Ivys as First Choice Schools

2135ar
Thu, 05 May 2011 18:02:09 +0000

It is a confusing process because you are to list first choice school before you know where you are accepted. BUT IT CAN BE CHANGED. I agree with prior posts, it does not make sense to list a school that does not give a NMS. Pick your first choice among the schools that do give scholarships. BUT you can change prior to April 26 (in 2011 anyway). My S applied to Vanderbilt (which gives a $5,000 NMS) and Wash U (which gives a $2,000 NMS). He put Vanderbilt prior to March 1 since it paid more and he didn’t know where he would be accepted. He was accepted to both but chose Wash U. The NMS materials say first choice can be changed up until April 26. He faxed a change to Wash U on April 25 and received notice today that he was getting the $2,000 (for each year) scholarship for Wash U.

By the way, for those of you who do not know, USC gives a $20,000 NMS, the most for any top school. My S was accepted there as well, but we gave up that money because he preferred Wash U.