Scholarships

Letsdothis

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Oct 9, 2015
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How do scholarships work at USNA? I am guessing kids often enter the SAs with scholarships.... What happens to those monies?
 
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There are threads on this every year - I suggest poking around a bit. I am sure others who have dealt with this recently will comment.

On my iPhone app, I tried "SA scholarships," "using scholarships at USNA," "applying merit scholarship," "using scholarship money," etc. A few variations should produce some threads; a quick scan down my search results showed some.
 
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Actually it's a pretty good question. I searched this site and there are countless threads on scholarships, but all pertain to ROTC scholarships.

Does anyone know if people would still qualify for say, a Pell Grant or other scholarship that could be used for basic expenses?

I'll do some more digging as well but those could be really helpful for travel expenses and such.
 
It is my understanding, after having read other threads over the last several months, that the scholarships can be applied to other school type expenses at the academy, like uniforms, computer, and things like that which do get expensive, and are normally taken out of the midshipman so pay. So the short answer is that the scholarships can be used.
 
Actually it's a pretty good question. I searched this site and there are countless threads on scholarships, but all pertain to ROTC scholarships.

Does anyone know if people would still qualify for say, a Pell Grant or other scholarship that could be used for basic expenses?

I'll do some more digging as well but those could be really helpful for travel expenses and such.
I don't think pell grants can be used, although just speculating. Mostly it is the local type scholarships which get applied to the account.
 
Service Academies are not "eligible education institutions" as defined by the IRS, so you can not apply to FAFSA for pell grants, students loans, etc. See this link (specifically #6) -- from USMA -- but should apply to all Service Academies. http://www.usma.edu/parents/SiteAssets/TaxInformationforParents2015.pdf

At least for USMA you can apply scholarships that don't specifically require they be applied to tuition to the initial $2,000 deposit. Those scholarships go into the cadet fund, where the cadet can't access the $$, but can be applied to the deposit. Or at the end of the year, if there is leftover in the fund, the cadet can request a "top off" refund.
 
Actually it's a pretty good question. I searched this site and there are countless threads on scholarships, but all pertain to ROTC scholarships.

Does anyone know if people would still qualify for say, a Pell Grant or other scholarship that could be used for basic expenses?

I'll do some more digging as well but those could be really helpful for travel expenses and such.

I searched on the terms above in my first post, plus "USNA scholarship money," "using scholarships at Service Academies," "can I use scholarships at academy," and some others I forget. I found about 12 threads within the last 4 years, all with nuggets that help answer - takes a bit of sorting them from ROTC scholarship threads. I would post the links but am on iPhone in the car (not driver!) for the next few hours. We are off to feed holiday carrots and apples to our retired horses in PA, where they are living the good life.

Once the BFE is in hand, the appointment has been accepted, and paperwork is being completed in the spring, if there are still questions, I think a call to USNA Midshipman Disbursing Officer is a place to start. 410-293-3307. That officer is usually a Navy lieutenant, and he/she is used to the annual deluge of the usual questions.

Parents will also connect on the FB page for the SA class, and no doubt get questions answered there by '19, '18, and other years parents. Parents will also be able to connect with the respective Academy Parents Club for their area, same resources of parents who have ridden the same roller coaster, sometimes for multiple DS/DD.
 
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It depends on the scholarship. Many scholarships are limited to tuition. Such scholarships could not be used since 'tuition' is 'already covered'. If there are no restrictions on the scholarship then it can be deposited in their account at any of the academies and used for other expenses.
 
So what costs should a parent expect that is no covered by the SA? I know there is a set amount each gets into their account that pays for hair cuts, laundry ect but is there above and beyond costs I should anticipate? Thanks!
 
So what costs should a parent expect that is no covered by the SA? I know there is a set amount each gets into their account that pays for hair cuts, laundry ect but is there above and beyond costs I should anticipate? Thanks!
Travel of course, uniforms is the biggest expense as I understand it and much of the monthly (is pay the right term) goes towards the uniforms the first year. Plus just your basic expenses like if they go off campus for a movie, etc.

Airline tickets aren't cheap of course either.
 
So what costs should a parent expect that is no covered by the SA? I know there is a set amount each gets into their account that pays for hair cuts, laundry ect but is there above and beyond costs I should anticipate? Thanks!

Since you posted on the USNA section, I can offer what I know as a Plebe parent. My DS and our family have paid $0.00 for anything not covered because there are no "have to have" items that are not covered. Your Plebe will get about $9,000 in gear by the time classes start. This includes everything from underwear to a laptop computer. Your Mid will spend the next 3+ years paying back those expenses by way of a garnished paycheck. If your Mid was left with nobody else left in the world, they would be provided for until graduation. That said, we give our Mid some spending money for the pizza delivery to the gate on the weekends and trips to the movies/ mall. It's not much and usually he does not ask for a lot as everything is provided. The biggest costs have been getting him home for holidays, and visits for I-Day and PPW. This will give you an idea of the payment schedules and the shear amount of "stuff" they are provided:

http://www.usna.com/document.doc?id=773
 
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Since you posted on the USNA section, I can offer what I know as a Plebe parent. My DS and our family have paid $0.00 for anything not covered because there are no "have to have" items that are not covered. Your Plebe will get about $9,000 in gear by the time classes start. This includes everything from underwear to a laptop computer. Your Mid will spend the next 3+ years paying back those expenses by way of a garnished paycheck. If your Mid was left with nobody else left in the world, they would be provided for until graduation. That said, we give our Mid some spending money for the pizza delivery to the gate on the weekends and trips to the movies/ mall. It's not much and usually he does not ask for a lot as everything is provided. The biggest costs have been getting him home for holidays, and visits for I-Day and PPW. This will give you an idea of the payment schedules and the shear amount of "stuff" they are provided:

http://www.usna.com/document.doc?id=773


Good summary. There is also the heavy load on your Visa/ MC for trips to the Mid Store for Proud USNA Dad polos, the t-shirt and tote bag with the class names, and inordinate amounts of items featuring Bill the Goat on I-Day, Plebe Parents Weekend, 2/c Parents Weekend, Commissioning Week and other visits. ;)

As midshipman taxable Navy active duty pay, mids technically earn some percentage of O-1 (first officer pay grade), netting about $50 a month, after various service fees and other things are debited. That pocket amount increases yearly as things get paid off. They will have a Yard card for use around the Yard at various facilities.

They will have plenty of briefs, get guidance from savvy upperclass and be able to visit the Midshipman Disbursing Office with questions. Parents Club old hands will also help you.

As noted above, a mid can get through with little outlay. If they want to attend some of the big concerts on the Yard, buy football tickets for family, go on special outings not fully funded by USNA, a company ski trip, an away football game, upgrade their issue computer after a few years, etc., that's when cash outflow can occur. Bank those birthday and HS graduation checks for those.

Buying the class ring. Nothing to worry about the first year, and there will be a wide quality range to select from down the road. If they go all out with 18k gold, precious stones, etc., the ring can zoom into the high 4 digits.

Firstie year - Marine uniforms, if they go that way. There is a reason Marines look like they are poured into their uniforms - quality materials and custom tailoring. And, Marine officers are required to have their sword upon commissioning. Navy does not require it until a much later rank, but mids often end up getting one.

This is just a down range snapshot of some of the cash-rich events awaiting your mid!
 
All plebes get an ACE loan. Class of 2019 was around $8200 but I maybe wrong on that figure. I think that most scholarship money may be used for this but I'm not sure. You can always call Admissions to inquire, if they don't know, they can re-direct you.

GO NAVY, BEAT PITT TODAY!!!!!
 
All plebes get an ACE loan. Class of 2019 was around $8200 but I maybe wrong on that figure. I think that most scholarship money may be used for this but I'm not sure. You can always call Admissions to inquire, if they don't know, they can re-direct you.

GO NAVY, BEAT PITT TODAY!!!!!

Midshipman Disbursing Officer: 410-293-3307

That is correct, some flavors of scholarship money can be applied against that initial loan.
 
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