Scholarships Rock

[phatlip12]

I was just awarded a $2,000 scholarship from my bank! I got so many scholarships last year I didn't have to pay for college at all this year (except books the second semester). Scholarships rock! :D

[keithldick]

Congrats!... :D

[njshadow]

Congrats! Indeed, scholarships do rock. I just got 2 grants to go to Rutgers last week!

[lsman11]

nice job dude

[masherscf]

I was just awarded a $2,000 scholarship from my bank! I got so many scholarships last year I didn't have to pay for college at all this year (except books the second semester). Scholarships rock! :D

I guess you can quit your job at the crab-shack. The only question is where are we gonna go for crabs?

[comhcinc]

why is higher education not free in this country?

[xibalba]

Greed......

[masherscf]

why is higher education not free in this country?

Interesting question... Big lecture halls cost money. Libraries full of books cost money. Nice professors with hungry families need to get paid.

Who do you suggest pays for this?


Don't get me wrong, I'm more in debt to the United States Department of Education than you can imagine. I'm all for public funding in higher education.

However, we've seen a lot of meddling in middle school and high school curricula by high-minded school board members. I fear for academic freedom in this country when every academic is suddenly beholding to elected officials for a paycheck.

It's enough that I work for a public university with a ham-fisted mayor with a political agenda asserting influence.

[xibalba]

billionaires

[comhcinc]

Interesting question... Big lecture halls cost money. Libraries full of books cost money. Nice professors with hungry families need to get paid.

Who do you suggest pays for this?

in plenty of other countries higher education is pay for with public funds. why is that such a hard concept here?

[masherscf]

in plenty of other countries higher education is pay for with public funds. why is that such a hard concept here?

Other countries value academia more than we do here. In this country, intelligent people are mistrusted. They are called nerds, geeks and despised as an elite class. Academic freedom is not valued. People view education as only a means to push their own agenda.

Besides, there is a lot of public money out there for qualified students.

[tokenuser]

I guess you can quit your job at the crab-shack. The only question is where are we gonna go for crabs?I hear Samureye has crabs ... maybe chino as well ...

[ariastar]

in plenty of other countries higher education is pay for with public funds. why is that such a hard concept here?

Elitism. Those who have the power to charge this and send more public funds to higher education like the elite status basically ensured by only other elites easily being able to afford college. And not just any college, Ivy League. You never hear about rich people or celebs going to state schools or local jc's. Nope, always Yale, Harvard, whatever.

A BIG problem I have with financial aid is that you are a dependent of your parents until you're 24 unless your married, have a kid, are in the military, were a ward of the court at 18, or are working on a masters or higher. So your parents' income is held against you. Typically 10% of their pre-tax income is considered to be available to spend on your education. But there is no law saying they have to, and most parents actually can NOT afford to spend a full 10% pre-tax, which is like 14% post-tax.

Since most parents these days actually do NOT contribute to higher education, be it because they can't afford it or just don't want to, the students are bearing the burden of their parents' income.

[yashar]

FAFSA = $2,000 check per semester for college

[masherscf]

FAFSA = $2,000 check per semester for college

Is that a grant?

You have to pay back loans you know... *sob*

[yashar]

Is that a grant?

You have to pay back loans you know... *sob*Nope it's not a loan.

[phatlip12]

FAFSA = $2,000 check per semester for college

I can think of only one person that applied for FAFSA and got it. FAFSA blows

[masherscf]

I can think of only one person that applied for FAFSA and got it. FAFSA blows

WTF, are you talking about Phatty? All the FAFSA (free application for student aid) does is compute your EFC (estimated family contribution). It's up to your school to take number and use it to generate your aid package.

Anyone who fills out a FAFSA will get an EFC. If the aid package sucks, blame the school.

[phatlip12]

WTF, are you talking about Phatty? All the FAFSA (free application for student aid) does is compute your EFC (estimated family contribution). It's up to your school to take number and use it to generate your aid package.

Anyone who fills out a FAFSA will get an EFC. If the aid package sucks, blame the school.

All I know is whenever I fill out the FAFSA I get a paper in the mail saying I get $0. :(

[casework]

All I know is whenever I fill out the FAFSA I get a paper in the mail saying I get $0. :(

Works for everyone I know.

I got a handful of scholarships, grants, and even aid, and I'm still paying out the rear for school. :/

There are definitely drawbacks to private schools...

[ariastar]

I applied the year after my dad died in 2003. In 2004, they wanted to use his income until November 2003, despite the fact that he was dead and not making money in 2004. Besides, I was living with a fiancé, so how the hell did my dad's 2003 earnings mean jack with the EFC? I didn't go to school that year, still haven't, but it pisses me off that the gov. assumes all college-student-wanna-be's have parents willing and able to contribute. If your parents won't, you're screwed. My first fiancé's mom decided she wanted him to go into something other than culinary, so refused to renew the parental part of the FAFSA for his second year, so he didn't qualify for jack because he couldn't get his application completed. She contributed nothing, and wouldn't be liable for any loans, yet he couldn't finish school because of this.

[masherscf]

All I know is whenever I fill out the FAFSA I get a paper in the mail saying I get $0. :(

You don't get money for filling out the FAFSA. No one does. It just computes your EFC. If you EFC was $0, you're the golden boy. It means you get your entire aid package subsidized.

Everyone, based on the degree program is assigned a need amount. This amount is regardless of your family's income status. It just the computed amount of money you'll "need" to attend school in your particular program in total. This includes tuition, housing, food, books, whores, whatever... I have no idea how they come up with the number because it is never enough. The school looks at your EFC and figures out how they can cover the "need." They have choice of scholarships, grants and loans. Grants are cash they give you for being you. Loans are money that has to be repaid. Loans can be Perkins loans that your parents sign for or Stafford loans that you sign for. They can be either subsidized or unsubsidized depending on your EFC. If you EFC is high you'll have less grants and subsidized loans. These loans are guaranteed by the US government and you cannot be turned down. There is no credit check.

They subtract schlorships directly from your need. I suspect that why you got bubkiss.

Aria looks like she got screwed because parents can waive the Perkin's loan and there nothing you can do about it. Selfish bastards! What really chaps my ass about this is that her parent probably still claimed her a dependent. That deduction may have covered the loan.

The point is the EVERYONE is eligible for the aid. EVERYONE!

The only difference is how much interest your gonna pay and how much you'll have to give back later.

Many people waive the student loans because they're a big debt. However, student loan debt is better than credit card debt. The interest is usually around the prime rate. My loans are at about 8% right now since I just consolidated. So if your gonna go into debt in college, make it a student loan.

[comhcinc]

good points all around masherscf

[masherscf]

good points all around masherscf

You don't $100,000 in debt without knowing the system.

[ariastar]

Aria looks like she got screwed because parents can waive the Perkin's loan and there nothing you can do about it. Selfish bastards! What really chaps my ass about this is that her parent probably still claimed her a dependent. That deduction may have covered the loan.

That was my ex whose parents wouldn't fill it out, and that year, because we lived in an apartment owned by them, we let them claim both of us as dependents.

Big point is that schools need to stop assuming parents will pay for jack.

[masherscf]

That was my ex whose parents wouldn't fill it out, and that year, because we lived in an apartment owned by them, we let them claim both of us as dependents.

Big point is that schools need to stop assuming parents will pay for jack.

I'm not sure the schools are legal able to change what their assumptions are. That is, ironically, parents not required to pay for your school but the school is required to assume that they will.

It still sucks.

Not that it matter for you now. But, for anyone else with the same problem there must be a way of becoming emancipated. For example, my brother g/f has legal guardianship over her sibs because her parents are a disaster.

Nevertheless, some people will go to great length to protect that dependent deduction even if they don't deserve it. You don't get the right to declare a dependent just because of relation, you need to donate at least 50% of their finical support. A quick tax audit will clear that up.

[comhcinc]

You don't $100,000 in debt without knowing the system.

hey quick question


i just back my efc today. because i have nothing but combat pay, so i guess i lucked up. the efc is 0

what is my next step?

[ariastar]

hey quick question


i just back my efc today. because i have nothing but combat pay, so i guess i lucked up. the efc is 0

what is my next step?

Apply to schools.

[ariastar]

I'm not sure the schools are legal able to change what their assumptions are. That is, ironically, parents not required to pay for your school but the school is required to assume that they will.

It still sucks.

Not that it matter for you now. But, for anyone else with the same problem there must be a way of becoming emancipated. For example, my brother g/f has legal guardianship over her sibs because her parents are a disaster.

Nevertheless, some people will go to great length to protect that dependent deduction even if they don't deserve it. You don't get the right to declare a dependent just because of relation, you need to donate at least 50% of their finical support. A quick tax audit will clear that up.

I had a lot of friends when I was about 20 or so who couldn't go to school because they weren't even on speaking terms with their parents. And emancipation is only when you're a minor. Over 18 and under 24 and you're frakked.

[comhcinc]

Apply to schools.

thats already been done my dear

[masherscf]

Apply to schools.

There's a form for there for you to put the names of schools you want your information released to. If you're applying to a particular school, add that school to the list.

When you are admitted you will register for classes. Once you are registered the school will generate your award (the award is based on how many credits you take). This means if you drop too many classes, they'll send the money back. The award will just be a list of loans, grants and other stuff. You'll have to follow up each one eventually in different ways.

I assume that Uncle Sam will pick-up a bit of your schooling? That'll be deducted from your award I expect.

First, You need to accept or decline each part of your award. That paper needs to be delivered to the finical aid office ASAP.

The application process for each vehicle differs from school to school. Sit down with a finical aid officer of your school in person. Go early to beat the rush. Have a good long chat with that person. Make sure you understand everything. They'll give you the mountain of paperwork you need.

If workstudy is included in your award, you'l have to find a job with workstudy funding. The finical aid department can usually steer you in the proper direction. I was a peer tutor for a few semesters.

If you get a loan, you'll have to pick the lending agency. Each school has different favorites. Borrow from a state or federal agency if you can. Each agency follows the same rules so it's not a huge decision. But, your gonna be dealing with these people for years. I found the department of education a little nicer to deal with than Citibank. Each state usually has a not-for-profit loan company that just underwrites the guaranteed student loans. However, getting a human on the phone over at the Department of Education is nearly impossible.

The main thing is not to wait to fill out paper work. Schools are notorious for sitting on paper work and horribly unforgiving for missed deadlines.

Once you get your grants, loans or whatever, the money is wired to the school. They'll deduct your tuition and fees and send you the balance. This is your living money... spend it wisely... I hear Apple makes nice computers...

Remember that you'll have to pay the loan money back eventually. It's better than credit cards but it is still unsecured debt.

[comhcinc]

thanks masherscf, guess i need to get to the college tomorrow

[masherscf]

thanks masherscf, guess i need to get to the college tomorrow

Well, the FA guys can't do anything until they generate your aid package. That required you to be registered. The only trouble is the once you are registered, the school will start to bill you... that can be annoying. Of course, they'll usually settle down once your paperwork is done.

[ariastar]

Complicated, ain't it?

[comhcinc]

Well, the FA guys can't do anything until they generate your aid package. That required you to be registered. The only trouble is the once you are registered, the school will start to bill you... that can be annoying. Of course, they'll usually settle down once your paperwork is done.

okay now i am starting to get confused


i believe i am registered, i haven't signed up for any classes cause i was told to wait to get my FA in order. so i guess i need to contact them tomorrow

[masherscf]

okay now i am starting to get confused


i believe i am registered, i haven't signed up for any classes cause i was told to wait to get my FA in order. so i guess i need to contact them tomorrow

Well, there are three steps.

1. Acceptance. Yes you can come here!

2. Enrollment. I'm coming here majoring in ***

3. Registration. I'm taking these classes in the fall semester.


Call the FA department directly to get directions. I can't speak for your school. I work for the City University of New York and their procedure is the same as the three schools that I got my degrees at. It works like this...

The FA department can't generate an aid package until they verified that you're a full-time student. You aren't a full time student until you're registered for classes.

Maybe there is some sort of declaration they need. Maybe they'll just assume that since your enrolled as a full time student then they'll generate aid. They may have generated the package already and it's being mailed to you. School seem to have their own systems... Just call and make sure you're doing everything you need to.

You have to be pretty proactive where school staffers are concerned.

[comhcinc]

thanks i am calling the FA department tomorrow. will update you on it

[phatlip12]

Your 2007-2008 Financial Aid application has been received and reviewed. Based on information you provided in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you are ineligible for a Federal Pell Grant. You may, however, be eligible for the Federal Work-Study program or a Federal Stafford Loan.

Translation?

[comhcinc]

Translation?

no free money for you

get a job you hippy

[phatlip12]

More great news!

I got this in the mail today:

Congratulations! On behalf of the Cecil Community College Foundation, Inc., I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected to receive full tuition scholarship support from the CecilBANK scholarship fund for the 2007-2008 academic year.This is great news. Things have been really tough this year on my family. My parents had to get multiple surgery's this year and have both missed a great amount of work and thing have been slow at the restaurant. I forgot I even applied for this scholarship until today. Great news indeed. :)

[rabidbadger]

That's awesome dude, congrats...

And my best to your folks, I hope they are doing better now.

Joel