Scholarships

Is raising $30,000 annually for a four-year art college realistic?

I am a junior at a high school in West Tennessee. I am currently the top student in my class and I am active in several activities outside of school.

You will have the most luck at scholarships going directly to this school and asking them. Because of your parents high income, I doubt you would qualify for grants or work study at any school.

I also worry that most outside sources of scholarships will not be impressed with your school choice the “Academy of Art” does not exactly scream Academia. Sorry – just real world answer and option for all it’s worth. Have at least 5 schools with varying degrees of cost if you can’t come up with scholarships that will go anywhere and not just the school that issues them. Make sure you list state schools as well if your folks aren’t going to help you.

Also a word of warning about an expensive school like this, even if you do manage to scrape together 30,000 for your first year, you will have to continue doing it for the next 3 years. Kids are sometimes so pleased they accomplished this the first year they forget they are going to have to keep doing it and drop out after a year or two for lack of funds… then they are a drop out with a debt of 60K and nothing to show for it but loan payments they can’t afford.

I don’t think I’m eligible for financial aid. Should I still complete the FAFSA?