HYP Admit: Local Scholarship Shutout Fair?

[Bay]

GCs should help not hinder this process by being forthright. Anything tantamount to gossip should not be tolerated in the process.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. The idea that the student who presents the GC with the best financial "sob-story" might win the award is repugnant. Some people (like my parents) are intensely private, and would prefer not to share their personal financial struggles with anyone, let alone a public school employee. I disagree with calmom's presumption that people who really need monetary help will ask for it from the school. GCs should not guess about who needs help the most. If GCs are going to render opinions about any of their students' financial situations, then they ought to offer all of the students the chance to share theirs as well. Again, if the scholarship committees are considering need, then simply including that inquiry in the application would obviate the need for GCs (who most likely do NOT have sufficient info about all applicants) to get involved at all.

[jude_36]

Last night was our Senior awards night.

There is a gentleman in town who founded several local scholarships before his death. His (adult) daughter is great friends with my friend 'Jane'. Amazingly enough, Jane's daughter got the Art scholarship for students pursuing Theatre or Art, even though Jane's daughter is pursuing neither. Jane's daughters best friend also got the nursing scholarship. She IS studying nursing, but is in the lower tiers of student, while there are two nursing students in the top ten. Coincidence? I think not. Or maybe not many kids applied for those scholarships and I'm completely off base. Who knows.

I think, especially for these small, local scholarships, who you know really can be key.