UC Berkley merit scholarship

[flowergirl65]

So my daughter applied to Berkley from the east coast, straight A student with a 36 ACT. Any chance of any merit scholarships? I have looked at their website but I cannot really find out if they have anything or not, even smaller ones? Does anyone know or has anyone received anything from Berkley that is not need based ? She has great leadership positions at her school and also some awards. Thanks

[TomSrOfBoston]

I have read that there are extremely competitive merit awards that max at about $10,000/year.

[ucbalumnus]

Regent’s scholarships are the usual top ones. Historically, award was $2,500 per year (higher for out of state, reducing cost almost to in state cost) if no FA need. If FA need, met FAFSA EFC need without loans or student work.

If mechanical engineering, there is also the full ride Drake scholarship.

Both of the above are highly competitive.

[mom2collegekids]

BTW…it’s Berkeley

Monetary Award and Scholarship Tenure: The Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship includes a monetary award that is renewable annually for up to a maximum of eight semesters for incoming freshmen and a maximum of four semesters for incoming transfer students.

Scholars without financial need receive a $2,500 honorary award per year.

Scholars with financial need are awarded a scholarship up to their full need as assessed by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.

[flowergirl65]

thanks, I know it is not going to be a lot then, she is not a mechanical engineer, more social science at this point

[Undercrackers]

And your daughter’s stats - as amazing as they are - don’t mean she will even get Regents or Chancellors. Only about 200 a year are selected, from an incoming class of 13,000+. One of my D’s good friends is a Regents - I believe she gets financial aid above and beyond the honorary award. To be safe, I’d assume you are looking at OOS tuition less any non-Cal scholarship sources/financial aid/etc.

[eyemgh]

OOS merit scholarships are rare as hen’s teeth at Cal publics. They rely on full pay students to make up funding gaps, just the same as Ivy’s rely on full pay to help offset need based aid. My son got the max OOS scholarship at Cal Poly, $8000 over 4 years. As a comparison, he got $100k at Case.

[aunt_bea]

The reason you can’t find the information is because it’s usually in one sentence:

As you enter UC Berkeley, it must be with a plan for how to meet your financial needs until the time you graduate and with the understanding that neither need-based institutional funds nor institutional funds to cover nonresident expenses, which exceed $28,000 annually, are available.

https://financialaid.berkeley.edu/meeting-nonresident-costs
Expect to pay $65k; California desperately needs the money.

[collegefind1234]

I’m lucky to be one of the Regents Scholars and from what I know based on my own and other Regents Schoolars’experiences: grades and SAT/ACT scores are not the main criteria for getting the scholarship. It’s more about ECs and what the person has done beyond the standard academic program at HS.

[flowergirl65]

is Regents for OOS students as well or…

[ucbalumnus]

Out-of-state students can get Regents’ scholarships.

https://financialaid.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/docs/forms/RC_Terms_Conditions_OOS_2018-19.pdf are the terms and conditions for out-of-state Regents’ scholars in 2018-2019. Note that the award was waiver of out-of-state additional tuition or need-based amount. Award amount may change for those who get the scholarship as frosh in 2019, of course.