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With a top 10% of graduating class GPA and high 700's on the SAT's, I applied for scholarships ... only to be turned down because family income was too high to qualify, but not sufficient to fund my college. At the time, scholarships were primarily awarded on the basis of need and not only academic achievement ... and even if your parents wouldn't pay for your college, their income was assumed to be available for your college education unless you were an emancipated minor.
As an out-of-state student at a leading University in my field of study, the tuition expense was much higher than in-state costs. Books and materials were steep, and mandatory student fees were an insult that funded many activities for which I had no time or interest ... or, in the case of some, would never have contributed to those group's activities.
But I discovered a niche marketplace for my skills apart from my degree path, and started a casual business which more than surpassed the student type jobs I could get in the area. This paid for my education, living, and recreational expenses. When the time came to seek professional employment, I discovered that I was already making more money from my casual business than I was being offered to go to work with my degree. So that business I started in college became my career path and I did pretty well at it for over 30 years.
In today's college funding environment, it appears to me that the prime factors are to have as high a GPA and SAT score as possible, along with outside activities (sports or other interests) that show a potential of dedication and learning abilities to get those available scholarship dollars.
Just so we're clear, 99% of schools do not cost $40,000 per year in tuition. If you live in Michigan, California, Virginia, Texas, or North Carolina, tuition to a top 25 school would be less than $10,000 a year.
Dorm living is fairly expensive. For what you pay for a shared room, you can easily find an apartment to share, and have your own bedroom. I don't know about meal plans, but living in a dorm means no kitchen either.
Books: I only bought what I needed to. Never bought a "recommended" book. In grad school, most books were in the library anyway, either on the shelf as a reference book, or the professor had it in the reserved area. Now you can go online and grab them much cheaper too.
Loans and Grants paid for all of that. Always had a job for food - either work study or retail in the community. Grad school had grad assistantships with stipends and tuition payment, but you don't care about that now.
- Scholarship from the school due to a high GPA
- Sought after and got some private scholarships (academic based)
- Did well in college and maintained scholarships
- Parent's help for the rest
Academic scholarships paid for 90% of it. Do well in HS and don't mess around.
If you are entering your junior year, you will soon be taking the PSAT. Don't let the name fool you, this exam is important. A much wider variety of scholarship options will be available to you if you perform well enough to earn National Merit Finalist standing.
Here are the state cutoff scores for past years (scroll down), as well as background info: National Merit Scholarships
National Merit Scholarship
Student loans
Pell Grants (yeah for growing up poor)
Parents paid a little bit
Work-study job
Financial Aid other than Pell Grants
Getting an NMF scholarship is pretty difficult so I wouldn't count on that, but definitely take the PSAT seriously since you never know.
I went to a community college and lived at home. I received my BA later in life. I got a job at a university and received tuition remission, so that's how I got that. I'm half way done with my MA now. I pay for it by having a second job (in addition to my full time job), and I need all of that money to pay my tuition.
I attended a community college, did very well there and won a scholarship to study at a university. My education would have ended with an associates degree if I had not own that scholarship. I just did not have the money to go on.
Just so we're clear, 99% of schools do not cost $40,000 per year in tuition. If you live in Michigan, California, Virginia, Texas, or North Carolina, tuition to a top 25 school would be less than $10,000 a year.
I totally understand that. Unfortunately, I live in NJ, where schools can easily be $30,000 a year for tuition (Seton Hall for example). Excuse my previous hyperbole.
As to everyone else, I have taken the PSAT sophomore year, and will be taking it again junior year. I had a score of 186 (1860 if it were SATs) and my GPA is about a 3.8-3.9., so I'm really hoping working hard to maintain good grades will pay off in scholarships. You folks definitely just gave me even more motivation to do well.
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