Financial Problems. Merit Money? - Page 5

boysx3 · 10-02-2012, 05:52 PM

Billy,

for Rochester,

As far as showing demonstrated interest goes, even if you cannot visit, start up an email correspondence with your regional representative. You can start out by asking if they are going to have a rep visit your high school, or your city, or a college fair near your city.....

It sometimes doesn't hurt to set up an email relationship with your rep, and to gradually let the rep know a little bit about your background--sometimes that way they are motivated to help you out a little more.

Creekland · 10-02-2012, 06:00 PM

Just to offer hope for Rochester... my guy (who is a freshman there now and loving it) never got to visit until after his acceptance. He did a phone interview, but his application was even rather last minute for EN there (he decided to apply after Thanksgiving). He still got nice merit aid.

I wouldn't purposely wait if you know you want to apply, but it's not totally "hopeless" if you aren't early or can't visit. They are looking for a "loves to learn" type and they pegged my guy correctly. He's also currently doing VERY well there, so they shouldn't be disappointed with the decision on their end either - but being a parent - I'll admit he'd have done well anywhere. That's just who he is - very adaptable.

It sounds like the OP is that way too - a huge plus when it comes to going to college. There are many good schools out there.

parent56 · 10-02-2012, 06:08 PM

see that you have alabama on your list...also consider UAB in alabama.. accredited engineering programs. urban campus, about 11k undergrads. as an nmf you will get tuition, 4 years of housing and a stipend (UA in tuscaloosa now only offers 1 year of housing to nmf) the tuition is based on 15 credits per semester. if you take more they would be 600 each credit above 15, but uab is very generous with ap credit so you may not need to take more. rolling admission, no essay.
if you would like more info feel free to pm, S2 goes there

National Merit Finalists, National Achievement Finalists, and National Hispanic Scholars with the following scholarship, which is renewable for four years. The details:

•Full tuition, required fees, and housing (up to 15 credit hours per semester) for a total of eight semesters (fall and spring)
•A one-time $2,500 stipend to be used for experiential learning (Study Away, internships, co-ops, etc.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Univers..._at_Birmingham

TXArtemis · 10-02-2012, 06:58 PM

Hi, billy, I saw your note about dropping UT because of excess essay requirements. They've actually streamlined it so you don't have to supply a lot of additional prose for honors, scholarships, etc. As that is very UT-specific, I have PM'd you.

billythakid · 10-02-2012, 09:50 PM

Wow, I never thought this thread would get so many replies!

Pitt: Basically done, I'm just polishing my essay. Will submit this weekend. (hoping for full tuition/ride)
GA Tech: I'm going for the Presidential Scholarship (full ride) which is way competitive but it can't hurt to try.
Rochester: I have my interview set up and stuff, I'll try to start showing interest, thanks for the tip!
Chicago: If I went here I would major in economics.
UT: This was always sort of the unloved safety for me, the essays really just broke the camel's back. TONS of kids from my school end up here (about 8% to be exact) and the extremely unlikely aid isn't helping either.
Alabama: I've submitted my app and when I get the scholarship app in I'm guaranteed the Presidential (and probably the NMF), which will be 100% workable even worst case.

In addition I will apply to more schools RD, the ones I posted are only the EA schools. Thanks for the input!

MD Mom · 10-02-2012, 11:31 PM

I don't know whether anyone posted this about Pitt, but it offers a couple of different scholarship amounts up to full tuition, and then some of those kids are asked to apply for the Chancellor's Scholarship, which has a fairly involved application that requires more essays and recommendations. A few students are invited to the campus to interview and a very few students ( 10 to 12 each year) are offered the tuition, room, and board scholarship. Somebody has to win!

boysx3 · 10-03-2012, 12:02 AM

Billy--

the good thing about getting in your app to Alabama is....you know you are going to college!

Getting that first (affordable) acceptance is so sweet! You are being smart to lock in this opportunity.....you are a person who will thrive in any environment in which you are planted because of your mature, flexible attitude.

mathmomvt · 10-03-2012, 01:24 AM

Consider also Drexel (rolling) which also offers full tuition to NMFs, has a good engineering program and a great co-op program (where you can earn more money toward your living expenses for later years)

colorado_mom · 10-03-2012, 01:29 AM

When we visited RPI (several years ago) they said that RPI merit scholarships do not require student to keep a minimum GPA. They said a struggling STEM student has enough to worry about w/o the stress of losing a scholarships. That's a big perk since engineering GPAs are often low. especially freshman year. I knew many engineering students that lost scholarship - some had to drop out.

mathmomvt · 10-03-2012, 01:47 AM

RPI offers some nice merit, but I am pretty sure it maxes out below half of their very high COA. That's great about them not having a GPA requirement to keep it though!

billythakid · 10-03-2012, 04:59 PM

For financial aid, do the fafsa and css profile have to be done by the EA deadlines?

mathmomvt · 10-03-2012, 05:27 PM

Generally, no. Check each school's website though for their deadline, and even if it just says "suggested" get in in by that date for your best chance at having funds available. FAFSA can't be done until Jan. 1. Profile can be "estimated" early and then modified when you have the full year's info, and some schools will ask for an estimated Profile very early for EA applicants, hoping to get you a financial aid estimate as early as possible.