Accepting Financial Aid from ARTOC School

J

jrwork

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Oct 8, 2018
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Not sure the title really works so let me explain...

DS was awarded 4-year national scholarship. The school he assigned it to kicks in room & board for national winners. This is all great, obviously, and DS is happy with this plan. However, this is his Plan B after USMA, which we haven't heard anything on yet.

So here's my dilemma, which DS is on the "it will all work out" train, but he doesn't have life experience, nor is he paying the bills...he is going for merit weekend at the school on the 29th. We are fully operating on the assumption that he won't get an appointment to USMA and securing everything for Plan B. We have paid deposits, he will register for classes next week, etc. My question is do we go ahead and accept the school's financial aid offer, which currently only reflects academic scholarship from them, a state-funded scholarship that is awarded based on high school grades, and federal loans, which we won't use as we have ROTC in our pocket. I think that the funds from the Army won't be reflected until they are actually paid...has that been other people's experience? And how has the R&B from the school been reflected for others? Also, if we accept financial aid offer from the school, I assume it's like ROTC and we can give it back on the off chance he ends up at USMA?

I get that no one will know the answers for sure except the financial aid office at the school and his ROO, but I am trying to NOT email them and be THAT parent but the fact is that I am footing the bill for anything not covered by scholarships and kind of need some answers so we can plan. TIA
 
I would go ahead as if West Point wasn’t a possibility. I’m sure the school has a deadline date to accept their aid package. I’d do that just to ensure I didn’t lose it.
 
It's not like they'll come looking for you if you accept the aid package and don't use it. Until all the variables have settled out and the kid reports. passes his PFT, and ROTC aid starts rolling in, I would hang onto everything.
 
With my DS, the Navy contribution didn’t get credited until well into September of freshman year. The school knew it was coming, so no big deal
 
Part of DS's aid package is federal loan. I read some fine print and if we accept it, it automatically triggers electronic processing of the loan. Obviously I need to ask the financial aid office, but if we deny it now, could we potentially get it later if something happens with ROTC and we need it?? This is so overwhelming! I don't remember college being so complicated when I went!
 
And because I'm paranoid...I just checked DS's portal to make sure it still says winner and is assigned to the correct school. I don't want to wish away time, especially my son's senior year, but man, I would like things to be settled!
 
Well, if they are going to kick stuff off then I would hold off on accepting it until the college's deadline for acceptance. Even if they kick off the loan stuff I expect you can pay it back "almost immediately" without incurring too much interest. I would certainly check with the financial aid/bursar's office on that though before taking the word of some anonymous jerk on the forums! :D
 
Loans do not simply kick in. The student needs to accept them and sign a promissory note. My children are offered them and they do not automatically hand out the money.
 
UNM NROTC Lobo Mom said:
Loans do not simply kick in. The student needs to accept them and sign a promissory note. My children are offered them and they do not automatically hand out the money.
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Good to know. I'll need to make sure to tell the kid not to sign anything! Although, he's only 17 and will be when school starts so would he even be allowed to sign??
 
EDelahanty said:
jrwork said:
Not sure the title really works so let me explain...

DS was awarded 4-year national scholarship. The school he assigned it to kicks in room & board for national winners. This is all great, obviously, and DS is happy with this plan. However, this is his Plan B after USMA, which we haven't heard anything on yet.

So here's my dilemma, which DS is on the "it will all work out" train, but he doesn't have life experience, nor is he paying the bills...he is going for merit weekend at the school on the 29th. We are fully operating on the assumption that he won't get an appointment to USMA and securing everything for Plan B. We have paid deposits, he will register for classes next week, etc. My question is do we go ahead and accept the school's financial aid offer, which currently only reflects academic scholarship from them, a state-funded scholarship that is awarded based on high school grades, and federal loans, which we won't use as we have ROTC in our pocket. I think that the funds from the Army won't be reflected until they are actually paid...has that been other people's experience? And how has the R&B from the school been reflected for others? Also, if we accept financial aid offer from the school, I assume it's like ROTC and we can give it back on the off chance he ends up at USMA?

I get that no one will know the answers for sure except the financial aid office at the school and his ROO, but I am trying to NOT email them and be THAT parent but the fact is that I am footing the bill for anything not covered by scholarships and kind of need some answers so we can plan. TIA
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If he has a 4 year scholarship, which includes various fees, a stipend, textbook allowance, etc. and the school is throwing in R&B, why do you need to confuse things? True, you will still be responsible for his health insurance.
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The school pays basic room and board. That won’t be enough food so he will upgrade his meal plan. Books are only paid up to $1200 so if he goes over that, he can use his state scholarship, which can also be used for anything else included in cost of attendance such as travel and personal expenses that could exceed the monthly stipend. I don’t think we are confusing things by accepting his other scholarship offers. Plus who knows, he could fail the PFT. I doubt it but anything can happen. I don’t think by being prepared for many scenarios is confusing anything. It is just that, being prepared n
 
jrwork said:
Not sure the title really works so let me explain...

DS was awarded 4-year national scholarship. The school he assigned it to kicks in room & board for national winners. This is all great, obviously, and DS is happy with this plan. However, this is his Plan B after USMA, which we haven't heard anything on yet.

So here's my dilemma, which DS is on the "it will all work out" train, but he doesn't have life experience, nor is he paying the bills...he is going for merit weekend at the school on the 29th. We are fully operating on the assumption that he won't get an appointment to USMA and securing everything for Plan B. We have paid deposits, he will register for classes next week, etc. My question is do we go ahead and accept the school's financial aid offer, which currently only reflects academic scholarship from them, a state-funded scholarship that is awarded based on high school grades, and federal loans, which we won't use as we have ROTC in our pocket. I think that the funds from the Army won't be reflected until they are actually paid...has that been other people's experience? And how has the R&B from the school been reflected for others? Also, if we accept financial aid offer from the school, I assume it's like ROTC and we can give it back on the off chance he ends up at USMA?

I get that no one will know the answers for sure except the financial aid office at the school and his ROO, but I am trying to NOT email them and be THAT parent but the fact is that I am footing the bill for anything not covered by scholarships and kind of need some answers so we can plan. TIA
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My DD was waiting for medical waiver and the school very kindly said they would reinstate the merit aid she had been offered in case her scholarship did not begin for first semester. She ended up getting the waiver so it worked out.
 
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