Can whoever wrote the nomination for the scholarship, be coached to include in their recommendation letter something like, “X is so amazing that I recommended him for a major scholarship”?
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It’s an honor to be nominated for the MC, but I’m with everyone who says don’t list it.
Every now and then, someone will ask “College A offered me a full ride (early in the process). Can I now put that on the common app as an award?” The answer is always a resounding “no and ick.”
This is in the same vein. Another institution is considering a student for a scholarship if they attend that school. That is based on the same criteria other considered schools are evaluating but it is not a new or different achievement.
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Thanks to all for your insights on whether to highlight the Morehead-Cain nomination. It was helpful to hear your perspectives.
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Adding one more vote to “don’t mention it”.
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There are 4 ways to be nominated:
Self nomination
HS nomination
Affiliate program/ community based organization
UNC’s admissions - through invitation to EA applicants
I don’t know how your son was nominated.
The “third party validation” here would be UNC, the affiliate program/community based organization that nominated the student, or the school counselor at the nominating HS.
If UNC provided the nomination, it would indicate that they believe the student is a strong candidate… for UNC. Students must apply by the EA deadline of October 15, which makes me think your son was not nominated by UNC because it’s early (I could be wrong).
**** Other schools do NOT need “third party validation” from UNC. It will not help, and can hurt.
If a community based program nominated your son, I would focus on why they chose him for the nomination. THAT is the important piece here.
If the HS is a nominating school and chose your son, this indicates that he is viewed as an impressive student within that HS (the number of impressive HS students throughout the US is huge). I agree that it is an honor to be nominated and is something to be proud of. I do not agree that it would be a “selling point,” and I think it could hurt.
Based on some of your posts, it seems to me that UNC with the possibility of Morehead-Cain is not a top choice for your son. Good luck with applications!
Self-nomination is for in-state students only and after August 15th. It is only fair I guess.
UNC, with the scholarship, would be a top choice. Unfortunately, he won’t know if he wins early enough in the process (maybe farfetched).
His school nominated him and they only get one but have had multiple winners over the years.
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If self-nomination in NC is an option, then it is fair. Either they get the scholarship….or they don’t.
Your son can ED (you mentioned this above) but if UNC with the Morehead-Cain is the top choice I would not ED.
one more clarification… Morehead-Cain evaluation is not UNC, but an independent 3rd party foundation. meant to write privately… oh well.
That is correct, but UNC can nominate applicants who apply EA.
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I guess I think the nomination itself is not always a big deal and needs context. That was why I asked if about instate, etc. You have your own opinion.
My opinion is that I really appreciate the insight that there is more downside than upside. Therefore, my son won’t be using it on his applications… besides “maybe” if he applies ED someplace else and at UNC.
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Off-topic back and forth posts deleted
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If it’s helpful, my oldest was in for Morehead, Park and finalist for Robertson. They did not include any of them on their applications that were school specific, they did include being a Coca-Cola Semifinalist. It was only to that round during applications and they didn’t make it further anyway. Don’t know if it was right or wrong to do, but they had a slot open, and did well enough with admission. Good luck to your kid, I think doing the extra scholarships really helped with quality of regular decision supplementals.
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