<p>… don’t know what the U. Rochester awards (Bausch and Lomb or the Frederick Douglass one)? Is it too pushy on my part to test the waters for a nomination? Only problem is…no one in my school has heard of these awards</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>Print out the information about these awards, bring them to the teachers and ask whether they would be willing to nominate your kid for them. Emphasize that the awards would make a financial difference for your kid.</p>
<p>When you are asking for a nomination for anything, the best approach is usually a direct approach. If you are a student, approach your teachers in the appropriate academic area and ask them to nominate you. </p>
<p>However, keep in mind that each high school can only nominate one student. Therefore, at most high schools, you don’t ask for a nomination, rather the decision of who to nominate is made the teachers in the relevant department/subject. Often, the guidance counselor has input as well. It is not something you “ask” for or “test the waters” about. If your school handles department awards in a similar manner, then the best approach might be to bring the information to a teacher in the relevant department or your guidance counselor and instead of saying “Will you nominate me?” say “This might be an opportunity for some of our students.”</p>
<p>Also, the Rochester awards don’t guarantee any scholarship money so it isn’t correct to say that being nominated would mean money for you (or your child). All they guarantee is that students who are nominated by their high schools for them get their admissions fee to Rochester waived. If they do apply to Rochester, and are admitted (no guarantee), they will then be considered for the scholarships (which are about $7,500 or so if I remember) tied to the award, but so will all the thousands of other nominees from across the country.</p>
<p>What these awards basically boil down to is recognition from your high school that the faculty think you are the most qualified student to be nominated and an extra award to add to your application.</p>
<p>By the way, given the number of mailings my school counseling office has received from Rochester on these awards, it is doubtful that no one at your school is aware they exist. Ask your guidance counselor - they may be more aware than you think.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>The student should do the “approaching” of the counseling staff and/or the faculty.</p>
<p>Thank you parents 
Always so helpful!</p>