P. Diddy Combs' son wins $54K college scholarship

[RitaE]

Thank you for the correction. Though I would guess it's pretty rare for a college student to not be claimed on their parent's taxes.

No - parental tax return information does not determine whether or not a child is dependent or independent. Most children under the age of 24 are Dependent and must provide their parent's financial information, regardless of whether or not the child is claimed as a dependent on the tax form. It has actually been this way for decades now, but there are still many parents who believe that all they have to do is drop their 19year old off their tax returns and the child will get full financial aid.

This is directly from the Governmental website.

If you can answer No to all of the following questions, you are considered a dependent student on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):

Were you born before January 1, 1989?

As of today are you married?

At the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, or graduate certificate, etc.)?

Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?

Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?

Do you have children who will receive more than half of their support from you between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013?

Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you, now and through June 30, 2013?

At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?

As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you an emancipated minor?

As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you in legal guardianship?

At any time on or after July 1, 2011, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?

At any time on or after July 1, 2011, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?

At any time on or after July 1, 2011, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?

If you are considered a dependent student, your parents must answer the parental questions on the FAFSA.

If you can answer Yes to any of the questions above, you are considered an independent student and information about your parents is not required on the FAFSA .

 

[Hannathy]

The ones complaining would be the people whose kids didn't work hard enough to earn the scholarship...

Or those with kids who did better on and off the field who didn't get 54,000 because they didn't have the name he does..........

Or those who are just annoyed at the greed and the "let them eat cake" attitude of some "stars"

 

[RitaE]

Or those with kids who did better on and off the field who didn't get 54,000 because they didn't have the name he does..........

Or those who are just annoyed at the greed and the "let them eat cake" attitude of some "stars"

Kids do not make top tier major Division I football teams because their Dad is a famous musician. If UCLA had access to a better player, I'm quite sure the better player would have received the award over the Combs kid.

I'll also mention that this award is not the Father's to accept or decline. I'm sure he might have some influence, but the award belongs to the son who is not a mega-millionaire musician. It is up to the son whether or not he wants to accept it.

 

[Hannathy]

Kids do not make top tier major Division I football teams because their Dad is a famous musician. If UCLA had access to a better player, I'm quite sure the better player would have received the award over the Combs kid.

I'll also mention that this award is not the Father's to accept or decline. I'm sure he might have some influence, but the award belongs to the son who is not a mega-millionaire musician. It is up to the son whether or not he wants to accept it.

You honestly believe what you just said?

Oh I think having ownership of a 3/4 of a million dollar car kinda puts you up there as far as wealth goes......

And whether he accepts it or not shows a lot about how he was raised.

 

[LisaR]

You honestly believe what you just said?

Oh I think having ownership of a 3/4 of a million dollar car kinda puts you up there as far as wealth goes......

And whether he accepts it or not shows a lot about how he was raised.

This is the first thing you have said that I agree with!

This is up to the kid not the dad. If Junior accepts the scholarship, it will say an awful lot about him and his upbringing. Colleges throw money at athletes all the time. This is nothing new and there are ALWAYS thousands of other people out there that are far more deserving of that money based on academics. Be appalled at the entire program. I can't work up enough contempt to be mad at a greedy celebrity.

 

[RitaE]

You honestly believe what you just said?

Oh I think having ownership of a 3/4 of a million dollar car kinda puts you up there as far as wealth goes......

And whether he accepts it or not shows a lot about how he was raised.

He was raised to be an honor student as well as a top athlete. Good for his parents.

Oh sorry silly me, how dare those nasty parents raise a child who strives to succeed and takes pride in his accomplishments. How dare they!!!!!!!!!

In fact, I think I'll run out and occupy something right now.

 

[Sabrefan]

He was raised to be an honor student as well as a top athlete. Good for his parents.

Oh sorry silly me, how dare those nasty parents raise a child who strives to succeed and takes pride in his accomplishments. How dare they!!!!!!!!!

In fact, I think I'll run out and occupy something right now.

No one is saying he shouldn't strive to succeed or take pride in his accomplishment, but if I were his mother and he did accept the scholarship, I'd be disappointed in that decision - not him as a person.

 

[Hannathy]

He was raised to be an honor student as well as a top athlete. Good for his parents.

Oh sorry silly me, how dare those nasty parents raise a child who strives to succeed and takes pride in his accomplishments. How dare they!!!!!!!!!

In fact, I think I'll run out and occupy something right now.

I don't know what that last statement has to do with this but yes he was raised to not look at those less fortunate than him. That he doesn't grasp how the rest of the world lives. You don't drive an almost million dollar car to school and accept a scholarship that is less than your insurance bill.

He could accept the honor and the spot on the team and decline the money, that would still be taking pride in his accomplishments.

 

[Princess Dolly]

Instead of being "outraged" about a $54,000 scholarship, people should be questioning the millions that the coach makes. How many kids could go to school with that money? And I'm pretty sure UCLA will get that back and then some from Justin or Diddy in the future.

Usually the athletic association is a corporation with its own budget. What the coach is being paid has nothing to do with the university itself and its budget. In fact many universities with large Division 1 FBS Football and Division 1 Basketball programs recieve donations (in the millions) from the athletic association. I know when I went to UF the UAA gave even additional donations/funding so that the summer semesters didn't have to be scrapped one year.

I know you probably realize this, but there are posters here who I am sure do not.

 

[disykat]

The ones complaining would be the people whose kids didn't work hard enough to earn the scholarship...

What? That is terribly insulting to all the kids who work hard, but it didn't happen on the football field. Obviously the kid must be great at football, but academics are at an A-. Not enough to earn an academic scholarship at a major school.

I wish they did, I have 3 that need to go. The oldest just finished his freshman year at HS and he has higher than a 3.75 and I KNOW that he won't be getting a full ride on that, he can't even get into certain universities around here with that, way to competitive.

My son went entered college as a junior because of all his AP credits, so his courseload was rigorous. He had a 3.95. He went to our state flagship. He got NOTHING from them in merit aide, nothing. He is strictly middle of the pack there. Kids with 3.75 simply didn't get in - UNLESS they played football.

Pointing out that this was a sports scholarship, not an academic one is not sour grapes, it's the truth. Only smaller, less selective universities give academic scholarships for a 3.75.

He earned it - for football.

 

[becpee]

The way I see it a scholarship is like a job offer.

You play football for us and we'll pay for you (or partly) to go to school.

Why should the kid say no?

$54,000 may be a drop in the ocean for his dad, but thats none of anybody else's business.

Slightly

If a squillionaire pro footballer got offered squillion's to sign a contract should he say no because he thought somebody else needed the money more?
Should he play for free?

 

[joviroxx]

I haven't read this whole thread but it really is confusing.

First, people call kids spoiled, entitled and arrogant when they don't make their own way and daddy pays for things. We hear the diatribes and righteous bellowing of how THEY did it without parents help and it makes them better people somehow.

We here parents say how they will not pay for their kid's school because the kids should learn to earn it themselves.

So let me get this straight:

1- Kid earns himself a scholarship
2- If he keeps the money he is spoiled and out of touch BUT
3- When parents pay for all or that the kids are spoiled and out of touch

I can't keep it all straight...Poor kid is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

 

[jrmasm]

I haven't read this whole thread but it really is confusing.

First, people call kids spoiled, entitled and arrogant when they don't make their own way and daddy pays for things. We hear the diatribes and righteous bellowing of how THEY did it without parents help and it makes them better people somehow.

We here parents say how they will not pay for their kid's school because the kids should learn to earn it themselves.

So let me get this straight:

1- Kid earns himself a scholarship
2- If he keeps the money he is spoiled and out of touch BUT
3- When parents pay for all or that the kids are spoiled and out of touch

I can't keep it all straight...Poor kid is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

Pretty much.

 

[akhenaten]

He earned it, wealthy father or not. I think it's ridiculous that folks are actually calling for him to return it.

I agree!
I do hope that with the amount of money P. diddy has that he will donate the equivalent amount to another student... but he is not obligated to do so of course...

 

[akhenaten]

The way I see it a scholarship is like a job offer.

You play football for us and we'll pay for you (or partly) to go to school.

Why should the kid say no?

$54,000 may be a drop in the ocean for his dad, but thats none of anybody else's business.

Slightly

If a squillionaire pro footballer got offered squillion's to sign a contract should he say no because he thought somebody else needed the money more?
Should he play for free?

I think of this all the time when I see Derek Jeter doing Ford ads... LOL does he really need more money hahaha some poor actor used to get paid to be in those ads...

 

[bgirldeb]

I don't understand why there is any question here. I'm not a fan of Sean Combs, but if this is a Merit scholarship, his son obviously earned it, and is not obligated to turn it down based on his family's wealth.

 

[daughtersrus]

I haven't read this whole thread but it really is confusing.

First, people call kids spoiled, entitled and arrogant when they don't make their own way and daddy pays for things. We hear the diatribes and righteous bellowing of how THEY did it without parents help and it makes them better people somehow.

We here parents say how they will not pay for their kid's school because the kids should learn to earn it themselves.

So let me get this straight:

1- Kid earns himself a scholarship
2- If he keeps the money he is spoiled and out of touch BUT
3- When parents pay for all or that the kids are spoiled and out of touch

I can't keep it all straight...Poor kid is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.

The only thing that I'll add is that people seem to be upset that he might be taking the money from someone that can't afford to attend. Where is the outrage at the university for charging students $54,000 to attend?

Edited to add...

Michael Jordan's son got a scholarship to U of I

 

[brerrabbit]

Okay there are several things I do not understand at all about the timing of this article. First I am a huge football fan and folow recruiting and look often at the scouting data on several websites.

Question 1: Why is this all of a sudden news? UCLA made the offer 8/22/2011 the kid accepted the offer verbally on 11/29/2011 and signed the offer on National Signing day in February. Now the article comes out?

Question 2 and an observation: This was not the kid's only offer, Illinois, Virginia, Middle Tennessee State, UAB, Wyoming, and Tennessee State all made him offers as well. Say what you want about his abilities but Rivals, one of the top scouting groups for high school atheletes in the country rated him a two star prospect out of five, and gave him a 5.4 rating on a 4.9 to 6.1 scale. Keep in mind if you rate below the 4.9 you are not considered college football material. At 6.1 you are a five star recruit and every school in the nation wants you. Combs is one of three two star recruits that will be a part of the UCLA recruiting class and there were only a couple of 4 stars in his UCLA group. UCLA has not done so well in the past number of years so they are not among the top recruiters and have to take the best of what is available to them. So given this why is a surprise that his ability was recognized in the form of a scholarship offer?

The kid's father is news worthy because he is a celbrity and a sometimes contriversial figure. So the media wakes up on a slow day and decides to beat this drum, so be it.

UCLA looks at the situation and sees an opportunity to attract attention because all of a sudden with a celbrities kid on the team rappers, music people and a lot of others all of a sudden want to follow UCLA football. It is widely recognized that the premier college team in LA is USC and both UCLA and USC fight all the pro sports franchises in LA for attention and attendence and so offering the scholarship to him might help their cause.

Yes I agree way to much money is spent of college football but at least in the major programs across the country, the programs are very profitable to the schools they represent even after deducting the coaches salary and the scholarships to players.

Yes 3.75 GPA would not get you any money for college if your father was worth $45 million. No need to run a FASFA on that because I aint worth anything close to that and my kids qualified for zilch. But then again Combs offer was based on his atheletic ability and not his academic ability. The fact that he has a 3.75 GPA is good because most top recruits don't have one that high, if they do it is the exception, not the rule.

View it for what it is, a kid that plays football well enough to get a college offer who happens to have a famous Dad who could conceivably help the school offering the free ride and leave it at that.

 

[Schmeck]

The way I see it a scholarship is like a job offer.

You play football for us and we'll pay for you (or partly) to go to school.

Why should the kid say no?

$54,000 may be a drop in the ocean for his dad, but thats none of anybody else's business.

First off - isn't UCLA a state school? Isn't it funded by tax money?

Second, why should a school - supposedly used to educate, not entertain, be offering a job to a kid to entertain, in exchange for an education? (If he even gets one, since aren't the athletes on the road most of the season?)

 

[RitaE]

First off - isn't UCLA a state school? Isn't it funded by tax money?

Second, why should a school - supposedly used to educate, not entertain, be offering a job to a kid to entertain, in exchange for an education? (If he even gets one, since aren't the athletes on the road most of the season?)

UCLA is indeed a public university but public universities are only partly funded by taxpayer dollars.

According to the Wall Street Journal the UCLA Football program generates annually $123million in revenue for the University. Taxpayer dollars do not fund athletic scholarships at UCLA. They are paid for from the revenues and donations that the various sports programs produce.

As for whether or not a University has any business having sports programs - well I'm glad they do but you aren't the first to suggest they shouldn't.