Scholarship + University Merit Award

Azmomm

5-Year Member
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Sep 13, 2010
Messages
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Question regarding the dispersal of University funded merit award. Will it decrease as a result of ROTC scholarship. Specifically, given a situation where you are fortunate to be awarded 4yr scholarship from ROTC + university provides housing, at this point you are left with only meals to be purchased on you :biggrin:. OK, all good. And, you have a fairly high EFC that if not for the scholarship you would probably be pay'n the full costs. Then you receive notice (or for many of you already have) of an academic or other merit award for say $10000. Will you not get to use any of it to pay for the meal plan or will it be negated by your ROTC scholarship and the EFC?
Complicated. My reason for asking is that I would like to budget for the $5000 cost of meal plan etc. and also DD is already thinking that she will get away with no out of pocket costs. Thanks
 
Azmnmom,

As it has been explained to me....my DS has tuition paid by Merit scholarship, housing is being picked up by university for all contracted cadets, using the much anticipated AROTC scholarship to pay for board, the book and month stipend. So basically ROTC is paying for housing and board. There are tax consequences to using scholarship dollars as room/board - I'm trying to do some research currently and have half learned that ROTC benefits aren't taxable or reportable on FAFSA(our new best friend). Will see if someone else chimes in....I do believe it is up to the school if they will "stack" certain scholarships, so best bet is to talk with Financial aid at any school or your ROOs will usually know too.
 
Thanks for the reply. I want DD to call and find out and I don't want to be the one doing the info finding - But, I know that in the end if there is a bill due I will have to pay, at least initially. And these bills require some planning. So grateful overall for her opportunity to go OOS to college. With the ROTC it has made such a huge difference in her options.
 
Azzmom: It depends on the university. Need based aid is not supposed to be affected by a ROTC scholarship but merit based aid might be. One of my daughters colleges (college A) last year told her that she could not combine her merit scholarship that would have covered her entire R&B with her AFROTC scholarship. After we deposited at a different college, college A called on the phone and said they were sorry and that their policy had changed and she could use both. Too late. Some of her other colleges didn't have any problem combining them. Of course she chose the one school that offered her nothing...but that's a sad story for another time.:redface:
 
Thanks for the reply. I want DD to call and find out and I don't want to be the one doing the info finding - But, I know that in the end if there is a bill due I will have to pay, at least initially. And these bills require some planning. So grateful overall for her opportunity to go OOS to college. With the ROTC it has made such a huge difference in her options.

Making DS learn how to do the FAFSA - if he can handle AP Calc, he can file a form:wink: I've read on different threads that when/if you pay and wait for reimbursement is really also up to financial aid - add another question to her list:smile: Yes, hopeful DS will be able to earn the AROTC scholarship - if not SMP it will be. The opportunties are amazing for our kids, but the challenges are great too. Good luck.
 
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