<p>@momofboymidma I just reread my previous posts and I never said that the student wasnt deserving. I just questioned the fairness. If a parent can write a check for a college education without blinking an eye…and another parent is literally robbing Peter to pay Paul/scraping by to pay the rent and to put food on the table, and they both are able to apply to the same program, something is very odd in my view. </p>
<p>That same kid who has grown up in privilege WILL get an education…whereas the child who has grown up in poor has so many obstacles to surmount. </p>
<p>What I’m saying is that programs like this should be need based. </p>
<p>Not sure why you think this particular scholarship program should be need based but we are all entitled to our own opinions… You did say she should not get the scholarship (so I assumed that is what you meant that she is undeserving because her Dad is a surgeon). Unfortunately what you think this program should be based on and what it is actually based on are two different things. I think its unfair that Puff Daddy’s ( or whatever he calls himself these days) son got a full boat to UCLA. He is worth mega millions. His son got it because he’s an great football player - i.e. he met the criteria for that scholarship he got and was chosen. Just as this girl met the criteria and may be chosen for the program. PD did not give the money back to UCLA - he took the scholarship for his kid (hopefully he’s putting some $$ back into UCLA)… </p>
<p>A friend’s daughter made it to the final round of Posse selection but did not get the scholarship. However, Posse circulated her application to their member colleges and she wound up attending a great school that she wouldn’t necessarily have applied to. Plus because of her family’s financial need (less than $100 EFC in the FAFSA and nothing that would push that up in the CSS) and the generosity of the school, she has an almost free ride.</p>
<p>@AnnieBeats - perhaps she was misinformed in her assumptions of what the Posse scholarship is all about - i personally thought there was a financial aspect related to it til I went to their website and actually read their criteria and requirements. </p>
<p>Hmm. I really thought - and have no idea why, really - the Posse program was for students who basically fall into the TRIO categories: either low income, first-generation college student, or student with disability. I am really surprised. Great to know the real-deal. </p>
<p>I’ve known a handful of Posse kids, and they generally fall into the category of good, motivated students that may need a little extra support fitting in culturally and academically. There does always seem to be one or two students in each Posse that fit the “leadership” profile but do not really need the support themselves, and I assume are there maybe more to provide support than receive it.</p>
<p>I do think it’s a great program, but one of my issues is that it may be a self-fulfilling prophecy- applying to Posse limits you to your host city’s participating schools, which are not always a great fit culturally for Posse kids, which leads to the need for support. Urban Boston kids might not fit in well at Centre College for example.</p>
<p>Bowdoin used to be a Posse school for the Boston cohort but dropped out because they disagreed with the concept of providing financial aid to a few Posse scholars that did not otherwise demonstrate need:</p>
<p>@ormdad It’s true some people who don’t qualify for aid actually do need it. My family in particular doesn’t receive any financial aid but we desperately need it. I have two siblings in college who pay full tuition out of pocket. My family also supports several households in my family that can’t support themselves. Money is tight and while on paper it seems like money is not a problem is really is. </p>
<p>@Marrissa I am a posse scholar and I can tell you that they will send you a little appointment which tells you when and where your next round for the process will be. Just sit tight and if you’re paranoid, try calling the Posse office of your city to ask where and when that’ll be. Remember that date and time and show up prepared. Dress comfortably, but semi-professionally. Wear something you can move in and sit down easily in. Maybe something that shows your personality. Best of luck. </p>
Anyone has any more information about this? DD made it to semifinal round, and still can’t figure out what happens next and whether or not when they notify you about final round they tell you what schools you are a finalist for and whether or not you will know with enough time to spare that if you are not a finalist, you can still apply ED to other schools, or you are out of ED/EA cycle of applications altogether. There’s nothing online, DD asked at the first round of interviews, and the answers were very non-specific.
What I want to know is this -
Do they say, Congratulations, Sally, you are a Posse finalist for Oberlin!
or
Do they say, Congratulations, Sally, you are a Posse Finalist for Oberlin (where DD wants to go), UW-Madison and UMich (neither of which she is interested in, but had to pick three, which further expanded to five, so choices 4 and 5 are unappealing at all)?
Because in the first case, she would jump at the opportunity. In the second, she would rather do something else because there are other colleges, that she would much rather attend.
When do they actually say it? Is it before Nov 1st, because in that case, DD can accept or decline Posse and depending on that still have time to submit ED/EA applications? If it's after Nov 1st, then she may end up getting a Posse offer that she doesn't like AND be shut out of early round of applications completely.
It seems like a great offer, and also like a huge gamble.
She is afraid to ask Posse directly because she is afraid to seem ungrateful, which is not at all the case. We want to be fully aware of all the options, but answers to the questions are very murky - they suggest to read the handouts and brochures and see Q&A online.
I was chatting with a posse scholar last week who wasn’t thrilled with where he was, wished he’d gone elsewhere but had committed via posse. So definitely find out what the top 3/5 commitment is.
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