero need, or b) a student attends a school that is not committed to providing 100 % need? I am starting to get really, really scared.

The message I took from my school's meeting was to directly contact the FA office of the schools you are interested in to find out how any scholarships would affect your aid award. Then make the choice if it is worth it to pursue scholarship $$. Every school is different.

 

[MrsPete]

I understand why the OP is upset: She thought she had the finances covered, then suddenly three small scholarships fell into their lap, and she thought they had some breathing room. I can see why she'd assume that they'd remove the part that -- to the family -- was least attractive. The loan.

Then she finds out that's not the way the world works, and their total finances aren't being improved by the scholarships.

Those of us who've worked, done without, and saved . . . And who now qualify for absolutely nothing in the line of financial aid know the feeling.

Should she have known? Maybe, but I understand being surprised and a bit dismayed.

However, I also don't see how the OP was planning to pay the dorm incidentals, etc before the scholarships arrived.

 

[Southernmiss]

Wow, I have a rising sophomore so I am just beginning to sort this stuff so I find this thread very informational (not to mention amusing...ahem). So I admit I assumed that the gap between our "need" and reality could be supplemented with dogged pursuit of private scholarships. If I understand what I am reading though, that isn't the case at all? The scholarships just reduce our "need" thus less of a package from the college, netting in the same out of pocket? Again, wow. So is the only time such scholarships would be beneficial is if a) we would have zero need, or b) a student attends a school that is not committed to providing 100 % need? I am starting to get really, really scared.

Another thing to be aware of is that in our experience, colleges put a lot of weight on the ACT or SAT score to determine scholarship eligibility. One would be wise to pay close attention to the scholarship requirements from particular schools and departments at those schools.

A student should strive for as high of an ACT score as possible because scholarships are better the higher the ACT score. In our experienece, one needs a very high score to attain the chance for good scholarships.

I am going to encourage my younger kids (a 10th grader, 8th grader and 5th grader) to take the ACT seriously at least by middle of 10th grade year--with studying, etc. The 10th and 8th grader have taken it through Duke TIP and now that they know what it's like, I will be making the 10th grader study before he takes it in Dec or Feb.

2 hours of studying made the difference in oldest DS getting a full scholarship and not. (He was stuck at one score for 3 tries. He finally studied 2 hours the night before he took it the final time and improved his score by 2 points.) It truly makes a difference.

 

[ceecee]

If her husband is a professor at a university, he could go there and get a greatly reduced or free tuition. What am I missing? Any type of scholarship is better than nothing. Be thankful for what you have.

 

[addicted2dizney]

If her husband is a professor at a university, he could go there and get a greatly reduced or free tuition. What am I missing? Any type of scholarship is better than nothing. Be thankful for what you have.

agreed.

OP needs to understand that filling out the FASFA allows you the grant/loan money determined you need based on what you have to PAY.

She needs to be proud that her son worked in school and in got scholarships. In essence, he EARNED that portion of money towards his education. those loans and/or grants are there for the portion that was deemed that you can't afford to pay. Since her son now has replaced some of that money it allows more money out there for someone who truly needs it.

 

[tar heel]

If her husband is a professor at a university, he could go there and get a greatly reduced or free tuition. What am I missing? Any type of scholarship is better than nothing. Be thankful for what you have.

Many universities do not offer that perk, especially to adjunct faculty like her husband.

 

[tar heel]

That surprises me too. My son took 10 APs and had 2 3s, 3 4's, and 5 5s. His 3.958 GPA didn't get him in to the VAL/SAL lineup. He was just one of a crowd at our school. He didn't get any merit help from our state flagship, but I'm sure those things are what got him in. He's just an average student to them. You pretty much have to have those averages to get in.

My son didn't take that many APs, but that pretty much sums up his situation, too. Not a penny of merit aid, but he did get into our state flagship and those kind of averages are pretty much expected.

 

[Woth2982]

Also be careful because I had a grant that ended up counting as income and had to claim it on my taxes. Did not know this, so the next year the IRS flagged me and I owed $300+ in taxes that year.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I was waiting for the begging posts to come around again. I can not for the life of me figure out how this OP has not been banned. The woe is me posts have been going on for YEARS. About 3 or so years to be exact. I am amazed that people still fall for her.

 

[ssawka]

Those of us who've worked, done without, and saved . . . And who now qualify for absolutely nothing in the line of financial aid know the feeling.

Yes, however on the flip side, I remember going to the financial aid office and being told that I was not eligible for any financial aid while other than interest bearing loans while other students were being given refund checks.

 

[Allison]

Also be careful because I had a grant that ended up counting as income and had to claim it on my taxes. Did not know this, so the next year the IRS flagged me and I owed $300+ in taxes that year.

If grants exceed tuition and qualified fees, you have taxable income. So, if you have grants that cover room and board which are not qualified expenses, it is taxable.

 

[peacelover]

Maybe look into communtiy college for the first two years. Not everyone can afford 4 years away at college.

 

[reginaastralis]

OP, you would have had an even bigger shock if you were actually planning on using this money to pay for anything soon. School starts back for me at the end of August ... and I won't receive my refund for about four weeks. It's called a budget, I have to magically make money appear to buy my books before classes start (And for the record, my "refund" are the loans I have to take out to survive)

However, I seriously doubt you even have kids. But good play, at least you somewhat research your bogus threads.

 

[kamik86]

If grants exceed tuition and qualified fees, you have taxable income. So, if you have grants that cover room and board which are not qualified expenses, it is taxable.

I agree with the above. In a practical sense it is only those with really large grants that have the issues.

In my case I had something like 17K between merit scholarships and grants. I paid some as I went (had money saved up for the first two years and since the school required co-ops had higher paying summer jobs after that) and took loans for the rest. In this case it was considered that the scholarships and grants paid most of the tuition. My room and board and the last little bit was covered by my funds and the loans. This way I didn't get hit at tax time.

On last thing to look into with scholarships. Before you declare them to the school find out how they are paid. I had several from my high school that paid directly to me (they just sent me a check). The reason for this is the teachers on the scholarship committee explained to the companies that the reduction of need based aid would occur in most of them agreed to pay them this way. When they are paid directly to you the school doesn't have to know about them and it doesn't reduce your grants. That gave me an extra 6K or so for my first year.

 

[Allison]

I agree with the above. In a practical sense it is only those with really large grants that have the issues.

In my case I had something like 17K between merit scholarships and grants. I paid some as I went (had money saved up for the first two years and since the school required co-ops had higher paying summer jobs after that) and took loans for the rest. In this case it was considered that the scholarships and grants paid most of the tuition. My room and board and the last little bit was covered by my funds and the loans. This way I didn't get hit at tax time.

On last thing to look into with scholarships. Before you declare them to the school find out how they are paid. I had several from my high school that paid directly to me (they just sent me a check). The reason for this is the teachers on the scholarship committee explained to the companies that the reduction of need based aid would occur in most of them agreed to pay them this way. When they are paid directly to you the school doesn't have to know about them and it doesn't reduce your grants. That gave me an extra 6K or so for my first year.

Just because checks are made out to the student does not mean you are not supposed to report them to the school.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

I was waiting for the begging posts to come around again. I can not for the life of me figure out how this OP has not been banned. The woe is me posts have been going on for YEARS. About 3 or so years to be exact. I am amazed that people still fall for her.

It must be working good for her or she would not keep coming back. I would imagine there are some other forums with generous members that she post on also.

 

[kamik86]

Just because checks are made out to the student does not mean you are not supposed to report them to the school.

When I was in high school we were explicitly told that is why they had them made out to the student. Maybe its not the way its supposed to be though I don't know I was 17 and just went with what I was told.

 

[eliza61]

I was waiting for the begging posts to come around again. I can not for the life of me figure out how this OP has not been banned. The woe is me posts have been going on for YEARS. About 3 or so years to be exact. I am amazed that people still fall for her.

Banned for what?

Is she soliciting donations in her original post? I believe all she asked for is advice. I've asked for advice hundreds of times here.

Is this any different from people here whining about the price of gas or the ddp?

I'm not defending nor condeming anyone. I understand she supposedly has a pattern of these type of threads but so what? This is a public, free internet site. From this post ( I don't follow op so I can't comment on previous post) she is not doing any thing more egregious then people who become ill and ask for prayers.

Fall for what? answering a question? personally I haven't sent a dime to anyone here ever so there isn't any thing I've "fallen for".

What I don't like is censorship. this poster has just as much right to post as anyone else. I never understand why folks get upset, if you don't like a poster or thread simply move on. You claim she is doing some thing wrong, yet you open up the thread? instead of trying to get her banned how about simply not reading her thread?

I've make active use of the ignore feature. It's a wonderful tool, poster on my ignore list simply don't appear when I come on the dis.

 

[Hrhpd]

My son didn't take that many APs, but that pretty much sums up his situation, too. Not a penny of merit aid, but he did get into our state flagship and those kind of averages are pretty much expected.

Same boat. DS graduated with a 4.385 GPA, academic all American and similar AP scores/load. He also took classes at the flagship University (where he attends) so started as a second semester sophomore.

Not a dime in any kind of scholarships. He was a big fish in a relatively large, well respected HS, but had the rude awakening of being just another student at his University.

And just as an aside, the university does not offer any tuition perks to their employees.

 

[Marionnette]

Banned for what?

Is she soliciting donations in her original post? I believe all she asked for is advice. I've asked for advice hundreds of times here.

Is this any different from people here whining about the price of gas or the ddp?

I'm not defending nor condeming anyone. I understand she supposedly has a pattern of these type of threads but so what? This is a public, free internet site. From this post ( I don't follow op so I can't comment on previous post) she is not doing any thing more egregious then people who become ill and ask for prayers.

Fall for what? answering a question? personally I haven't sent a dime to anyone here ever so there isn't any thing I've "fallen for".

What I don't like is censorship. this poster has just as much right to post as anyone else. I never understand why folks get upset, if you don't like a poster or thread simply move on.

I've make active use of the ignore feature. It's a wonderful tool, poster on my ignore list simply don't appear when I come on the dis.

This is a privately owned website. It is not a public website. The owner can apply whatever rules he chooses and can ban a member for any reason that he or the webmasters feels is valid.

That doesn't mean that I'm calling for the OP to be banned from here. But she does have a history of posting "woe is me" types of threads and has, in the past, convinced tenderhearted members to send things to her.