<p>At “Carolina 101” day which we attended about two years ago they explained it like this. Every year there are more than 30,000 kids who recieve some kind of National Merit recognition(commended, semi-finalist, finalist). UNC-CH’s freshman class is around 3700 students each year, so they couldn’t even accept every Nat. Merit kid! (not even every N.M. finalist) (however, Carolina does offer $1000 per yr. to any Nat. Merit Finalist that they accept)
However, there’s much more to an applicant than just a test score. (as one adcom said, “I’m more interested in what you did in 4 years, not 4 hours”) It’s actually a negative to see such a high score and little, to nothing to go along w/it. In the past ten years, I’ve known first hand of 2 kids who are truly gifted and made Nat. Merit semi-finalists. Neither used their gifts. They were in top courses but didn’t make top grades in H.S. and had little positive involvement with school groups/sports and other EC’s. Both were rejected from all highly selective schools to which they applied, one however did end up at a small unranked school who did offer a large scholarship based solely on his Nat. Merit award. One of the moms was totally distraught, she thought that since her kid was a Nat. Merit semi-finalist that Harvard, Carolina, Duke etc. would have begged to have him!</p>
<p>-one further note Nat. Merit is based on PSAT scores taken in 10th grade. My D was Nat. Merit Commended who ended up with higher SAT scores than a Nat. Merit Finalist kid at her school. Other kids in our area who received no Nat. Merit honors, ended up with perfect SAT scores in one or all sections.
It’s one test, one day. It’s an honor, it looks good on a high school resume, but it’s not nearly the most important factor in a highly selective univ.'s selection decision.</p>
<p>Don’t feel bad Salem. My son was a Morehead-Cain semifinalist-one of 248 in the state,Governor’s school, and legacy. He was deferred and will be thrilled if he simply makes it in in March.Be thankful for what you have.</p>
<p>Its always hard to get scholarships, although my brother recieved a free ride to Med school. I don’t remember which scholarships he recieved for 4 year college. But my parents have left me alone in the scholarships business :(.
They think that I should do as good as my brother and receive scholarships…apply for grants etc. on my own. And obviously, I’m trying. But i don’t think i’m trying hard enough. As no response on any schoalrships even after working hard on those essays. (Although I suck at writing essays.) Right now my best shot is to get into UNC -luckily- and then work my butt off for the first year and start getting scholarships.</p>
<p>Well, I gurarantee you that scholarships everywhere are getting harder and harder to get. I am so frustrated right now because all I have received from colleges is acceptances, but no mention of any scholarships from anywhere other than my state school and Southern Cal.
SAT:2360
SAT IIs: 800, 780, 750
ACT: 34
GPA: 4.0, unweighted
APs- 8 total, 5’s on three taken so far.
10 credit hours at state university w/ 4.0 GPA
National Merit Finalist
Plenty of ECs, with leadership, varsity soccer captain, scholar bowl captain, etc. I have a part time job at Panera as well. I think my essays were pretty good, and I am sure that my recommendations were decent at the very least.</p>
<p>I really don’t know what they are looking for, being well rounded, or exceedingly amazing in one particular thing, or if it’s held against me that both my parents are really educated or what. So far I have been rejected from Emory Scholars, nothing from UNC, was informed I was in the top 350 pool at Duke, only to get an invite to an all-expenses paid Duke visit, but, again, no mention of scholarships. Sorry if this is nothing more than a rant, but I hope my stats give you an idea of how competitive the scholarship process must be all over the place.</p>
<p>packerfan: Did you go to the Duke visit? I have heard that applicants invited to those “all expenses paid visits” are often being looked at for scholarships. You should certainly attend, if you haven’t already. Your stats are impressive, for sure.</p>
<p>janieblue is right. But packerfan, with your stats i wouldve thought that one would receive tons of scholarships. but you received in state college scholarship, i guess its not bad either. after all 4 year (under grad) college doesnt really matter in the future. (at least thats what most of my teachers say.) But hey, work hard the first year of college, u’ll surely receive scholarships then. my wishes with all those who deserve it like you.</p>
<p>Thanks for the support janie, and the optimism, but in the likey letter they sent, they informed us that we would either be getting the invitation to visit, or an invitation to a scholarship interview… So I guess I am just determined to not be optimistic. I am thinking about going up there anyway though.</p>
<p>and vickpick, my state school is not that impressive at all. That, and living in the deep south for all my life has me ready for a change.</p>
<p>S received Carolina Scholars scholarship ($8000 a year)
stats: white / male, instate / public (low achieving HS), SAT 2250, SAT II 800, 790, 760, NMF, AP Scholar w/ Dis ( Five X 5, one 4, one 3), Class Rank: 1/360; GPA 5.25 (w); 4.0 (uw),varsity team cpt,Morehead Cain semi (did not advance)</p>
<p>It seems many focus on the stats and wonder WHY?? not my wonderful D or S.</p>
<p>IMO the most important factor besides great stats: ECs / hook / application; should clearly demonstrate UNIQUENESS!!</p>
<p>however, S received an Ivy “likely letter”…will not attend UNC</p>
<p>packerfan: Yes, you should definitely go on the Duke visit.</p>
<p>I do know that in past years (don’t know about this year), UNC has continued to make scholarship awards, past any “deadline” dates. Certainly, there are people who are awarded scholarships who choose to go elsewhere (as in the above post). </p>
<p>So, all the best- and stay optimistic! You never know what might happen.</p>
<p>yes, at EA scholarship day they told everyone that they’d get some kind of scholarship, ranging from 1500-8000 instate and 1500-full out of state and everyone in the room would be accepted into honors </p>
<p>it kind of stinks that full rides aren’t given to instate students… but i did get the carolina scholarship, which is 8,000/year… meaning that chapel hill will be a very good option for next year</p>
<p>Yeah, I am in-state, and though it is disappointing that I will not be getting a full-ride, I am surprised I am even getting a scholarship in the first place (3.4 UW GPA, 2140 SAT, CMS student). Congratulations on your scholarship and bets of luck on all of your other applications.</p>
<p>hi meuginio, im a cms student too…w/ 3.6 UW gpa, 1900 SAt…8 AP’s at end of college…but SAT score is holding me back i think. im terrible at writing essays and vocabs… :(</p>