We have one useful one, from Fordham, where my D was already going to apply and is hoping for strong merit aid. We just found out she’s NMSF. She also got access to a streamlined app. I’m happy about the waiver. She’s happy about the easy app.
But I wouldn’t have her apply somewhere just because it’s free. My daughter asked ASU for one – looking at it for merit/honors college – and they said they don’t give them for OOS. I thought that odd … and she’s sitting on the app for now. Not sure I want to pay for it unless she’s fairly strongly considering it.
Now that most the college apps are done (only 5 left, awaiting completion of her personal statement), I am feeling hopeless for the prospects of my D16 winning any outside scholarships. She’d just be seeking a few small-dollar scholarships. But she doesn’t have any hooks of any kind. Just a BWRK. Maybe she shouldn’t even bother. (end vent)
Hey all, this is AKFirefly in new clothes…I decided I did not want to scream my location with every post
Congrats MidwestMom (and Ballerina, I saw your post on the other thread, so congrats to your daughter too!) on the NMSF!
@dyiu13, don’t be too discouraged. My decidedly average (well, in the College Confidential sense, where every kid cures cancer, haha) older daughter got several scholarship offers, some of them quite large (and basically a free ride to our in-state universities, though in the end she did not accept those offers.) We will hope for good things for your daughter too.
Still waiting for our NMSF announcement…though I am confident that my daughter qualified, I am less assured that the school didn’t mess something up (small charter for homeschoolers, and not sure they have dealt with NM before…also her GC is new, as is the principal), so am still a touch nervous.
Daughter was voted co-captain for the girls’ cross country team today (she does sports at our neighborhood high school), which was great news for the resume
@dyiu13 Unfortunately, outside scholarships are usually small. But if it is means she’ll have smaller student loans it is probably still worth it. I hope she is successful getting scholarships from her colleges – those are likely to make an even bigger dent. Believe me, there are plenty of colleges who are willing to offer aid packages to attract solid students. And a solid, well-rounded student should be able to succeed no matter where she goes. Rooting for you both!
@dyiu13 I don’t blame you for not chasing a bunch of small outside scholarship. In the end it just may not be worth the effort. I’ve searched and searched and found few scholarships relevant for my D. I’ve also had to weigh the probability of acceptance and the amount of the scholarship to the work involved. I found one local scholarship that I’d guess she’d have a 1 in 1,000 chance (or less) at with a very involved application for a one time $1K. The application would take several days to complete and require we pay for official transcripts and several letters of recommendations. It’s just not worth that amount of work for something that she’s unlikely to win. There were some very simple scholarship apps that only took her a few minutes I had her go for even though the odds were low. She has a really good shot at a major specific private scholarship and a scholarship from my husbands employer. For those I will ask her to put in her full effort. In our area there are very few private scholarship that you can use out of state that don’t require you to demonstrate a large amount financial. We don’t qualify for free lunch so that rules out most of them. I think you really need to look at Return On Investment when looking at private scholarships.
@Ballerina2016 My S is now seriously considering Tulane in part because of the fee waiver they offered. It had been on my list of suggestions before but we took a second look when he got the waiver email. It meets all of his current criteria! We’ll be flying to visit soon. It will definitely be a reach for him. I think the other schools aren’t getting a second look.
I know that I couple of his schools offer fee waivers to NMSFs, but we are still waiting to hear and I’m not too hopeful right now – if we go up even one point he won’t make it. I’ve been reviewing his current list and I’m satisfied (today, anyway) he’ll find a good fit that we can afford, just not sure how much choice he’ll have. Congrats to those who have heard and good luck to those still waiting.
Actually, the basket we’re putting all our eggs into is the one for full tuition (with two schools adding free room). She is eligble for a full-tuition grant at each school. And, with our EFC, we’d have to self-pay the rest.
So, D16 is considering a few local scholarships of very small denominations to off-set minor expenses…IF the school she ultimate attends permits stacking, which it might not. Have to research the policy at each school. Even a total of $1000 that’s not required to be applied toward tuition would cover books/tech for the first year.
These really would be mainly for ego, I think. Also, having an award or two on the resume helps, like a magnet, when going for future kudos or opportunities.
Although she has no hooks, she has one heck of a personal success story about overcoming serious adversity. She carefully decided to not reveal this story to adcoms in her college apps because she fears the real possibility of discrimination, and she’d also not include it for any institutional scholarships. And, she knows that if she’s selected for the full-tuition grant, the school would not permit her to seek any other institutional aid, anyway. However, she might just let it rip and tell her awesome story in an application for a non-institutional scholarship. Or not. We’ll see if she has any time this semester.
She’s reporting a heavy HW load, is applying to a graphic arts EC program, and is seeking training to become an instructor in her sport this semester. Plus, somehow, she needs to learn how to drive and to teach herself Excel.
(Can you tell my mind has moved on from summer mode?)
@GoodGrief16 I just read your post again and realize that you are an old friend AKFirefly. I am slow today.
@dyiu13 You DD is very productive! Almost done with applications! Very impressive. My DD just have rough draft for one school. And it is on hold for now since she doesn’t have time to finish it. She is hopefully applying to 3 EA schools. She just needs to retake one science SAT since the score she got is not up to par with the schools she is applying to.
@crowlady DD said she will add Rice to the list if the application is not too complicated. I have to look at the website. She also got a strange postcard from Yale with fee waiver, but based on instructions it seems that they think she can claim waiver based on financial situation.
As far as the scholarships DD is waiting results on one sort of large scholarship she is a finalist for. I really hope she gets it! She sent in few more applications for small scholarships between $500 and $2000 with really easy 250 words essays.
My daughter got hooked on applying for small scholarships over the summer, though nothing earned thus far! I do think even the small scholarships could be worthwhile…I figure ten hours put into apps; even if just a $500 scholarship is earned, that’s $50/hr. Not bad for a teen! Assuming it can be used for what they need though…books, etc.
Here’s a tip, from my days as a scholarship program manager and app reader. Tell your kid to call the scholarship administrator (if that’s allowed). That person will usually willing advise your child about what’s really being sought from the winning applicant. Those tidbits can help your child tweak the app to highlight where he or she solidly meets the “real” criteria for winners. The applicant doesn’t have to shoot in the dark as much.
– S14 had a profile a bit like your son’s. Meh GPA (3.4), but high test scores (SAT’s of 2340, and 780 and 800 on his two Subject tests). ?Unlike your son he was not an NMSF. He received a $25K/yr merit scholarship to Tulane, and they invited him down for a special ‘scholars’ weekend, which he and Mom attended. There was a lot to like about Tulane, and it’s the type of school where a late bloomer would really get noticed. FWIW, Tulane is routinely at the top of lists where the kids are most happy.
– If he is going to apply, they appear to be one of those schools that values ‘demonstrated interest’. So he should definitely fill out their application with an eye towards showing them that he’s done his reading/homework about the school. In particular, he should make sure to do a good job on the 'Why Tulane" essay. Despite what the app says, it’s not optional. Visiting the school is great in this regard, and after the visit he should somehow establish contact with his regional admissions rep.
I think that Tulane is one of those schools that’s willing to gamble on a kid like him, thinking that his transcript doesn’t reflect his considerable untapped potential, and that he’s a kid who could be a star for them. As best i can remember what you’ve posted about your son, I don’t think that it’s a big reach. But it will help a lot if they think he’s serious about the school.
P.S. At that ‘scholars’ weekend my son bought the most expensive Tulane sweatshirt sold at the school bookstore. He thought that he was Tulane bound. When he decided to go elsewhere I posted a note on the Tulane thread offering to send the sweatshirt to the first person who’d claim it, only asking in return that they reimburse me for postage (no charge for handling). I got severely rebuked by the moderator for trying to sell stuff on CC, threatened with banishment. We ended up giving the sweatshirt to a family we know whose kid graduated from Tulane last year. Once S14 got to college he said that he could’ve used the sweatshirt there, as a lot of kids at his school wear stuff from other colleges.
Hi everyone! It’s our second week of school, and I’m taking a much needed breather to catch up on your MANY posts!
Congrats to all the NMSF and AP Scholars!
My S also got a fee waiver email today. That was a pleasant surprise! What puzzled us is that the email specifically congratulated him on his performance on the SAT Subject Tests. I am wondering how they know his scores. We haven’t sent them a score report yet. I suspect it might be via the Common App, where his scores are already entered. We’re glad about the fee waiver, but now we’re cautious about adding or uploading anything that’s not ready to be seen yet.
In other news, my S is procrastinating writing his essays. It’s driving me batty. If he doesn’t get going, he won’t make early deadlines. I almost typed “dreadlines!” haha! ;))
@grlscoutmom - your D is working on essays without nagging? Please send some of those cookies our way!
@dyiu13 - Congratulations on your D’s EA acceptance! I’m so impressed that she’s submitted so many apps already.
@GoodGrief16 - I am going to miss the image of the pretty firefly, so I’ll envision Charlie Brown in a cap and gown instead.
@AsleepAtTheWheel Thanks for the encouraging words about Tulane. My son’s stats aren’t as rosy as your son’s (and he might just miss NMSF) but it is worth a try. My kids are anti-spirit wear, so we still haven’t invested in any even for S14’s school. But yesterday S16 had the inspired idea of starting a t-shirt business next summer. That could be interesting.
@happimochi “dreadlines” is brilliant. I’m going to call them that when we need a (nervous) laugh here in slacker central.
Good morning and congrats to all on AP and NMSF awards and progress with college apps. I continue to be impressed by all the kids are able to accomplish. I do wish the schools would cut back a bit on the homework load for this first month while the kids are trying to get their applications and testing done. We are still moving very slowly with regard to apps here. I see that there has been some discussion of what colleges know, even before the applications are submitted. With regard to the various NMSF or AP awards, do the kids really need to list those on their applications where there is only room for say 4-5 awards? Or do the schools already know who has those awards? On some applications for my DD to list her NMSF, it will require that she omit something else.
@Themommymommy, I couldn’t agree more with the cutting back for the first month of school for testing.
Congratulations to all the NMSF AND NAP Scholar recipients.
