We disagree - I don’t see tricky at all.
This is only relevant to UNC.
Awards (and this isn’t one), in and of themselves, don’t matter. What you do to earn the award matters - and they all see that.
Good luck whatever he decides.
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Why do you think this? Have you heard this from other college AOs? You say it with such certainty that I hope it’s more than just your opinion and you have something specific in your experience that supports what you are saying.
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It’s my opinion. The entire board is opinion.
It’s my opinion that the student is a collection of all they’ve done, which is enormous - and a school is recognizing them for this.
When you win AP Scholar, it just means you got a 5 on 3 tests, etc. It’s that you passed the tests, not that they put a name on it.
My kid was a finalist for a full tuition at W&L. She was a finalist for the Charleston Fellows program, which she eventually won. Should we have told the other schools?
I just don’t see how it’s relevant. What she did to earn those distinctions was relevant though, and all schools had access to that info.
That’s just my opinion….as is most everything I and everyone else says on the website.
OP is asking for opinions.
Thanks
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This is an interesting ask. Had I seen this back in August, I would have suggested that the only way this be included is potentially in the letter from his counselor or recommender as “…as such we were delighted to designate him as XYZ High School’s sole nomination to receive the notable Moorehead Cain Scholarship this year.”
However, in the way its being presented I don’t feel the same despite being a finalist now. I think to use it in a LOCI after a deferral to his preferred institution (which I only say because you mentioned ED’ing) now feels like its being presented for the intimidation factor, almost as if you are daring them to decline what some other selection committee with an entirely different purpose and their own defined parameters for the specific diverse cohort they are building has found worthy. As you said, its risky, but more than that I just don’t think its relevant. A LOCI is by definition a letter of continued interest and an opportunity to showcase things you’ve done since the application that they already reviewed. Making it one step further in the review process of getting a full ride to another institution just doesn’t say “your institution is the right one for me and here are the actions I am continuing to take for you to consider me as the right fit for you” in my opinion.
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I agree with the above:
– A LOCI should be 100% focused on the school it is addressed to.
–The accomplishments that earned the student the nomination should be already spellled out on the college application. I don’t expect a college equally (or more) competitive than UNC would be especially interested in a peer school’s opinion of a student.
-A negative could be that if the preferred school practices yield protection there could be concern that the scholarship could drive the student to UNC.
IMO being a finalist for the scholarship is a huge honor, but one that is particular to UNC. I don’t see it as a relevant data point for other colleges.
In the end the student needs to decide.
ETA – a huge congrats to the student on becoming a finalist.
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My D’s college counselor suggested putting any new awards or accolades in the LOCIs. IMO, M-C finalist is a new accolade. The tricky part is wording it such that the other schools don’t think that they’ll lose the student if they win the scholarship.
FWIW, my D had the RPI Medal in her list of awards. The counselor said that since they nominate the top STEM student in the HS, it was worth noting.
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I would argue RPI Medal is far different than Morehead Cain Finalist - far less exclusive. I also think the list of schools matter.
A public likely wouldn’t care.
But no matter how you word it, another school, especially a private without merit aid or significant merit aid, could and I would think - would - see it as a threat. I mean, how could they not?
That’d be an awfully thin needle to thread to have them think otherwise.
checkers vs chess.
Again, we do not necessarily disagree. Reliable source says it is common and well respected at less yield conscious schools. Simple answer is not to do it. Just not the way I have ever approached the admissions process. I am open to calculated risks that others sometimes do not take. That does not mean I do them either, but I do consider them.
This is what I think. Being nominated for a scholarship is based on something, or more likely a lot of somethings (grades, test scores, community service, being a good and responsible person, …). All of those somethings are going to come through in the application already in other ways. As such I do not think that there is any reason to mention it in applications to other schools.
Although if this was my kid I would mention it to the grandparents, and would be very proud of my child (actually I am already very proud of my children, even without an exclusive named scholarship).
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What does your student think? They are the one applying, not you.
For example, I told my daughter to apply TO to a few schools. She disagreed and applied with a score as she was proud of it which is ok as it was her app.
plenty of time to decide… just gathering opinions and he is as well.
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Thanks for your opinion. It helps. You may be aware (and I do not expect it to change your mind) that it is an independent evaluation (not UNC’s) based on leadership, service and character with multiple stages over a 9 month period.
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Thanks. My opinion would not change but clearly there is a diversity of opinions on this so ultimately the student should do what they feel is best. Your child is an impressive student and person who will have a great college outcome whatever happens!
ETA: It is unlikely that this will move the needle one way or another in an overall holistic review of an application. Again, the student can decide the best course of action.
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That’s very clear !!!
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nice of you both to say. thank you.
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Yet something has to move the needle at the highly rejective schools because there are so many apps that are competitive, whether deferred via EA/ED or new RD apps. And admissions staff have to ultimately make a decision…so something always moves the needle (or somethings). I’m not saying being an M-C finalist would necessarily move the needle any more than anything else e.g, coca-cola regional finalist, W&L Johnson finalist, or Gates scholar etc.
The reality is though that most deferred applicants don’t have much in the way of substantial new developments to share…so those that do have something meaty to share might have relatively better chances of moving into the admit column.
Just something to think about in a sea of LOCI where most everyone still in the mix has all A’s for first semester grades and nothing else notable to report.
I respect heavyweightcollege for thinking about these things strategically, because that makes sense.
And I’m not casting shade at applicants who don’t have any significant developments to share just 2 or 4 or 6 months after they detailed their entire lives along with their hopes and dreams in their college application…because that’s the most common situation-to just have first semester grades and no other meaningful changes to what was already reported.
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Asking the question - not making a comment sarcastically. Do you think that most LOCI’s are even read - or is it simply, ok, these 1000 people remain in contention and these 700 didn’t respond, so they are out.
I’d guess and I’m sure every school is different and I know you read for one - but I’d guess it’s more a check box that they’re still in the game than anything else.
I do think they are read. Not sure why a school would request them and not read them. Seems like they just wouldn’t accept them, like UIUC or U So Cal (there are more.) I expect some schools would consider it a negative if someone didn’t send in a LOCI, while others might not.
Again, something has to move the needle as admissions staff make decisions on the deferred and RD applications. Just like something moved the needle in EA or ED where some applicants were admitted, some were deferred, some were denied, some were waitlisted (depending on which school one is talking about.)
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