Do colleges replace grants with scholarships?

Paying for College
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<p>I have a zero EFC, and I really don’t want any loans for college. My stats aren’t good enough to get into any schools that meet full need, so I’m applying for scholarships, but now I’m worried they may just switch out my grants with scholarships and not my loans.</p>

<p>For example, since I have a 0 EFC, I’ll get the max Pell grant and FSEOG grant. which is about $9500, then probably $2500 in work/study, and another $5500 in loans. If I get, say $6000 in scholarships, are they just going to replace my grants and not really affect me, or will they replace my work/study and loans?</p>

<p>I’m looking at going to a cheap state school. Do all schools do this differently?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your time.</p>

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<p>What about gaps, do they use scholarships to fill in gaps where they don’t meet full need first?</p>

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<p>Schools typically add scholarships to grants and remove loans and work-study.</p>

<p>Yes, scholarships are used to fill gaps first…usually.</p>

<p>However, some schools may have their own policies, so you’ll have to check with each one.</p>

<p>I still think you need to look at Texas publics. Your stats aren’t high enough for grants/scholarships for privates or OOS publics.</p>

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<p>Don’t count this chicken before it hatches. While you may be eligible for the max pell grant of 5550, it is highly unlikely tht you will get an FSEOG grant of about ~4000. While everyone who is Pell eligible gets a pell grant, not every one who is Pell eligile receives an FSEOG grant. Not all schools receive funidng for SEOG and those that do, it is more likely to ~ 1000 or less (in some cases a studetn may get 2000).</p>

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<p>For the most part, if you were to receive a $6000 scholarship, it would most likely be for academic merit. Most schools do not meet 100% demonstrated need with large amounts of grant/scholarship aid. With the exception of schools with have big endowments, loans are going to be a realistic part of your finanical aid package. Yes, you can choose not to take the loans, but your financial aid package will not increase.</p>

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<p>Thank you for the info everyone.</p>

<p>Sybbie, I am applying/have applied for many many outside scholarships that are worth at least $1000 each, none of which are academic merit based.</p>

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<p>What will happen in year 2, 3, and 4 as most outside scholarships only cover you for one year?</p>

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<p>As sybbie said, do not rely on getting the SEOG. The SEOG is what they call campus based aid, which means a school is given $xxx to disburse as they see fit, and once it is gone they can not get any more. They decide on their own maximum and their criteria for awarding.Very few schools give a max of $4000 as they have insufficient funds for everyone who qualifies. At my son’s school the max SEOG was $100 (yes, one hundred dollars) and at my daughter’s the max is $2000. But she did not get any SEOG this year despite having a 0 EFC.</p>

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<p>Don’t count this chicken before it hatches. While you may be eligible for the max pell grant of 5550, it is highly unlikely tht you will get an FSEOG grant of about ~4000. While everyone who is Pell eligible gets a pell grant, not every one who is Pell eligile receives an FSEOG grant. Not all schools receive funding for SEOG and those that do, it is more likely to ~ 1000 or less (in some cases a student may get 2000).</p>

<p>Good point. </p>

<p>Frankly, in all the FA packages that we’ve seen posted here on CC from kids with 0 EFCs, I rarely ever have seen much (if any) SEOG grant money.</p>

<p>*What will happen in year 2, 3, and 4 as most outside scholarships only cover you for one year? *</p>

<p>Excellent point. Most private scholarships are only for one year.</p>

<p>That’s why I think this student needs to apply to several instate publics…including one that she can commute to.</p>

<p>Unless she commutes, I don’t think she can avoid student loans.</p>

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<p>First off, I’m a guy, not a girl.</p>

<p>I guess I’ll buckle down and get more scholarships next year, or transfer to a cheaper school if I can’t get anymore scholarships.</p>

<p>It doesn’t matter if I commute. I live independently and 100% financially support myself, so I’ll be paying housing and living expenses no matter where I go.</p>

<p>Thank you for the info, not to expect an SEOG money. I’ll continue applying even harder for scholarships now.</p>

<p>The way you guys are talking, you make it sound like it’s not even worth it to apply for scholarships (“oh its only for one year, what will you do next year?” kind of stuff). You’d think you guys could be a little more positive.</p>

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<p>Just being realistic. Outside scholarships are tough to get. My daughter applied for quite a few as a senior in HS. She had good stats, including a 32 ACT and a ton of community service and awards, and she had high need, but she did not get any outside scholarships that she applied for. She did get a good one from her school luckily. But none of the outside ones. We were very gung ho about it all at the time and were sure she would score some outside money, But there is a lot of competition out there.</p>

<p>So it is worth applying, but you cannot assume you will get them.</p>

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<p>I would ask each individual school how they apply o/s scholarships as in my experience they vary widely. One (top 25 school) would apply the first $500 to the student and any amount over that would be split 50%/50% between the student and the school. Others I have seen apply 100% to loans others apply 100% to loans and work study. I do not have any first hand info about gaps though.</p>

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<p>*The way you guys are talking, you make it sound like it’s not even worth it to apply for scholarships (“oh its only for one year, what will you do next year?” kind of stuff). You’d think you guys could be a little more positive. *</p>

<p>We’ve been on CC long enough to see how rare and hard it is for students to win private scholarships - even when academic stats are HIGH. So, with modest stats, your chances for private scholarships will even be more difficult.</p>

<p>To tell you the truth…the amount of time that you spend applying to scholarships would be better spent working a part-time job…you’d net more money.</p>

<p>I guess I’ll buckle down and get more scholarships next year, .</p>

<p>That’s just it. There are very, very few private scholarships for subsequent years. Those that are offered, are for entering freshmen.</p>

<p>or transfer to a cheaper school if I can’t get anymore scholarships</p>

<p>That isn’t wise. A different school might not accept many/all of your transferred credits. </p>

<p>I think you’re being overly optimistic to think that with your stats you’re going to get funding for expensive schools. </p>

<p>It doesn’t matter if I commute. I live independently and 100% financially support myself, so I’ll be paying housing and living expenses no matter where I go.</p>

<p>Are you still in high school? Are you living on your own now? </p>

<p>Have you been classified “independent” for financial aid purposes? If so, then your federal loan limits will be larger. </p>

<p>Besides Tex A&M Corpus…you need to apply to other Texas publics. You might just get a better FA package from a different school. Also, various schools have cheaper housing/meal options. They aren’t all identical.</p>

<p>Again, we’re being realistic. It would be a shame if we gave you false hope and you missed out on reasonable opportunities that would be affordable.</p>

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<p>To tell you the truth…the amount of time that you spend applying to scholarships would be better spent working a part-time job…you’d net more money.
I work a full time job already and a part time job. Probably about 50 hours a week.</p>

<p>*Are you still in high school? Are you living on your own now?</p>

<p>Have you been classified “independent” for financial aid purposes? If so, then your federal loan limits will be larger. *
I’m 22 and out on my own, as I have been for the past 4 years (as of December), but everyone on this board has told me I won’t be classified as independent.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your advice. I’ll continue applying but not hold out hope to land any, and anything I do get will just be a bonus.</p>

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That’s a good approach. Good luck!</p>