<p>My s was admitted for the class of 2015 but did not get the Harvey Mudd merit scholarship. Although disappointed, he is still interested in HM but I wonder if not having the scholarship will place him at a competitive disadvanage for internships, jobs, or other awards. He is a national merit scholar, 2360 SAT (one time 800M, 790V, 770W), goes to a magnet science and tech school described as the best in the US by U.S. News, has 7 APs (all 5's), 3 post APs (linear algebra, multivariable, intro to engineering), an unweighted 4.0, leadership positions in marching band, german honor society, national german award, awards for music, active in school community, church and community service, etc.
Please respond as he must make a decision by May 1. I am also curious as to who did get these awards. Thanks!</p>
<p>My son in is a junior at HMC. He didn’t get a merit scholarship. I don’t think it has had any impact on internships, jobs, etc. How you do at Mudd, recommendations from profs, etc. are what matter. What you did in HS seems not to matter much.</p>
<p>Prior to last year, HMC published specific number-based guidelines as to the required criteria for the HM merit scholarship. Now it is a mystery how they get awarded. No doubt your very accomplished son would have received one under the previous system. I don’t blame you for being a little frosted.</p>
<p>Of course, no one knows cause HMC is not telling, but it wouldn’t surprise me if HMC just decided they wanted to be able to leverage some of these merit scholarships to pull in a few more full-pay students with a “discount.” And possibly to recruit some under-represented groups here and there. They didn’t have that flexibility with the strict numbers criteria. </p>
<p>In any case, I agree with azalia. Your son’s internships, awards, jobs, etc, will be based on his performance and interactions with his professors, not the financial aid/admissions office.</p>
<p>I don’t see how the merit scholarship would have any impact…it would just make tuition cheaper.</p>
<p>Impact on what?</p>
<p>Thanks to all for your helpful comments. When I started looking into the scholarship I found a number of google references to resumes, linked in accounts, etc., that referenced the award. Since it is described as a merit award, I wondered if it carried any weight for job searches or grad school placement. In addition, to answer sunnyholiday’s question, there are situations where a school can nominate students for internships or provide other assistance. If HM is “mudding” the waters on how the HM scholarship is awarded, does this same approach carry over into other aspects of the school? I would hope as azalia said that it would have no impact.</p>
<p>First, I have to say that by the time any student has gone through 4 years of college, I would have to imagine their performance during those 4 years is what will be looked at when employers/grad schools make their choices - and not what they did in high school that gained them a merit scholarship. I would also have to imagine that a college that wants to boost it rankings and prestige would want their best students placed in internships/jobs/grad schools so that they reflect well on the school - and that any other agenda would be a distant second to that one. It is what your student does at the college he/she decides to attend that will be the deciding factor. And, as a parent of a scholarship recipient, no summer research, internships or jobs have been handed to my student yet this year (I wish!) and my student seems to be doing fairly well this year (I think). I just suspect that there are more qualified students getting those positions.</p>
<p>Wow… I have to take offense at the idea that if a child that a parent thinks is good enough doesn’t get a merit award then somehow the award itself has been “muddied”, who knows, maybe the few students who did get the award were just as or more deserving than those that didn’t? Or maybe it was a toss-up and someone’s name got pulled out of a hat over another’s? </p>
<p>I hope any perspective student chooses the right college fit for them and has a wonderful experience at their chosen college. As a parent that is all you can hope for really.</p>
<p>I got the scholarship with 2270 SAT and 7 AP’s (five 5’s, two 4’s), 5 SAT Subject tests (three 800’s). It seems likely that the merit scholarship is free money that is used to attract admitted students who otherwise would have to pay full price to attend.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t fret over the merit scholarship.</p>
<p>I meant no offense to the kids who got the awards. I was referring to sunny holiday’s comment that it is a mystery as to what criteria are being used. It’s that “mystery” that I am concerned about. BYW, if s decides to go to HM, we would be paying the full cost.</p>
<p>I would guess people put it on their resume for lack of something super impressive. The scholarship is a yield management tool, a carrot to further encourage certain admits to attend.</p>
<p>It’s just as much a “mystery” as the school itself’s admissions chances, any other school’s admissions chances, and any other school’s merit scholarships that don’t follow rigid numerical guidelines to consider one’s eligibility. I really don’t see what there is to be concerned about–the school felt others were more deserving.</p>