3 answers
angel
Student
Las Vegas, Nevada
1
Question
Asked
984 views
is their any way that a student who plays no sports and is not involved in any extracurricular activities go to school in the us with only federal student aid and scholarships?
i come from a low income family and the only way i can go to school in the united states if i can gain enough aid from the federal government and any other forms of scholarships that i can gain. my only other option to go to college is to go to argentina where my family is from and go to college their which is free. #computerscience #medicine
3 answers
Bryan Akers
End User Compute Specialist at Dell
3
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Bryan’s Answer
I think you have options available to you...here are a few thoughts
1) Speak to your high school counselor-they may have ideas or thoughts on some options in addition to my thoughts.
2) Quick internet search for "scholarship 2017 low income" yielded some results. Make sure the sites are really going to help you. In other words, don't pay them to "help".
3) In addition to financial aid options, does the school you are attending any kind of work/study option? They pay you a small amount and it helps offset some fees. Look at things like working in the library or computer lab.
4) Given your finances, I would highly suggest looking at community colleges. These are a great way to knock out the requirements of the first 2 years without breaking the bank. Your expenses are lower per credit and if it is near home, you can still live there too. Make sure that credits you take will transfer to the 4 year college you plan to attend.
5) Look at local organizations such as Lions, Rotary Club and Knights of Columbus for scholarship opportunities.
6) Does a family member work for a company that offers scholarships?
1) Speak to your high school counselor-they may have ideas or thoughts on some options in addition to my thoughts.
2) Quick internet search for "scholarship 2017 low income" yielded some results. Make sure the sites are really going to help you. In other words, don't pay them to "help".
3) In addition to financial aid options, does the school you are attending any kind of work/study option? They pay you a small amount and it helps offset some fees. Look at things like working in the library or computer lab.
4) Given your finances, I would highly suggest looking at community colleges. These are a great way to knock out the requirements of the first 2 years without breaking the bank. Your expenses are lower per credit and if it is near home, you can still live there too. Make sure that credits you take will transfer to the 4 year college you plan to attend.
5) Look at local organizations such as Lions, Rotary Club and Knights of Columbus for scholarship opportunities.
6) Does a family member work for a company that offers scholarships?
Anuj Gupta
Software Engineering
325
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Anuj’s Answer
The short answer is **yes, absolutely.** In the United States, the students who receive the largest amount of financial aid are not athletes or club presidents—they are students from low-income households.
The U.S. financial aid system is heavily split into two categories: **merit-based aid** (for sports, high grades, or extracurriculars) and **need-based aid** (based purely on your family's financial situation). If your family income is low, your lack of sports or clubs will not stop you from getting massive amounts of need-based aid.
However, because you are trying to decide between the U.S. and a completely free option in Argentina, you need to understand exactly how the math works so you don't end up in debt.
---
### **1. Federal Student Aid (The FAFSA)**
The federal government does not care about your extracurriculars or sports; they only care about your family's income tax returns. By filling out the **FAFSA** (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), you unlock:
* **The Federal Pell Grant:** This is free money for low-income students that you never have to pay back.
* **Federal Work-Study:** A program that provides you with a part-time job on campus (like working at the library or tech support) to help pay for your books and personal expenses.
* **Federal Student Loans:** While not free money, federal subsidized loans have very low interest rates and don't accrue interest while you are in school.
> ⚠️ **The Reality Check:** The absolute maximum Pell Grant covers roughly $7,500 to $8,000 per year. While this can completely cover tuition at a local community college, it **will not** cover the full cost of a 4-year university, which includes housing, food, and campus fees.
### **2. The Secret Weapon: Institutional Need-Based Aid**
Because federal aid alone usually isn't enough, your absolute best chance at a 100% free U.S. education is targeting **colleges that meet 100% of demonstrated financial need.**
Many wealthy, elite private universities and several top public universities have massive endowments. If you get accepted into these schools and your family income is below a certain threshold (usually under $65,000 to $80,000 a year), **they will automatically waive your tuition, housing, and food completely.** They do not require you to play sports. They just require you to have strong enough grades to get accepted. Schools with these automatic low-income free tuition policies include:
* The Ivy League (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc.)
* Stanford, MIT, and Rice University
* Top liberal arts schools (Amherst, Williams, Pomona)
* Elite public schools (like the University of Michigan or the University of Virginia for in-state students, or through specific state grants like California's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan).
### **3. The Catch-22: Getting Accepted Without Extracurriculars**
Here is the hardest part of the equation: To get into the wealthy schools that can afford to give you a 100% free ride, you have to pass their admissions process.
Top-tier universities use **holistic admissions**. If your application has zero sports *and* zero extracurriculars, it is incredibly difficult to get accepted, even with a perfect GPA.
**However, "extracurriculars" do not just mean school clubs or varsity sports.** If you come from a low-income family, admissions committees value **"Family Responsibilities" and "Work Experience"** just as much as—if not more than—sports.
* Did you have to take care of younger siblings after school?
* Did you work a part-time job at a grocery store or fast-food chain to help pay your family's bills?
* Did you translate legal or medical documents for your parents?
If you did any of these things, **they count as your extracurricular activities.** Writing about your family responsibilities or a part-time job in your application proves to colleges that you have immense maturity, grit, and leadership, which can open the door to those fully funded financial aid packages.
---
### **U.S. vs. Argentina: The Strategy**
If you want to pursue **Computer Science or Medicine**, you have two distinctly different paths to weigh:
| Strategy | U.S. University Path | Argentina University Path |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **The Cost** | Free *only* if you get into a highly selective school with a "100% need-met" policy. Otherwise, you will face gaps in housing/food costs. | **100% Free Tuition** at world-class public institutions like the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). |
| **The Timeline** | 4 years for a Bachelor's in CS. For Medicine, it takes 4 years of Pre-Med + 4 years of Medical School (8 years total). | 5 to 6 years total. For medicine, you enter medical school *directly* out of high school, saving you years of time and money compared to the U.S. track. |
| **The Verdict** | High risk, high reward. Apply to U.S. schools that offer full financial need. If you get a full ride, take it. | The perfect, zero-debt safety net. If U.S. financial aid packages leave you with a gap you cannot afford, going to Argentina is an incredible option. |
### **Your Next Step**
Before making a decision, you need to see what numbers the U.S. system gives you. Go to the website of a university you are interested in, search for their **"Net Price Calculator,"** and plug in your family's financial information. It will give you a highly accurate estimate of exactly how much free grant money that specific school will give you.
Do you currently live in the U.S. as a citizen/permanent resident, or would you be applying as an international student? (This changes your eligibility for federal aid dramatically).
The U.S. financial aid system is heavily split into two categories: **merit-based aid** (for sports, high grades, or extracurriculars) and **need-based aid** (based purely on your family's financial situation). If your family income is low, your lack of sports or clubs will not stop you from getting massive amounts of need-based aid.
However, because you are trying to decide between the U.S. and a completely free option in Argentina, you need to understand exactly how the math works so you don't end up in debt.
---
### **1. Federal Student Aid (The FAFSA)**
The federal government does not care about your extracurriculars or sports; they only care about your family's income tax returns. By filling out the **FAFSA** (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), you unlock:
* **The Federal Pell Grant:** This is free money for low-income students that you never have to pay back.
* **Federal Work-Study:** A program that provides you with a part-time job on campus (like working at the library or tech support) to help pay for your books and personal expenses.
* **Federal Student Loans:** While not free money, federal subsidized loans have very low interest rates and don't accrue interest while you are in school.
> ⚠️ **The Reality Check:** The absolute maximum Pell Grant covers roughly $7,500 to $8,000 per year. While this can completely cover tuition at a local community college, it **will not** cover the full cost of a 4-year university, which includes housing, food, and campus fees.
### **2. The Secret Weapon: Institutional Need-Based Aid**
Because federal aid alone usually isn't enough, your absolute best chance at a 100% free U.S. education is targeting **colleges that meet 100% of demonstrated financial need.**
Many wealthy, elite private universities and several top public universities have massive endowments. If you get accepted into these schools and your family income is below a certain threshold (usually under $65,000 to $80,000 a year), **they will automatically waive your tuition, housing, and food completely.** They do not require you to play sports. They just require you to have strong enough grades to get accepted. Schools with these automatic low-income free tuition policies include:
* The Ivy League (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc.)
* Stanford, MIT, and Rice University
* Top liberal arts schools (Amherst, Williams, Pomona)
* Elite public schools (like the University of Michigan or the University of Virginia for in-state students, or through specific state grants like California's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan).
### **3. The Catch-22: Getting Accepted Without Extracurriculars**
Here is the hardest part of the equation: To get into the wealthy schools that can afford to give you a 100% free ride, you have to pass their admissions process.
Top-tier universities use **holistic admissions**. If your application has zero sports *and* zero extracurriculars, it is incredibly difficult to get accepted, even with a perfect GPA.
**However, "extracurriculars" do not just mean school clubs or varsity sports.** If you come from a low-income family, admissions committees value **"Family Responsibilities" and "Work Experience"** just as much as—if not more than—sports.
* Did you have to take care of younger siblings after school?
* Did you work a part-time job at a grocery store or fast-food chain to help pay your family's bills?
* Did you translate legal or medical documents for your parents?
If you did any of these things, **they count as your extracurricular activities.** Writing about your family responsibilities or a part-time job in your application proves to colleges that you have immense maturity, grit, and leadership, which can open the door to those fully funded financial aid packages.
---
### **U.S. vs. Argentina: The Strategy**
If you want to pursue **Computer Science or Medicine**, you have two distinctly different paths to weigh:
| Strategy | U.S. University Path | Argentina University Path |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **The Cost** | Free *only* if you get into a highly selective school with a "100% need-met" policy. Otherwise, you will face gaps in housing/food costs. | **100% Free Tuition** at world-class public institutions like the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). |
| **The Timeline** | 4 years for a Bachelor's in CS. For Medicine, it takes 4 years of Pre-Med + 4 years of Medical School (8 years total). | 5 to 6 years total. For medicine, you enter medical school *directly* out of high school, saving you years of time and money compared to the U.S. track. |
| **The Verdict** | High risk, high reward. Apply to U.S. schools that offer full financial need. If you get a full ride, take it. | The perfect, zero-debt safety net. If U.S. financial aid packages leave you with a gap you cannot afford, going to Argentina is an incredible option. |
### **Your Next Step**
Before making a decision, you need to see what numbers the U.S. system gives you. Go to the website of a university you are interested in, search for their **"Net Price Calculator,"** and plug in your family's financial information. It will give you a highly accurate estimate of exactly how much free grant money that specific school will give you.
Do you currently live in the U.S. as a citizen/permanent resident, or would you be applying as an international student? (This changes your eligibility for federal aid dramatically).
Jim Casey
Director of Operations
21
Answers
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Updated
Jim’s Answer
Great suggestions above there are excellent resources on the web to apply for scholarships and aid... many schools you apply for will develop a financial package for you based on your background and high school grades consider applying to at least five or more that have degrees in what you want... go with the best offer. And do your own research for funds too..
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