We contacted admissions this week to inquire about the merit review process. All three scholarships are based on at least a 1200 SAT. I challenged that requirement based on them being Test optional. How can a school go test optional and then still base aid on test scores. Contradictory if you ask me. They said they would review my daughters stats again. A little late we have a negative vibe from them now.
Wow…@Sophem, that is great! You got a lot of grant money. Congratulations. We’re hoping to get some grant money as well. I contacted admissions and they said we would hear about that in roughly 2 weeks. UGH! I’m sick of waiting! 
Hi - NJtigerdad - curious you said your daughter would probably go to McGill. We considered that for my daughter (she doesn’t mind the cold, would love an international experience, etc.). But, were worried about what we read as McGill’s extremely tough grading (as compared to US schools). Thinking that might not be good for future grad school or law school admission.
Wondered if that were a concern? Curious b/c my daughter could still apply for fall 2020… thanks!!
Jolynne- we are concerned about that, but she will be in the faculty of arts, which is not as tough as the science faculties, from what we’ve heard.
It is entirely possible that she goes to McGill and graduates with a low-gpa and has a hard time getting letters of recommendation, and that could be a big problem for grad school, but she thinks she’s up to the challenge.
US students start out as “year 0”, instead of “year 1” like Canadian students. Canadians graduate in 3 years, American in 4, minus AP and dual enrollment college classes. We think she’ll get credit for 4 classes, which means she will be able to ease into McGill with a less than full time load for at least the first year.
It’s a little bit scary. She got a call from someone at UNH the other day asking her to apply for a Hamel scholarship. She could be a big fish at UNH, or fight like hell for B’s at McGill. Ultimately it’s up to her.
That is not the case. Canadian students from outside Quebec complete a 4 year 120 credit program just like Americans, less any AP credits. Quebec students take a 90 credit 3 year program due to the mandatory CEGEP community college system. Quebec students graduate from high school after grade 11. Grade 12 does not exist. They then attend a CEGEP for 2 years before university. It still takes 16 years of schooling to get a bachelor’s degree.
@“Jolynne Smyth” McGill is definitely demanding academically. My son is an alumnus of Desautels. He was always happy with his decision to attend. It prepared him well for a career he would not likely have considered if he had attended a US school.
McGill requires a student to be a self starter and to take the initiative to establish contact with professsors etc.
Tomsr- thanks for clearing that up for me and others.
kvallu5274… I only sent it because others were asking what they had received. I thought it was pretty good. My daughter is still so unsure. We are going back up February 17th. She feels that some of her other colleges are more challenging, but from stats I see on here UNH surpasses what parents are posting about other schools. I think she is all about the name and UNH isn’t as well know/rated to us in CT. UNH deserves more voices and credit to how good of a school it actually is. I love UNH and think it is the perfect fit for her…and affordable.
That’s great @Sophem …we’re from NJ and my daughter loves UNH. It’s funny because it wasn’t even on her list but we have relatives that live in NH and 6 of them have gone to UNH (2 are there right now) and they all said they loved it. My daughter and I went to see Northeastern and BU last year and we stayed with cousins in NH. I convinced my daughter to take a look at UNH while we were there…and she loved it!!! It’s her top choice. She’s pretty smart and got the Presidential Scholarship and accepted into honors…but I’m hoping we get some grant money to make it a little more affordable. Hopefully we’ll get it soon!
Good luck! I’m sure you will receive something.
UNH alum here, class of 1996. UNH is a wonderful school and a fantastic place to spend four years. UNH has a very strong regional reputation on the eastern seaboard, in particular new england and mid atlantic states. It is true that it is not as highly ranked (per US News) as Umass and Uconn, but it is on par with UVM. Both UVM and UNH got creamed in the revised US News ranking methodology due mostly to socio economic calculations (highest OOS tuition in the country). In the job marketplace I can assure you that there is no perceived difference from a UNH grad versus BU/NU/UMass/UConn. I hire from all five.
Is anyone else’s financial aid say that they have outstanding items they need to fulfill, but the last time it was updated was december 19th 2019?
In case there’s anyone else wondering about timelines…our son applied EA (probably right on the deadline). His application moved to ‘complete-ready to review’ on 1/3, his portal changed to admitted on 1/24 (computer science), and then today 1/30 he received one email congratulating him on admission and another notifying him of his Presidential scholarship (OOS, 12K/yr). Both of those emails ended up in his promotions folder somehow.
It’s definitely a contender and he’s excited to visit this spring.
Congrats, all!
Just read D’s scholarship award - it initially looked like $9,500, but just saw that includes the lovely $5,500 loan. So $4,000 for a year off a $52,000 OOS ticket. We may not visit after all. 
Thanks, nhtigerdad and tomsr for the insights/scoop on McGill! Likely not D’s cup of tea but she’ll be working on international experience in other ways! Good luck!
Has anyone heard results from the Hamel Scholarship?
My son hasn’t heard back about the Hamel Scholarship yet. I’m wondering if you hear back either way or only if you get awarded.
Also waiting to hear back on the Hamel Scholarship here.
Have any deferred applicants here heard back from UNH? Was admittedly surprised our in-state daughter was deferred given her stats vs the admitted student profile while she’s been accepted at Penn State (UP), Pitt, Michigan State, Delaware, LSU, Alabama, etc.
Mid-year grades were submitted a couple of weeks ago…not sure what to read into the deferral (?)
Anyone hear back on Hamel scholarship yet?
My son heard back about Hamel Scholarship but didnt get it. Kinda bummed but congrats to those who got it. My son’s friend did and was notified 2 weeks ago through email