SchoolTime

Jack - I think you really nailed it. Many of the major merit awards are tied to Scholar or other special on campus programs. This is not to say that the money is not important, because it certainly is. In addition to the money these programs offer substantial benefits to members. Among these benefits are priority or special housing, priority registration, special programs & seminars, opportunity for research work starting in freshman year, better than normal accesability to profs and staff, special counselors or advisors, special off campus seminars or programs and in many cases even study abroad. Many of these programs begin during the summer before freshman year. But as I stated before, in most cases recipients of these awards are reaping a just reward for four years of dedicated work.

I think someone previously mentioned investment in the school or student. This is true because the school is investing in their future. They are hoping to identify individuals that will have a positive impact on the school not only immediately but almost more so in 20 or 30 years. Which school does not want a future nobel price winner or alumni who will contribute major funding in the future. So admissions not only has to assemble a vibrant undergrad college community, but they also have to crystal ball gaze for 20 - 30 years in the future.

rjsmith1031

Brandeis. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. University of Florida.

Moni

Well, if you live in Florida, it doesn't take much to get a full ride to UF - 1270 SAT, 3.5 weighted GPA, and 75 community service hours. and 75% is an 880 SAT and 3.0 weighted GPA and no service.
I guess for Florida residents its a pretty good deal cause we can go to any public state school for free. If we go to a private college in FL, we can get a fixed award amount, but its pretty low.

ExRunner

Actually, the bright futures with the 1270 SAT only covers tuition. UF however does offer another 5500$ per year on top of bright futures to national merit finalists instate, and I think out of staters get the tuition reduced to instate price and get $9500 per year.

KrazyKow

University of Southern California seemed generous to me, but they also have a large student body. They publicize their large scholarships, but after receiving one I received one or two more offers in the mail about research/scholarship opportunities and whatnot.

If you're interested in engineering and don't mind a very, very small school, Olin has free tuition for whoever they accept.

skierdude1000

Thanks for all the replies to my thread guys. I feel like I'm on the ivy level and am considering schools that will pay me to go there as a means of "poaching" me. The problem I'm worried about is the environment. I don't want to be at a school where the majority of kids just party and don't do work. I work hard and I play hard, but it's gotta be both. Ivy work environments are much better/intense

JMAN1211

How hard is it to get the Robertson scholarship? I really want to get it, I will be applying to both schools. Are there any tips you can give me regarding it?

Thanks alot for any information.

just_forget_me

JMAN-There's no secret to the Robertson, other than being among something like the top 1% of Duke applicants. They seem to value things like community service, leadership, ethics and character more than just grades/SAT scores (but the latter are probably pretty important too). I'm not sure whether you should do the supplemental essay or not. It might help you qualify as a semi-finalist, but it might hurt you in the long run because you won't get to do updated essays for the finalist round. I didn't do the supplement, but others who won the scholarship did. Feel free to IM me if you have any specific/personal questions or concerns.

jack

JMAN1211: Check out some of the earlier posts on the 1st page of this thread on the Robertson.

sillystring7

Daughter was a good student and she received merit scholarships from a range of schools (family did not qualify for any need-based aid). She received full tuition or more from Chicago, Emory, UNC Chapel Hill (out of state), Tulane, Fordham, Loyola New Orleans. She received $8,000 from NYU, $5,000 from Davidson, just over 1/2 tuition from WUSTL. She attends UChicago. The best book we found on the topic is called "Discounts and Deals at the Nation's Best Colleges" by Bruce Hammond.

benndaman33

I don't know if you consider case-western to be high enough caliber for your, but they're great for merit-aide. I think that I'm a similar student to you the way you described yourself - I'll be attending Duke this fall, but Case-Western gave me 24,400 I believe and I think most people with over 1500 on the old SATs and top 10% of their class get this much so it's very nice in that regard. It's a good school too. Best of luck

stud05

4 out the "Five Colleges of Ohio" are VERY generous with merit aid, especially if you are an out-of-state student. In order of generosity: Denison University, College of Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan University, Kenyon College.

546mp

Ivies do give aid, just not how you think. (More on Ivy poaching.)

For example, certain programs will turn your loans into outright grants.

e.g.

Columbia
http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.e...lars/index.php

Penn Vagelos (Biology)
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/biochem/vspmls.html

Cornell (Tradition)
http://www.commitment.cornell.edu/tr...html/main.html

Cornell (Meinig National)
http://www.commitment.cornell.edu/CNS/index004.html

In another sense, you will be given research money or access to better classes, research programs, etc.--aid (in my mind) of a different sort:

Penn: University Scholar, Benjamin Franklin
http://www.upenn.edu/curf/uscholar/

Cornell:
http://www.commitment.cornell.edu/CPRS/

Cornell (Mckinley):
http://www.commitment.cornell.edu:16080/mck_site/

Stanford, not Ivy but:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/ps/

I know this isn't what people first envision when talking about aid (i.e. making these expensive places affordable), but these programs seem pretty awesome if you can get in one.

I'm sure there are others I don't know of . . .

Cami215

Has anyone had experience with merit aid from private schools in the east that are in a slightly lower tier? I'm thinking of American Univ (honors prog), GWU (honors), Union College, Muhlenberg, or Clark.....

Cami215

Anyone out there?