Summer Scholars Program in Biology and Biomedical Research vs Fin Aid

Colleges & Universities Washington University in St. Louis
1

<p>Are there any current WashU students (or their parents) who participated in the Summer Scholars Program in Biology and Biomedical Research in the past who could explain how it worked with their WashU fin aid package? The program info states "Scholars selected are not expected to contribute summer earnings in calculations of their financial assistance for their freshman year at Washington University. " I am trying to figure out what that might end up meaning in terms of the fin aid package.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>It means that they don’t expect you to contribute money earned from a summer job because you’re doing research at WashU instead. In other words, you’re getting more FA.</p>

3

<p>Thanks, but I was hoping to get more concrete details. The 2 unknowns that I am most interested in learning are:

  1. How much do they expect the student to earn during the summer?
  2. If the earnings won’t be expected for summer scholar participants, what will it be replaced with?</p>

<p>Some colleges explicitly state how much of the EFC is expected to come from a student’s summer earnings regardless of how much they have made in the past (presumbably so that the student takes some fiscal responsibility for their education rather than spending the summer playing video games, etc.). My understanding is that WashU just uses the students past earnings. If that is true, then a summer scholar student who had made $1,000 during the prior tax year would not be expected to make that amount this summer where as a student who made $3,000 would not be expected to make that amount. Based on information from other sources, I think there will be an upper limit of $2,000. Anyway, basing it on past earnings rather than on potential earnings doesn’t seem fair to me.</p>

<p>So, let’s say the student is not expected to contribute $2,000 of summer earnings when WashU puts together their fin aid package. What is it replaced with? Does the student get a grant or scholarship for that amount or will they have to use money from a loan?</p>

<p>I should know more in a few weeks when we get our fin aid package, but if anyone has firsthand knowledge I would love to know before then. Otherwise, I’ll try to supply the details at a later date.</p>