One award listed is: 1340+ SAT or 29+ ACT AND ranked top 10% of high school class
(last year this was a $15,000 a year award)
Last year if you had those scores but were NOT top 10%, you then got $7500. That’s a bummer for those at competitive high schools where it’s difficult to be in the top 10%.
They also have their National Scholars program which is for 1510+ SATs and top 1% of class.
Someone in admissions told me last year that they have a chart and you get what you get according to where you fall on the chart.
Actually last year you needed at least 1360 SAT for an out-of-state scholarship. Last year if you were in the top 10% of your class, you got $7500 for SAT 1360-1420 or ACT 29-30, $10000 for SAT 1430-1460 or ACT 31. Scores above that got you $15000. These numbers are from their net price calculator on their website for their 2018-2019 year.
They also gave the $7500 scholarship for high test scores that were not in the top 10%, but I have no idea how they determined that. Seems like it was somewhere in the 1400s for SAT.
This past summer ACT/SAT released new concordance tables which have a 1340 SAT equivalent to a 29 ACT. I’m speculating that is the reason for the 1340 SAT cutoff this year.
I am just going by what is on their website, plus what my daughter was offered last year.
Last year, my daughter who had a 1410. 4.26 GPA and was ranked about 17% in her class was offered the $7500. Admissions told us that if she was top 10% she would have gotten the $15k and said “Yeah, we know that high school. They really need to stop ranking. It’s just hurting their students.”
It was frustrating because if she was at a less competitive high school, she would have been ranked higher and received more money. That ultimately meant she chose not to go. She likely would have attended if she had the $15k scholarship.
Overall, the focus on class ranking in admissions is really harmful to those in competitive high schools.
For example, if your SAT score is over a 1300, you are essentially in the top 10% of the population. Over 1400, and that’s the top 4% of the population. 1500 is top 1%.
So, if a student has a score like that and a high GPA in rigorous classes, schools are really being unfair when they bypass that student just because the student has a lot of also-smart classmates and thus a lower ranking.
My daughter, who was essentially top 3-4% of the population in terms of intelligence and is also a hard worker who does well, had her merit aid cut in half because she was “not top 10%.”
@vamom4 I totally understand.
My son goes to a traditional public high school with an average ACT of 27.6. They have to take everyone in the zone and 100% take the ACT. The top 25% of my son’s graduating class have stats higher than the top 25% of incoming Clemson students.
My son is top 5%. He fell from the top 1% last year because he took one non-AP class that he wanted to take.
When he applied to the Honors college, his stats were 36 ACT, NMSF, 12 AP classes, Varsity athlete, Eagle Scout, 300 hours community service, etc. We were really hoping he would get a chance to interview for NSP, but so far it looks like he won’t.
Our school has had 2 suicides of top 10 kids in the last 4 years. I don’t think colleges that put a high emphasis on rank realize what they are doing to these kids.
@Brentwoodmom your son sounds a lot like mine! 1570 SAT, NMSF, 11APs, Eagle Scout. We were hoping for NSP as well. Maybe they will meet up in Calhoun HC!
@vamom4 & @xn3mom
The wording on the website sounds like those stats just make you eligible for scholarships, not guaranteed. Do all students with the requisite stats get the scholarships? And wrt class ranking…D’s high school doesn’t rank, but I suspect she’s not in the top 10%. With a 1450 SAT, and n/a class rank, would she be eligible?
And, we are full pay, didn’t file FAFSA or CSS. Does that make her ineligible? Website seems to indicate we’d have to file FAFSA, but it’s not clear, since the above pgh also mentions using grant funds for those eligible on their FAFSA.
And finally, is all of this completely irrelevant to us, since D applied after the Dec 1 priority date? (She applied mid-Dec.)
I agree with the class rank being such an important factor. So difficult for kids in small, competitive high schools. D19 has had her heart set on Clemson since visiting in 9th grade. She is a 2 sport/4year varsity athlete- good grades but not all A’s, 32 ACT. Some AP’s but no where near 13 - taking 13 is not even possible in her HS. Only about 100 in her class and she is not in the top 10. It is so stressful waiting! I think I like the schools where everyone finds out on the same day!
@catmomof3 My daughter has similar stats to your son. She has not heard back from admissions regarding acceptance, nevertheless scholarships. She emailed them and we are waiting to hear back. How long should we wait before we call? I’ve heard schools don’t like for parents to call and it is hard for my daughter to call because she is at school and then work.
She applied to Clemson on 9/1/18 and then to the CHC on 10/21/18.
@Tea4Two when did she apply? Have you tried the “hack”? We have not heard anything either. Applied early Dec. but still hopeful for something. Your daughter could always email. That’s what we did, then they offered to call.
@catmomof3 She applied to Clemson on 9/1 and then to Calhoun on 10/21. She did email them but hasn’t heard back yet. I did try the hack and it comes up as saying “unable to determine”.
She is very interested in the Genetics program at Clemson.
@Tea4Two I would call and ask. You can explain that your daughter can’t call herself during their business hours, so you are calling on her behalf. I think that would be fine.
@momzilla2D The OOS merit scholarships are separate from financial aid. I do believe you have to apply by the 12/1 date to be eligible for the scholarship.
@teafortwo and others. I know it’s hard, but please do not worry if your student hasn’t heard back yet. The vast majority of applications go out the week of February 15. It seems to me that fewer early notifications have gone out this year than in the past. With regards to when you hear back, it doesn’t matter when you apply to Clemson. I’ve seen plenty of higher stat students receive their letter on February 15th. Applying earlier doesn’t mean you will hear earlier. There are many factors. Every school had their own admissions process. There is a system, we just don’t see everything that goes on behinds closed doors.
In addition, universities know very well how to compare students from different schools with regards to class rank, grading scale and competitiveness. They do not blindly look at the number without checking class size etc. I know many students from small schools that don’t offer AP classes or rank, or perhaps only offer 5 AP classes (when large high schools can offer more) who got into Clemson because they were a qualified fit for the major.
Another thing to keep in mind if it pertains, admissions to the Honors College is competitive but very much based on the essays and totally student package. Numbers alone do not get you in. I know National Merit students that were not admitted. I know perfect score kids that didn’t get invited to NSP. Nothing is certain until those letters are in the mailbox and you never know the entire profile of a student who did or didn’t get in so there is no point in speculation or comparison.
Hang in there until Feb 15, but also try not over think it and get excited about other options too! And at the risk of sounding trite, your student will end up right where they are supposed to be.
It’s so hard to speculate about anything when it comes to the admissions process and scholarships. This year in particular! In years past, my older son was notified very early and his merit scholarship award was listed in his acceptance letter. This time around, my younger son wasn’t notified until December (2 months later than our older son heard) and his letter just said that he will get his merit scholarship award notification in February. My son’s guidance counselor reached out to the admissions officer about the scholarship piece and received this reply:
Thank you for reaching out to me. In the past, we have used class rank and test scores to make determinations for out-of-state merit scholarship packages. These scholarship packages have typically ranged in value from $7,500-$15,000 per year. Students from non-ranking high schools are still considered for these scholarships, but we look more at their GPAs and their school profiles when making these decisions. If a student does not have a class rank, it is not that we will only use the test scores. They must have both the grades and the test scores to qualify for our scholarship packages. I say “in the past” because our scholarship criteria and levels for Fall 2019 admission are still under review. We are looking at our packages as a whole and trying to make the best determination for our recruitment goals and our university budget. I don’t know if the money amounts and the starting levels of criteria (which is our currently on our web site at http://www.clemson.edu/financial-aid/types/scholarships/clemson-scholarship-recruiting.html) will be the same for this upcoming class. The big thing is that the process for the student will be the same. The student must have applied by December 1 and submit all application materials to our office by December 31 to be considered for scholarships. We are hoping to have financial aid packages to students earlier than in years’ past, but I just don’t have definitive information at this time concerning the qualifying criteria for each package. My hope is that we will have more flexibility than before to award the most amount of money we can to highly qualified students. Please be assured that your students will still receive consideration for scholarships without a class rank. We will just have to use their weighted GPA and the class profile that you provide in making some judgements concerning high school performance.
@PAtoSC Awesome! Sounds like they are changing things slightly! Hopefully, they will incorporate a change that measures the student against other university applicants (instead of against other students from their high school.)
