Trying to see if we have covered all the best bases for D25. Thanks!
Demographics
US Citizen - NC
Small audition based magnet school. All school courses are honors/AP, and B+ average required for all. Theater Major
Other special factors: None.
Cost Constraints / Budget
We would like to stay close to in state tuition since we have such great options. That puts us around $27k
Intended Major(s)
Double major theater and chemistry (Pre-Dent)
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 4.0
Class Rank: 1/60
ACT/SAT Scores: 34 ACT
List your HS coursework
All honors courses, Spanish 1-3, 8 of the 10 APs offered by school, lots of required theater courses.
Awards
Award of Merit for research in Dental Deserts at NCSVSM
TONS of state and regional theater awards
3rd in State for Epee Fencing team
School Science Award
Community Service Diploma (200+ hours)
NHS
National Merit Commended
International Thespian Honor Society
Extracurriculars
NC Governor’s School, Summer Ventures in Science and Math, Stem Club (founder and President), NHS Secretary, ITHS Secretary, Student Council Secretary, Acted in three professional plays and 12 community/school plays with numerous lead roles.
Essays/LORs/Other
Great, I think, but I am not in admissions.
Schools
Choices Where Merit Not Crucial
UNC-Chapel Hill - Top Choice (Morehead-Cain Nominee)
NC State - Parks Applicant
App State - Chancellor Applicant (would want to be in honors program here) - Accepted but waiting on aid and honors
Schools Where Merit Needed
Sewanee
Washington and Lee - Johnson Applicant
Oberlin
Denison
Grinnell
Kenyon
Unless you have need I don’t think you can get to your price point - sans a school like W&L.
To beat $27k, handily, look at Alabama, Ole Miss and Ms State. I know you don’t want them but they are the type of school that pays for what you bring stat wise . Same with FSU If you get an OOS waiver - very possible.
SMU has the Presidential. Like the Johnson it’s a full ride. Davidson has one too.
Unless they have full rides or you have need, I wouldn’t bother with the last four LACs.
SUNYs are reasonable so look at Gebeseo - their LAC.
You’d have to look at lesser LACs from a pedigree POV like Kalamazoo, Allegheny or Rhodes but I still don’t think they’d get to $27k
Yeah. I don’t think there is much point in exploring other big publics when we have State and Carolina. I guess she could apply to some of those RD if she doesn’t get into either NC school. Thanks for the feedback!
UNCC has a full ride. The Levine. You’re likely better trying to hit a home run at less competitive.
I mentioned the other publics bcuz they’ll be under $20k.
For LACs, Rollins and Wofford are great schools and have full rides. Bcuz they’re easier admits than W&L and others, while a full ride is still highly unlikely, your stats will show better than at a W&L, etc. .
Do you qualify for need based aid? If not then there is zero point with the LAC’s. However, some LAC’s (like Denison and Grinnell) meet need so that is a positive if you qualify.
Denison seemed to give about a 25K merit for class of 2028 applicants. No doubt someone may have received more.
She went to Summer Ventures at UNCC, and doesn’t want to apply. App also has a long shot full ride that she’s applied for. She’d rather go full pay at the in states she’s already applied to.
I can’t imagine she won’t get into UNC and NC State. As I am sure you know, Park and MC is a long shot, as is any merit from either of those schools.
FWIW, Chemistry is very difficult at UNC. Make sure she wants to work to incredibly high standards to do well in it there. Mine is a freshman there and there have been a lot of parent posts about kids struggling in chem, and it is known to be a very tough department. (And all of UNC is pretty tough, tbh.) That said, you obviously know UNC dental is top ranked.
UNCG has a very well know theater program if that is important.
Yeah. I’d wager her odds of either full ride are roughly equal to being struck by lightning while looking at a unicorn . Chem at UNC is my big worry and part of why I want other options for her to consider. Her dad and I both went there, and organic was notorious even back in the day.
Assuming she gets into UNC, it’s a moot point. She likes Sewanee, but UNC is still her first choice. I’ve also had friends have success negotiating aid at Sewanee. I think she’s high enough above their averages that she may have success doing that, if not, it cost nothing to apply.
Without question someone may have gotten a full tuition merit scholarship at Denison like other selective LAC’s, but the typical kid got around 20-25K. I’m not sure what kind of unicorn stats warrants a full tuition merit but it never hurts to apply. Especially since there is no supplemental essay or application fee, no brainer just to throw your name in the hat.
All selective LAC’s are going to be similar. I think Denison is one of the unicorns in that group of sub 20% acceptance rates that uniformly gives merit to almost all of the student body. Its a fantastic option for kids who don’t want to pay rack rate (i.e. don’t qualify for need). I also think they are very generous with their need.
Although there is an “optional” supplemental essay that comes up later in the process, basically a “why Denison” essay, so applicants need to be prepared to respond to that if they are serious about the school. My son hadn’t visited the school at that point, but he asked for an interview and met with a recent alumna near our home - that gave him the kind of information he needed to write a substantive essay.
That’s right! My son didn’t have to do the supplemental since he applied ED. Interviews were also readily available at open houses and tours. We visited 3 times so I felt he could have written an essay!
. Chem at UNC is my big worry and part of why I want other options for her to consider. Her dad and I both went there, and organic was notorious even back in the day.