Cincinnatus Scholarship questions

sketchy · 12-18-2007, 04:29 PM

Like many here, my son is invited to compete for the Cincinnatus Scholarship. I've looked at the UC website, etc., but still have a few questions:

I looked at the past recipients of the higher awards, and a few things stood out. First, it appears that the awards are strongly linked to community service. Second, a high percentage of the higher awards are given to instate students. I'm trying to decide if there'd be much of a chance for my son to receive anything more than the minimum award, as he's out of state, and his EC's aren't as impressive as past winners. We'd like to attend the scholarship competition irregardless of chances, but it might be really hard for me to get off work, so like many people, I'm trying to decide whether to go or just take the guaranteed award. Any thoughts?

I understand that if you're out of state the minimum award is $5,000/year. I see the minimum $2,000/year award, but can't find where it states out of staters are eligible for $5,000/year awards. Can anyone tell me where to find out about the out of state scholarship awards?

Thanks in advance for any help.

taxguy · 12-18-2007, 08:37 PM

Sketchy, here are two links. The first is the general information on the Cincinnatus: Student Financial Aid, University of Cincinnati

The second notes that non-residents get an extra $3,000 per year: Financial Aid - Scholarships and Loan Funds - University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, College of Engineering, Engineering.

My daughter is geting the extra $3,000 per year as a non-resident.

As for the full scholarships, no one really knows what criteria they use. It ISN"T that residents get a better benefit or better advantage. It includes GPA, SATs, and how well they do on the competition. Frankly, offering a scholarship based on nebulous criteria that no one understands is a bit funky to me.However, this is the way that they do things.

Overall, there isn't much chance for anyone to receive more than the minimum $5,000 per year but hope springs eternal. You never know.

sketchy · 12-18-2007, 10:32 PM

Thanks, Taxguy. That $5,000 a year minimum scholarship sure will help.

If I think I can take off work we might go to the scholarship competition. If for no other reason than to eat some Cincinnati chili and experience what Cincinnati feels like in February.

TurtlePhobic · 02-06-2008, 02:53 AM

Sketchy, its regardless, not irregardless................sorry, just a pet peeve.

Mama4 · 03-19-2008, 07:03 PM

Did anyone receive more than the original $2000 guaranteed for the Cincinnatus? My daughter competed, had service, thought she did well. Today she received letter stating that she will receive $2000. Hopefully others fared better.

helen3 · 03-19-2008, 07:35 PM

...and received $6000. Just found out via e-mail. I do not want to come off as ungrateful-- believe me, I'm not-- but I am worried. Cincinnati is my first choice, but I am OOS and I do not think this will be enough aid for me to attend. I am hoping that the letter from the financial aid office will come in the mail soon, because I am on pins and needles. From what I can tell (from myself, my sister and my friends), most public universities try to attract good students by making their tuition competitive with that of their in-state school. They even tell you in advance, that if you have above a certain ACT, you automatically qualify for X dollars of merit aid. It does not seem that Cincinnati thinks like that. Any insight on this would be great!

Mama4 · 03-20-2008, 02:53 PM

We are wondering about the financial aid packages as well. We have received packages from the private schools.

flalaw97 · 03-20-2008, 06:29 PM

My daughter (high school junior) has Cinci as her first choice for interior design but we are out of state too. When we spoke with ID admissions she said that the extra $3000 for OOS is going away next year!

We loved the coop program but $24K is alot, especially when all of the instaters are only paying $9K

Admissions said some students are able to become instate after a year. Is there anything I can do now to get her instate sooner?

Taxguy: Does your daughter like it so far?

helen3 · 03-21-2008, 05:30 PM

Judging by my letter, the $3000 for OOS seems to be gone as of 2008-09. I am bummed, and will most likely have to attend elsewhere.

taxguy · 03-21-2008, 07:49 PM

flalaw97, Yes, my daughter was just saying that she felt that she picked just the right school and just the right major for her. She is very happy with the school;however, they have worked her and kids like her to to the bone. This was true for the second year as well.

As for removing the $3,000 OOS, I don't see that anywhere on the web site. Please show where that is the case. From my knowledge, UC will be keeping teh $3,000 OOS stipend for their Cincinnatu Scholarship. I can't see them geting rid of it since they purportedly want more OOS students. The only time I can see them eliminating it would be if they drop the out of state surcharge somewhat.

helen3 · 03-21-2008, 08:59 PM

On the UC web site (same link as above in this thread), it says they will award 10 Cincinnatus awards of $20K per year, 100 Founders awards of $6K per year, 200 University awards of $3500 per year, and an unspecified number of Century awards of $2K per year. The other link above, to the engineering web site, may have old info (or maybe it's just for engineering students)-- it says there is $3K additional for out-of-state. All I know is that I was notified that I had received the Founders award. I was praying that when I got the official letter from the financial aid office (that would also have need-based aid), it would have an OOS grant or something, but it did not-- just the Founders award of $6K and two loans offered.

sketchy · 03-21-2008, 11:47 PM

My son ended up attending the Cincinnatus competition, also. He thought he did well too, but only received the $2K/year award. We checked our financial aid package on the UC website, and it listed the $2K award, not $5K(we're OOS), and a Stafford and Plus loan. Pretty disappointed-we may not be able to swing the cost of attendence.

taxguy · 03-22-2008, 03:00 AM

I would DEFINITELY CALL UC and ask them about the addition $3,000 for out of state. I don't think that they phased it out.

BMH · 03-22-2008, 09:03 AM

Is it really possible to qualify as in-state after one year? From what I read on the web site, if parents are assisting with tuition, you won't qualify. Does anyone know?

taxguy · 03-23-2008, 03:18 PM

BMH, my daughter is trying to establish residency for beginning in her third year. If it works, I will note that and privately tell you what she did.