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Is this greedy or smart?

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Linkat
 
Reply Mon 20 Mar, 2017 01:45 pm
As everyone knows college is crazy expensive. Most students are not lucky enough to get full scholarships either academically or athletically - most can be fortunate and get partial scholarships (my daughter included) but even with those the cost is still high.

One student is in the lucky few - she obtained a full academic scholarship that pays for all fees and tuition. She is a very bright and sweet girl so she certainly deserves it. As she will be commuting she has no other costs, but books and of course the gas money to drive.

As many cities/towns, there are local scholarships to be had. Usually from local businesses, organizations and private citizens. I found out this girl who is already getting 100% paid is applying for these scholarships. I thought this a bit greedy - there are many that are not as fortunate and not already getting 100% tuition paid. It seems to me she would be taking money from friends and classmates that could really use the money. It should not directly impact my daughter as they are involved in different things so they wouldn't be applying for the same scholarships.

Obviously I would never say anything towards her or her family, but it casts a different opinion I have on her now. Is this smart on her part or just greedy? Personally I never begrudge others good fortunate, but to take from your friends when you don't need it?
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Type: Question • Score: 1 • Views: 316 • Replies: 10

 
McGentrix
 
  3  
Reply Mon 20 Mar, 2017 01:58 pm
@Linkat,
It's smart on her part to get as much help as possible for her to get her higher education. Applying for, and getting scholarships are different things. There is no telling what all expenses she will have. Books are very expensive and she may need things for other activities.
centrox
 
  2  
Reply Mon 20 Mar, 2017 02:09 pm
Is anything preventing other kids from applying for these scholarships? If she has the gumption to get off her ass and fill out the forms then I say full marks to her. Sounds like she has head screwed on. There are always expenses you don't expect and a bit of extra safety margin never hurts. A lots of kids seem to have a "the Lord will provide" attitude.
Linkat
 
  1  
Reply Mon 20 Mar, 2017 02:13 pm
@McGentrix,
The scholarship is to pay for all fees (which would be other activities) - her only expense is books.

The thing is you can only use scholarship money to pay for tuition, fees and books as the money goes directly to the school not the student.

True - that just applying doesn't mean you will get it - some depends on the scholarship what they look for because some are so specific.
Linkat
 
  1  
Reply Mon 20 Mar, 2017 02:18 pm
@centrox,
The scholarships are very specific; many look at academics, some look at activities involved in - expected your intended major, or some combination.

I wonder as these can only be used for tuition, books and fees (and since she just needs coverage for books) what happens when this is all covered?

Anyone can apply that meet the requirements - I guess you could as well - if you didn't but it would be a waste of time.

I just know many of the kids via speaking with parents of even those going to state public schools that the cost is so high - their children are not gifted as much academically so they are not getting much money. They are all applying for these but with their grades lower - those with higher grades have a better chance of getting some more dollars.

Like I said I don't begrudge her getting her school paid for but do you need more than 100% or the costs?
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McGentrix
 
  3  
Reply Mon 20 Mar, 2017 02:24 pm
@Linkat,
Linkat wrote:

The scholarship is to pay for all fees (which would be other activities) - her only expense is books.

The thing is you can only use scholarship money to pay for tuition, fees and books as the money goes directly to the school not the student.

True - that just applying doesn't mean you will get it - some depends on the scholarship what they look for because some are so specific.


My son was one of the lucky few. His entire education is being paid for and he is actually getting money back to cover anything else. He applied for other scholarships because he wasn't sure if that was going to actually happen. The extra scholarships get added to his tuition and once all is done, he receives a check for anything over his tuition costs.

I don't consider that to be greedy, I consider that well earned for all the work he put in to being top of his class and the efforts of his parents to encourage him to apply and to quit sleeping so late and apply for things.
Linkat
 
  1  
Reply Mon 20 Mar, 2017 02:27 pm
On our side we have a little more than half covered with academic, athletic, leadership type scholarships from the college itself so we are fortunate. It still is a tidy sum of money so my daughter has been working hard on these - it isn't as easy as a simple application. A handful are - and of those my daughter should get at least one (if not more because of her intended area of study).

Others are very specific and you need to write an essay, provide a resume, letters of recommendation, academic transcripts or some combination. So there is a lot of work involved. The amounts vary - from a couple hundred to a couple thousands (most of course in the hundreds range).
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Linkat
 
  1  
Reply Mon 20 Mar, 2017 02:32 pm
@McGentrix,
There are definitely the lazy ones. And yeah they should not be rewarded.

I guess I feel for those that have worked hard, but just are not gifted academically and struggle more. There are many of those that fall in the middle - funny there is even one scholarship saying specifically they will not give to those in the top ten percent of the class. I guess this person/organization (can't remember which) has seen that the top ten percent tends to get all the money.

It seems you need to be in top of your class or be very needy financially - those in the middle don't get much.
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Linkat
 
  1  
Reply Mon 20 Mar, 2017 02:33 pm
@McGentrix,
That's weird that he is getting money back - we were told you could only get as much that will cover direct costs.
McGentrix
 
  2  
Reply Mon 20 Mar, 2017 02:44 pm
@Linkat,
Linkat wrote:

That's weird that he is getting money back - we were told you could only get as much that will cover direct costs.


I thought so too, but I am not going to bring my concerns to bear. He is extraordinarily lucky as they will pay for 5 years of schooling. With his AP transfers I tell him he could get a year of graduate studies paid for if he schedules it right.

He has no idea what graduating with zero debt will really mean to his future.
Linkat
 
  1  
Reply Mon 20 Mar, 2017 02:53 pm
@McGentrix,
My daughter is in between - she is getting some good money - but not enough. We hope to minimize the debt - I don't see a negative to having some debt. In one regard a small amount does teach you some responsibility and appreciation for the cost of the education. Just not to the point where it is a burden.

We just put it out there - that we can pay for x amount a year. If she wants to go to this one particular school; it is a smaller private one, and play softball and live at school (kinda needs to seeing it is a 10 hour drive) then she needs to hustle and get more scholarship money. She has been working as well.

She is getting really good at writing essays.
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