Does anyone know about merit-based scholarships or creative ways to get funding for college?
Creative ways for funding college? Hmmm.
- If you are looking for merit awards, the best way is to get high grades and a high SAT or ACT score. Merita awards are based on your academic strength. So start there.
What is your SAT or ACT scores and GPA.
What year in high school are you?
Can your parents assist you with college costs?
- The best merit aid comes from colleges that accept you, and see you as a top applicant.
What colleges are you looking at?
Apply to schools that award for your stats
Look for colleges with auto-scholarship based on gpa/sat http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
Look for schools where your scores are above the 75%
Look for schools on this list: http://money.com/money/5636111/best-colleges-for-merit-aid-2019
3 Choosing colleges
You should apply to Safeties (your grades/SAT is well above average AND YOU CAN AFFORD IT), Matches and Reaches. Don’t go crazy on how many colleges you apply to…it takes a lot of effort if each college
Make sure you do not apply to any college you would not attend.
Don’t always assume that going to the highest ranked college is the best.
https://www.businessinsider.com/malcolm-gladwells-david-and-goliath-2013-10
Find out what your budget is. Ask your parents what your yearly budget is for college.
3.1 Strategies for Affordable Colleges
If you are told there is no money, or you don’t know how much money, or there is a limited amount of money you need to choose colleges that are affordable for you family. For your parents, it used to be possible to work your way through college. This is no longer the case.
3.1.1 Financial Need
If your family has financial need (according to FAFSA/CSS, not what you think!), you can get need-based grants.
• Look at Net Price Calculators on colleges to see if you would get need based financial aid.
• Apply to Colleges that meet Full need (google prepscholar and colleges that offer complete financial aid)
3.1.2 Merit
Another way to get scholarship is through merit scholarships. Merit scholarships are used to attract strong students to a college. Ivy League schools do not give out merit scholarships because all students are strong that go there.
- Look for scholarships
a. Apply to colleges where your stats are significantly above average to get merit scholarships
b. Look for colleges with auto-scholarship based on gpa/sat http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/ - Study for SAT on Khan Academy to increase your SAT score
3.1.3 Lower Cost School
Another way to save money on colleges is look for colleges with a lower sticker price. Also you can get credits for almost free in HS and then use them in college and attend for fewer years.
• Look for cheaper schools. In-state public schools are usually much cheaper than private/out of state schools
• Look to get as many college credits as you can in HS.
o Take AP or IB classes and do well on the AP/IB tests so you can get college credit. Find colleges that give extra credit for IB (e.g., SUNY Binghamton). If you have enough you may be able to graduate early. *Unless you want to go to medical school. Medical school don’t want you to fulfill the requirements of Bio, Chem, Org Chem, Physics with AP.
o Your state may have a “running start” or “dual enrollment” program where you can take college courses for free in HS
• Go to community college for two years, and then transfer to a state school
3.1.4 What about Loans?
You really want to avoid taking out big loans to pay for college. Your parents have to co-sign any loan you take over the Federal Direct Loan (Starting at $5500 and going up to $7000 as a senior). Student Loans are one of the only type of loans that cannot be discharged in a bankruptcy.