<p>Hi, I’ve been reading the posts on all the different sorts of merit or automatic scholarships, and I was just wondering if it’s wise to search these out or to wait for letters from schools (if that even happens?)? I have an ACT score of 32 and received one letter that was about a merit scholarship; is it usual for colleges to send these out? Any information is appreciated 
Thanks!</p>
<p>Many college have departmental scholarships that are not awarded automatically. Most are for upperclass students but you can look on the college website. Many colleges have general scholarships and many of those require a separate application. Local community foundations often have scholarships and your guidance office should have a list of scholarships that are available to students so ask at your guidance office also. I’m hoping you are going to be a senior and not a soon to be college freshman.</p>
<p>I was just wondering if it’s wise to search these out or to wait for letters from schools (if that even happens?)? I have an ACT score of 32 and received one letter that was about a merit scholarship;</p>
<p>If you want some merit scholarship offers then do not just “wait” to see what happens. Some schools don’t give any merit scholarships, so you may not get any or much.</p>
<p>I can think of a bunch of schools that won’t give you one dime of merit money for an ACT 32, so if you were to apply to them, you’d get nothing.</p>
<p>However, there are some good schools that will give you a scholarship for an ACT 32.</p>
<p>What is your situation? What is your GPA?</p>
<p>How much will your parents pay? Do you need merit scholarships for some schools to be affordable?</p>
<p>Edited to add…</p>
<p>you have a 4.0
You’re low income.</p>
<p>If you get accepted to a school that meets need, then you’ll be in a good situation. However, those are hard to get into sometimes.</p>
<p>So…protect yourself and apply to a few schools that will also give you LARGE ASSURED merit scholarships for your stats. This will give you options.</p>
<p>Do you have a non-custodial parent? If so, that may become an issue.</p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>Check out the QuestBridge sticky thread at the top of this forum.</p>
<p>I do have a non-custodial parent that won’t be willing to pay a dime. We are borderline low income, because my mom has been working her butt off to get a better situation for my brother an I. I am going to be a senior in high school this upcoming year 
I’m not that much of a procrastinator! Do you want me to post stats? I’m working on making a realistic college list now, as I’m slowly coming to terms with the fact that I’m not Ivy material.</p>
<p>An I have no idea what I will major in. I have a tendency to decide a new thing every week, though I have a feeling it will be biology or political sciences of some sort. Things that are super important to me: financial aid, and teacher/student interaction. I know I wouldn’t be able to handle all my classes being huge 100+ student lectures.</p>
<p>Also I’m pretty sure that I’m not eligible for QuestBridge as I won’t be a Junior next year.</p>
<p>I do have a non-custodial parent that won’t be willing to pay a dime.</p>
<p>many of the schools that give the best “need based” aid will require that your NCP provide income/asset info and will expect a contribution. </p>
<p>Does your dad make a good income? </p>
<p>Anyway…yes…post your stats…</p>
<p>AND…you need to protect yourself and ALSO apply to schools that will give you large merit scholarships for your stats.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if it is really a “good income”; he has a total of 6 children if I remember correctly, and pays child support on 3 of them. I would say probably not, but if I had to combine my parents income it could put me in the $60-100k bracket.</p>
<p>Will your dad fill out the FA paperwork each year?</p>
<p>* if I had to combine my parents income it could put me in the $60-100k bracket. *</p>
<p>I’m not sure how a CSS Profile school that requires NCP info would handle this. I know a student last year whose divorced parents earned about $80k total had a “family contribution” of about $18-20k per year.</p>
<p>Do you know how much your mom can pay each year?</p>
<p>Probably close to nothing if we can help it. </p>
<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): Taking in October
[</em>] ACT: June 2010: 28 (26/25/32/28/07) April 2011: 32 (32/31/34/32/08)
[<em>] SAT Subject Tests: None yet, not sure if i will, or when
[</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/332 (will be close to 1/330)
[</em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): Eng Lit (4), Eng lang (4)
[<em>] Senior Year Course Load: Symphony Orchestra, AP Calc, AP spanish (wont test), AP bio, self study env sci, peer tutoring, volunteer career experience (credit for 60hrs of volunteering)x2, intro to sociology (CC), and maybe Western Civ (CC)
[</em>] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None really
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Math club (11, 12)
Orchestra (9, 10, 11, 12)
- Viola section leader (9, 12)
Guest performer with the local professional orchestra (11, 12)
Chamber orchestra (10, 11, 12)
NHS (11, 12)
Mathletes (I am starting it this coming year and will be the Captain; 12)
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: None
[<em>] Volunteer/Community service: I volunteer with the TRiO programs in my area
[</em>] Summer Activities: Advocacy trip to DC this summer; nothing otherwise
[<em>] Essays (subjects and personal opinions):I have one i’m working on so far, it should be really good (I’m a perfectionist.)
[</em>] Common App Main Essay: “I Can’t Doesn’t Live Here;” the one I mentioned above
[<em>] Teacher Recommendation 1: Have yet to choose, probably my math teacher
[</em>] Teacher Recommendation 2: Have yet to choose, probably my english teacher
[<em>] Counselor Rec: Should be decent
[/ul]Other[list]
[</em>] State (if domestic applicant): Iowa
[<em>] School Type: Public
[</em>] Ethnicity: White
[<em>] Gender: Female
[</em>] Income Bracket: Unsure, but under $40k for my mom
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): TRiO participant, but nothing stellar otherwise</p>[/li]
<p>As I whole I’m realizing I look pretty crappy on paper…</p>
<p>And I have a local university that I am guaranteed admission to that I will use as my safety.</p>
<p>if I had to combine my parents income it could put me in the $60-100k bracket.</p>
<p>And, your dad won’t contribute.</p>
<p>*
Do you know how much your mom can pay each year? *</p>
<p>*Probably close to nothing if we can help it. *</p>
<p>Ok…well, if that’s the case, then schools that will use both parents’ income info probably won’t work since there will likely be a “family contribution” expected.</p>
<p>at schools that will only use your mom’s income, your EFC might be around…2300 depending on the size of your family. </p>
<p>How big is your family with your mom? Does your mom receive child support for you and any other kids?</p>
<p>You need a strategy…</p>
<p>1) Apply to a couple of schools that meet need and require NCP info to see what happens</p>
<p>2) Apply to a couple of schools that “meet need” that do not use NCP info…like USC and Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>3) Apply to some schools that will give you large merit for your stats.</p>
<p>What kind of school are you hoping for? How big? What type of geographical location?</p>
<p>How big is your family with your mom? Does your mom receive child support for you and any other kids?</p>
<p>Its just my brother, my mom, and I. Child support on both of us.</p>
<p>Ok…well, if that’s the case, then schools that will use both parents’ income info probably won’t work since there will likely be a “family contribution” expected.</p>
<p>I’m willing to work my butt off to get scholarships to cover whatever is left. I have a lot of local ones that arent too far out of reach. And if it’s a good enough school, some student loans wouldnt be terrible, although not ideal.</p>
<p>I dont have any particular geographical location that I would never consider. I dont mind the size of the school as long as it is easy(ish) to have direct interaction with profs. Preferrably a school that has a good/above average sciences program (health or physical.)</p>
<p>Hopefully someone here will say what to do to indicate that your mom’s child support payments will be reduced when you’re 18 or graduated.</p>
<p>I don’t know how that’s handled with FAFSA…I don’t know if there’s some kind of professional judgment/adjustment that can be done.</p>
<p>*An I have no idea what I will major in. I have a tendency to decide a new thing every week, though I have a feeling it will be biology or political sciences of some sort. Things that are super important to me: financial aid, and teacher/student interaction. I know I wouldn’t be able to handle all my classes being huge 100+ student lectures. *</p>
<p>Bio or Poly Sci?</p>
<p>Do you have any idea for a career? What interests you about either major career-wise?</p>
<p>What is your local safety school? Is it a school that you’d commute to?</p>
<p>Are you in Iowa or do I have you confused with another student?</p>
<p>I am in Iowa and I would commute to my safety school, effectively cutting my costs in half. I am considering research or similar things with biology, and polisci I would probably lean towards public admin and aspire to be a member of congress. Two very different paths, I know. I do need to find a major that I can a) live with and b) get a job with.</p>