seniorsdad

I have a son who is a high school senior and considering Brandeis. I have heard they have about 100 full academic scholarships and about the same number of 3/4 scholarships. In the past what GPA and SAT's were needed to have a reasonable chance to receive these scholarships. Also are they at all based on financial need. Thank you.

hemingwayisdead

I remember browsing the Brandeis livejournal community and an entry about posting stats for scholarship...alas, I found it.

http://community.livejournal.com/brandeis/195629.html

look at #3. I hope that's a help.

dadofsam

The information you're seeking is located here:
http://www.brandeis.edu/admissions/a...holarships.php

In brief, Brandeis grants up to about 60 full-tuition scholarships per freshman class, plus a number of part-tuition scholarships, all as merit-based aid. They don't cover other costs such as room, board & books. Need-based aid is also available.

Spike McAwesome

Also - CSS Profile. Yes, it's a financial need application. Brandeis is a bit eccentric in that it tries to meet financial need BEFORE giving merit money. Of course, students are looked at for both, but if Brandeis sees a large financial need present along with strong enough academics to warrant merit money, they'll give need-based aid before the merit-based aid. It's just how they work.

dadofsam

Brandeis awards many of the merit scholarships on the basis of combinations of GPA (unweighted) and SAT scores. As these two values for applicants rise from year to year, so will the values needed to receive merit aid. You might be able to get some information, at least past numbers perhaps, from the financial aid office. I don't have a handle on whether need is considered first; however, Brandeis, like many schools, requires an applicant for any type of financial aid to fill out the CSS and FAFSA information.

hemingwayisdead

test scores? oh crap. because i have a perfect GPA but a very average ACT. And I desperately need money. My dad's salary is so borderline that we *could* end up with only 5 or 10K in aid, but in reality we really need 25 or 30K. I have a twin sister who is hopefully going to Dartmouth. I'm nothing special, not extracurricularlly (there's one or two applicants on this board that just stupefy me, with others I at most compare). But, I really need a scholarship.

Just_Browsing

Average ACT means around 18-19. When you said average did you mean average for Brandeis?

hemingwayisdead

Definitely for Brandeis! I'm sorry if my wording was confusing.

Spike McAwesome

From dadofsam, "Brandeis, like many schools, requires an applicant for any type of financial aid to fill out the CSS and FAFSA information."

FAFSA does not need to be completed until the student has been accepted and put down the $500 matriculation deposit.

For Hemingway - talk up your GPA, take the ACT/SATs again to bring your score up (use one of those tudoring services if need be), talk about your twin going to another college, and maybe have an extra recommendation written. If you're average, you won't get a merit scholarship, period.