How Viable is it to get Scholarships While in College that will Cover its Cost?

Paying for College
1

Hey guys, I’ve done a good deal of research into scholarships and I’ve read a book on it. I’ve decided that I want to have no more than 10,000 in student loans when I get out, but I also want to go to a big university out of my home state of South Carolina - I’m looking at something like UCLA, which is $30,000 a year for out-of-state.

I’ll do my best to apply for scholarships through winter break and until the end of my senior year but I don’t think I can get enough scholarships to bring that cost down so significantly - so I just wanted to ask you guys: is it viable to push my scholarship amount up while I’m also in college and maybe even take out most of my tuition costs there?

Thanks for your help!

2

UCLA is $55K/year (tuition/housing etc…) for OOS students. Also, the new UC budget will not longer offer FA to OOS students. Most scholarships will not fund for all 4 years and are small in comparison to amount needed to fund your education.
http://www.dailycal.org/2015/11/23/to-fund-enrollment-boost-uc-will-phase-out-out-of-state-financial-aid/

The best FA/Merit aid comes directly from the colleges and for in-coming Freshman: Use this link to help:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1678964-links-to-popular-threads-on-scholarships-and-lower-cost-colleges.html

3

<<<
I’m looking at something like UCLA, which is $30,000 a year for out-of-state.


[QUOTE=""]

[/QUOTE]

As mentioned above, the UCs are over $50k per year.

It is NOT a viable option AT ALL to think that you could get scholarships while in college to cover much of the costs.

My kids were top students in college, and the most they got awarded WHILE in college was: One got a one-time $1000 award…the other got a one time $2000 award and a one time $2500 award.

4

I wouldn’t count on it at all.

Hoping you have some other ideas. Agree with you on doing undergrad for as little debt as possible.

5

What did your SAT scores end up being?

6

Where did you find that a public university in CA would on,y cost you $30,000 a year. Nope…others are right…$55,000 at the UCs. Even with tippy top grades, it is highly unlikely you will see a reduction in the $23,000 a year for OOS tuition…or a reduction in the expected student contribution.

Your financial expectations are unrealistic.

7

0% chance of making this work.

8

I think OP is talking about tuition only at $30ish. They will pay R&B wherever they go.

9

OOS tuition and fees at UCLA is in the $38,000 a year range…this year. Room and board are in the $15,000 a year range. Add to that transportation, books and personal expenses.

So…if $30,000 is what he thinks for tuition, he is about $8000 short.

10

Regardless of the tuition, outside scholarships after the first year are rare, and usually small.

11

The UCs will be increasing OOS tuition by 8%.

12

650 CR 770 Math 800 Writing.

No idea how any of those but math happened

13

Apologies, I must have only looked at tuition costs and even then gotten those wrong.

Ok, sounds good, I’ll look for something else. Thanks for your help!