Some Rich Students 'Merit' Financial Aid

So what am I suppossed to do?

I am an "underrepresented minority" with outstanding academic achievements. I applied, got accepted and received multiple MERIT based scholarships.

I do not qualify for financial aid because my parents income is quite high.

So do you seriously expect that "to be fair" I should write a letter to my chosen college and say "thank you for the wonderful $45,000 scholarship but I really do not need it. Instead enclosed find a check written by my dad for $50,000 to cover my tuition and expenses for this year"

Get real people!!

Outraged

To all you people that figure minorites are getting a break..think again!! I am an African American female, I have a 4.3 GPA, was captian of the volleyball team, president of several groups, and managed to work a part-time job at ADIDAS. I qualify for ZERO finacial aid, and believe that at least Emory University isn't giving out a penny because your black. Now this may have been the case in 1992 but times have changed!! Karen from Ohio said it best the middle class gets screwed and I personally think it.s unfair! What the hell difference does it make that Michael from California's activities were "not interesting", he was active and worked hard in school..should he not be rewarded? uggg...

Less than 1 %

When I applied to college I knew that I had to sell myself to the admissions committee as well as the financial aid office. With a 4.1 GPA, two varsity sports, 31 ACT, president of two clubs, 21 hours per week as a cashier at a grocery store, and a number of other activities, I knew I was only meeting the basic requirements to be considered for an Ivy League School. My mother, who was divorced, on her second year of unemployment and months away from driving herself, in a stupor, to a rehab facility after having suicidal thoughts, ended up serving as my inspiration for my personal essay. The teachers and fellow students in my high school constantly scolded me for my preoccupation with getting into a good school - "it doesn't matter where you go to college, you'll be happy wherever you go . . . the ivy league is just a word" etc. etc. What they didn't understand was that not only did I know I wanted to go into academia and be a writer, but that I could in no way afford college without an immense amount of grant financial aid. High school was the toughest time of my life. Now, graduating from Penn with a 3.5 GPA and still a hefty chunk of debt, I'm heading to Brown for my (funded, with stipend) PhD in literature. But, I was only even able to get to this point because I accepted the fact that only the best schools can afford to give financial aid to poorer white students as well as those of minority groups, whereas elsewhere only students of color are considered. To those who think it can't be done, take control of your future. Nothing is as it seems when you're 17.

Understanding Aspects Of Financial Aid And A Few Tips

As one familair wirh financial aid, it is important to point out the following:

1) Stafford Loans are financial aid; they require no credit check and are guaranteed to be awarded to the student. For many loans are a necessary part of college life.

2) Verification is a part of financial aid. Approximately 1 in 3 students will be selected and while the selection is for the most part random, there are certain triggers (erroneius data) on a FAFSA's that may cause a seemingly "okay" FAFSA to be selected.

It's always a good practice to double check the information provided on the FAFSA before it is submitted. And it is advisbale to have copies of the required income documents readily on-hand "just in case" the FAFSA is selected for verification.

3) Many schools would love to offer more merit-based money or general institutional gift aid - basic scholarships and grants. Unfortunately, these schools' endowments are not as large as some of the well known BIG schools. As a result, fewer dollars go to fewer students.

4) When searching for scholarships, don't just look for the "big ones" that offer full rides. Instead, know that it is okay to build a financial aid package from smaller awards.

5) The best rule of thumb is to live within your means while in college. Higher Ed is a business. When parents and students visit campus they are shown the most expensive housing and offered the most expensive meal plans. And typically, these are the perks the students want. This is fine for those can afford "top shelf", but for many who are on budgets, please realize that it is okay to go with lower end housing and if possible a cheaper meal plan.

6) As a student get to know: professors, department chairs, and other administrators. Help them - positively - put a name with a face with an upbeat personality and good GPA. You might be surprised how many students can find help by following the best basic etitquette rules.

7) If possible, become an RA (Resident Advisor). Look at this as not just a job, but an opportunity to build your resume and a way to cut down on the cost of housing and food while in college.

8) Don't give up. Make sure to apply for assistance each year. Follow all good leads.

9) Which brings us to, do not pay for scholarship search services or for someone to complete the FAFSA for you.

10) If you have questions ask, but make sure that you have decided to buy into yuor own success. Check out leads. Readily read correspondences. Readily respond to inquiries. Remember, "Procrastination is the thief of time."

Good luck.

The solution is simple...go to a cheaper college

Well...

I am back in college after many years. It is not easy but the aid helps. When I was a teenager, I was injured in the military and had a real tough time getting my life together after many operations and it has been difficult to say the least.

To the guy from Oman that wants us to pay for his daughters education, I have to ask why his government does not pay it? Why the heck should we pay for it?

In Argentina, Scandanavia and many countries 'all 'education is free. I guess all that is free in this country anymore is the freedom to work or go fight for oil.

If Argentina they went through a recenty ecomic crisis where thier peso was devalued by half and then the rich bankers robbed all the gold out of the banks in one night and drove it all across the boarder to Uraguay in a caravan of 67 armoured trucks and yet they still can educate their children all the way through college. Imagine if your dollar was worth half of what it is and your bank savings was robbed all in the same day? Even with these hardships, they still pay for the education of thier kids Why can't we?

Oh that's right the rich might have to share some of that money they have been pigging away.

Eat the rich feed the poor and make all education free in this country for it's citizens.

The foreigners can pay to attend if they behave themselves. Unlike these Chinese communists waving that damn red flag around. Deport them all and let our kids go to school with the space they take up.

Misleading...

While the shift of aid to wealthy families may be happening in some locales, it isn't accurate to say that it is happening everywhere and for the same reasons. As a director of financial aid at public university in the western U.S., I can tell you that our low income students are extremely well funded; so much so that we made a conscious attempt for the coming year to shift some of our grant funds to our lower and middle income students. Is that a shift of aid to "wealthy" students? I don't think so. Governments, institutions, and donors have been tripping over each other to fund low income students these past few years and it was our distinct impression that the shrinking lower-middle and middle classes were the ones who were suffering the most, so we attempted to do something about it. At the same time, the fairly small amount of merit-based aid that we offer has been under constant attack by those who believe that low income students shouldn't have to pay a dime for anything. We disagree. Research has proven over and over that students who share in their educational investment appreciate and value it more than those who obtain it for free. So get out there and help yourselves a bit; save, work, study hard, file your forms accurately and on time, pay attention to what the aid offices send you, and appreciate the freedom you have to better yourself. The rest will take care of itself...

I had a 3.9/4.0 GPA, 1560 SAT, a few club captains for science/math stuff, and worked on the school newspaper. I got two full rides to undergraduate schools, and am now on the receiving end of a 60% scholarship for law school.

Quit crying about how crappy you have it and work harder. My parents arrived to the USA with nothing but fifty bucks and two suitcases of clothing. My mom never attended college, yet they managed to send their kid to an Ivy League school and pay for it.

I had a 4.2 GPA, 5 AP classes, 1330 SAT 31 ACT was a state champion in wrestling, undefeated my senior year. Loadsof community service. Had some kid in my school get a full ride to georgia because hes hispanic... he had a 3.6 GPA was an athlete that never placed in state and was in Pre-Cal as a senior. Oh did I mention this kid is also well off. lives in a half a million dollar home with a tennis court, pool and basketball court in his backyard. If that is not bullsh** i dont know what is. IM TIRED OF ALL THESE MINORITY SCHOLARSHIPS WHY ISNT HERE AN ALL WHITE SCHOLARSHIP.

why didn't i get aid?

The reason some of us don't get fa was because our parents were stupid enough to think working hard ,saving for retirement,living within your means was the right thing to do. Why shouldn't everyones fa be based on merit? Why when a student applys for fa is only the custodial parents income-assets considered? Doesn't the other parent still have an income and assets?Good reason to split. I'm sick of those less fortunate not taking responsibilty for their situation.Stop having kids you can't afford and expect someone else to pay . Without the benefit of a college degrees wev'e manage to save enough money to not qualify for student aid .After that is all gone i can only hope you are as generous in taking care of us in our retirement .Hard work should be rewarded not punished .