Was coming to say that double depositing is unethical but then I read down more and saw the topic had been covered. And I do not know how to delete a post 
Has anyone heard back on the Randall Research Scholar invites yet?
If history holds true, invites will go out next week (January 30 or 31). All candidates will hear something: invited to the interview weekend, waitlisted, or not invited/waitlisted.
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Did anybody do the Blount interview yesterday?
My daughter did.
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My son was one of the interviewees. He said there were 235 applicants, split up into breakout Zoom rooms. I had no idea there were that many (they cull from a set of over 400 total applicants).
How does your D think it went?
D interviewed too.
If she gets in, I think it will be very, very likely she goes to Bama.
One concern I had though, was how the assistant director mentioned in the Q&A that people she taught in the first year came to her for grad school recommendations because she knew them. It was concerning that kids don’t feel like they have someone in their major to ask.
It sounds like we may have to wait very late to make a final decision, depending on how wait lists and finances work out.
I think kids have to make an effort to get to know profs.
Perhaps the cohort was small and personal enough that even introverts or non aggressive kids connected.
My son didn’t connect to that level with profs in his major but he did with his minor - which he was more passionate about.
In the end, whether it’s Berkeley or Bama, gives have to make an effort to get to know their profs vs. just show up to class, leave, and permanently disappear…but I think that’s the most likely scenario for most.
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My kid hasn’t been there long enough to get a good sense of whether he’ll develop really close relationships with profs in his majors.
But the thing about Blount is it is so intense and such a close cohort in that first year. You really get to know the profs you have; I can’t stress this enough, how different Blount appears to be from the rest of the university (understand I’m just a mom, lol.)
My son is going in to his senior year of engineering and will likley be asking engineering profs for his grad school letters, not Blount. But for Blount 101 & 102 - you’re in a group with 12 students. He took the same 101 & 102 prof so had them the whole year. Class time is ALL discussion, not lecture. So profs do get to know the kids vs. a (engineering) lecture class where kids sometimes ask questions, stay after to chat, add additional input. I’d imagine classes outside of engineering may be more dialogue oriented, but Blount is not a place where you get to hide/ go unnoticed.
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My daughter enjoyed the interview and felt like it went well, but its format was far more structured than she expected. In her group, there was only time for the interviewees to answer two questions, and then they had 15 minutes to ask the Blount students on the call some questions.
This is based on last year’s information, so take it with a grain of salt. Our local recruiter said that those that have scores are automatic and then they evaluate the rest IF $$ is available. Last year, there was $$ available and she encouraged everyone going TO to write the essays.
Our recruiter is awesome and had monthly Zoom calls where these types of issues were discussed. I’d reach out to your local recruiter…maybe they have monthly touch in calls.
I hope she gets in. However, there are many other programs that afford research opportunities on campus. Have her look up the “Emerging Scholars” program. It is quite nice.
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And non programs btw. They put out requests for researchers and / or you can simply ask a prof of interest. That’s all many kids do. My son’s gf did and had four years of research.
Has anyone who is a part of the National Recognition Program received a UA Competitive Achievement Scholarship? I wasn’t admitted until after they discontinued the National Recognition Scholarship, and I’m relying on scholarship/financial aid.
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Some have posted they received it. Next round of decisions is early February. They are “strongly” valuing National Recognition status when reviewing is what they told me.
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Randall Research invites went out this afternoon!
Does the housing lottery open Feb 1? We have put down a deposit, but we haven’t been asked for dorm preferences yet. Is there something we need to do Feb 1?
DS will be skating for hockey prospects day but that isn’t until mid-April, and whether he plays in college will be part of his decision on which school to attend.
Thanks so much in advance!!
It is my understanding that paying the deposit by February 1 means they get to participate in rom selection process in May- so they are not selecting housing before that, just holding a spot to participate in the process.
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I believe the sooner you pay, the sooner your spot in actually choosing a dorm+room.
(My kid wasn’t involved in this at all, so I don’t have firsthand knowledge.)