Hi. just wanted to give some hope to people who are waiting to be given merit aid. My son just received an email that he is being offered scholarship money after actually already declining enrollment. He has committed to a different school and made sure to decline the other schools that he didnt choose to help people on the waiting list. He made his decision first week of april and he got an email this saturday. he respectfully declined the offer since even with the scholarship money, Lehigh is still up there. He has chosen to go to UMD, engineering which is also a great school. Lehigh was his other choice but the financials just didnt work out.
wow…that’s great to hear. My mom has me holding off on depositing in hopes of that type of email! was it a good amount? did you appeal for merit before declining?
do you mind me asking if he is top 1%?
Dog mom, we are also trying to decide between Lehigh or Maryland (Scholars). What else went into your decision besides $$? Also, do you think the decline prompted the more generous merit?
I think the decline led to Merit. I also think Lehigh as well as many other colleges have a low rate of enrollment right now. People are fearful of depositing…not knowing what will happen in the fall.
@Luckyjade2024 - I’m not sure if he is top 1% - he got good stats but not sure if it is enough to be considered top 1%. probably not… 
He got $10k/yr so $40/yr in total. we did not appeal for merit before applying. Based on the letter, we probably could have negotiated for more - but my son didn’t want to change his mind anymore. if they offered it at the same time they gave the acceptance, I am sure my son would have considered it because Lehigh was up there in his choices.
The letter did say they are only offering it to a handful of “select” candidates but that might just be to flatter him enough to accept
@bkatguy - Myhusband and son really loved maryland when they visited so it was always up there. They thought that it had the most number of resources among all the schools that we visited and they were very impressed with how organized the accepted students day was. so money played a big role for us parents - but probably not as much to my son. He is also scholars and also got money from maryland btw.
Hope this information helps. I am sure everybody will end up in the best place that they are meant to be. I just hope that it is safe to return to school by fall.
Thank you so much for sharing this, and best wishes to your son.
@DogMom65 Thanks so much for the information. Good Luck to your son. I understand him not changing his minds…what a long process.
Thanks for the insights. Very helpful.
If anyone can offer any insight, I’d gladly appreciate it. So deposit day is quickly approaching, and I can’t decide between Lehigh or Bucknell. I’m admitted as a Chem major, and I plan on attending med school. Which would best prepare me for that/which school is better? I never got the chance to visit either one.
@DogMom65 Thanks so much for the information. Good Luck to your son. I understand him not changing his minds…what a long process.
Have you done the Lehigh admitted student events on Zoom? they have been great. all the deans from each school …giving lots of insight and answering questions. Saturday they have events from 9am - 10pm.
I loved the Campus when I interviewed…felt very welcoming
Bucknell felt too islated
isolated
Yes! I’ve been to a few of their Zoom meetings, and I’ve asked a few questions on their admitted students forum. I also got the same feeling from Bucknell - very small town-esque.
Because you feel so great about both schools, I would honestly go with which one gave you more money. Both are high tier schools so you are going to get a great education either way, and if you like the atmosphere the same then money is the only deciding factor.