<p>My friend and I have the same GPA and ACT score, and we were both accepted into Tulane.</p>
<p>My friend received a $15,000 scholarship per year, while I received nothing.
I was in more rigorous classes, participated in more extra curricular activities, had a study abroad experience, and worked during high school.</p>
<p>Do you have any suggestions on what I should do? </p>
<p>Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>Hmmm, this is a tough one. I would definitely start with a personal conversation with the adcom assigned to you. You can find out who that is on the Tulane website: [Tulane</a> Admission: Meet Your Counselor](<a href=“http://admission.tulane.edu/counselors/index.php]Tulane”>http://admission.tulane.edu/counselors/index.php) and you will see there that you put in your location and you will find your adcom.</p>
<p>I would counsel you to start the conversation without referencing your friend. Let the adcom review your record and see if they think an error has been made, or at least if they will reconsider. If they don’t think so, then I would say very diplomatically that while you realize there are many factors that go into these decisions, you cannot help but point out that one of your close friends at your school (I am assuming close and at the same school since you shared all this with each other) had the same GPA and ACT, but you had a schedule with more AP’s and honors and you feel more EC’s, including studying abroad. Then it is worth stating that you really want to attend Tulane but that a $15K/year scholarship could make the difference. Another assumption on my part that you really want Tulane as top choice, otherwise why bother?</p>
<p>Bottom line, all you can do is take an active stance on this, but be careful to be diplomatic and somewhat deferential. In other words, don’t let it come across as “if she deserved this I do too”. That won’t work. Instead, if you have to bring up the comparison, make it about your really wanting Tulane first, and then also fairness/logic. I think they would understand then that you would regret not pursuing all possibilities and presenting your case thoroughly.</p>
<p>I won’t kid you that there might not be hidden factors that don’t seem entirely fair, such as legacies or sibling ties to Tulane you might not have. I think these are not usually significant factors for most people, but I can’t swear they don’t play a role sometimes either. Tulane is a business at some level, and they cannot ignore the fact that certain circumstances are compelling for their future as a university. Most likely these are not factors here, but I am just cautioning you there might be things like this involved.</p>
<p>Feel free to PM me if you want to talk it through more.</p>
<p>Exact same GPA and ACT score?</p>
<p>Fallenchemist, thanks a lot. I contacted my admission representative, and he went on to tell me how admissions this year are even more competitive than the previous years. <em>Shocker</em> But, he said that I should send in my first quarter grades for this current year and they will review my application.</p>
<p>I am thinking of also writing a nice letter, saying why I think I deserve a scholarship. I am going to add how I think considering that I interned 30 hours a week at one of the largest law firms in the country, and was able to keep my grades up (in almost all honors and AP’s), I should get a scholarship. </p>
<p>Also, pFNMCp, that is right. Same GPA and ACT scores, and they got $15,000 a year. </p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the replies.</p>
<p>I like your chances. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Also it is important to note Tulane really wants applicants who are civically engaged ie. community sevice.President Cowen stressed this at parents weekend.This could also explain the reason why you may or may not receive a merit scholarship if gpa class rank and test scores are fairly equal.</p>
<p>Pelicanbrief, thanks for the reply. I initiated a recycling club/program in my school, which required me to spend about 2-3 hours a week recycling in my school a week. I do believe that constitutes as community service. I just find this whole situation strange.</p>
<p>Hi Lyn. I just reread your reply concerning the letter, and I wouldn’t phrase it as “I think I should get a scholarship”. I could be wrong, maybe that approach would work, but I think it might sound a little too “entitled”. Maybe soften it just a tad, as in “I hope after you have considered the totality of my achievements, you might reconsider your decision regarding my receiving a merit scholarship”. But I do think a letter can’t hurt if it strikes the right tone.</p>