<p>The general story on Chicago’s merit scholarships has been that there are so few of them and their process for awarding them is so obscure that no one should count on one, that’s it’s not the best choice for “needed” merit money. That may be changing a little–they used to just award about 30 full tuition and 100 10K per year scholarships (plus their National Merit awards). Last year they opened it up and spread it around with 5K per year awards.</p>
<p>As for stats. It’s a big question. My D has 10K per year. She was a pretty complete package, with good stats and ECs. But I’ve heard of others without the conventional stats also winning awards. I’ve always wondered if it was her essay that clinched it. Her essay on a Chicago prompt came alive, managing to tell a lot about her, in a way that no common app essay could. </p>
<p>But who knows? So far, they’re not telling.</p>