Is anyone applying for the tuition exchange scholarship to University of Richmond?
@chummy1, yes, my daughter is.
Cool, I’m applying too–do you mind posting her stats? I’m just wondering what the applicant pool is like haha.
(@myjanda)
Sure @chummy1
ACT: 30
Rank: 12/160
All honors and AP classes
GPA unweighted: 3.7.
GPA weighted: 4.0
EC: a good number, sports , clubs,
Essay: pretty good
No real hooks,
I’m hopeful she’ll be accepted but really not sure about her chances for TE. We’ve been through this before with D14 (different schools) and it’s pretty competitive at these top schools.
Good luck!
And what are your stats chummy1? Are you applying to the Richmond Scholars? My son is applying for the science scholar and Oldham scholar, as well as the tuition exchange. Stats slightly better than myjanda. I’d like to think that he will be looked at in a holistic manner and that his extracurriculars will stand out.
@PandaBearMom I didn’t get notified as a semi-finalist for RS 
but I’m still hopeful for tuition exchange!
SAT: 2100
Rank: not sure exactly, I know I’m in the top 20% of a class of 250 so not very notable. A’s in all of my AP, IB HL, and dual enrollment courses
GPA unweighted: 3.87
GPA weighted: 4.02
EC: senior editor of our nationally-ranked magazine, NHS, band, varsity swim captain junior and senior year, a couple of different service/volunteer projects. Some state-level writing awards but nothing major.
Essay: I thought it was pretty decent but who knows. I wrote the Spider essay which probably didn’t make me stand out as much as those who picked the other prompt.
Good luck to your son for the Scholars program! Mind posting his stats?
Hi chummy1. You sound like a good candidate. When I started the process, I sent an email to all his potential schools asking for the same information. I’m providing Richmond’s response here, as I think it should be helpful and perhaps it could take the edge off.
Is the amount of the award $33,000? For the 2015-16 academic year, yes the amount is $33,000. This is the set rate amount that is assigned by the Tuition Exchange, Inc. for school’s whose tuition exceeds $33,000. This amount can vary year to year. I have typically see about a $500 increase each year.In terms of other financial aid
a. Would any other financial aid be removed from the award? No, we can typically pair other awards with TE awards. It depends on whether the aid is need based aid or merit based aid and the amount of aid that the student received. If the aid is merit based aid, TE can typically be paired with the other award but the total combination of awards cannot exceed Tuition, Room, and Board. If a student is receiving a need-based financial aid package, the TE award would first go towards that need and thus reduce or replace the need based aid package. If the student’s need exceeds the TE award, the student would receive a combination of TE and the need based package.
b. Would he be eligible for any additional merit or need based aid? Yes. The student could still be eligible for additional merit or need based aid. To apply for merit based aid, the student would need to meet the application deadlines for the particular aid. To apply for need-based aid, the student would need to submit the FAFSA, CSS PROFILE and Federal Tax Returns by our deadline which is March 1 for prospective students.
c. I understand that you have generous financial aid. If I apply for the exchange, is it possible that ### could receive more favorable funding through Richmond? Yes, the Richmond Scholar award or ACS (Associated Colleges of the South) award if your school participates in that program. But applying for TE would not affect his chances of receiving more favorable funding.
d. If he were to get an award, would he be able to serve as an R.A. in his sophomore through senior years to help pay for room and board without it affecting his financial aid award? Yes, a student can serve as an RA while receiving TE, merit based aid or need based aid.
How many slots do you typically have available? This varies from year to year but on average we have about 10-15 slots. This number is determined by how many exports, UR dependents, we have going out on TE.What percentage of applicants get in? We had 139 applications and offer TE to 47 to reach our goal of about 11. Not all students who are offered the TE award end up accepting it.
Stats are 2100 SAT, 3.87 GPA, but he has a lot of exceptional ECs
Keep in mind that the 139 applications they received last year, probably included people who may not have applied (we did not apply to 2 schools that we had intended to) as well as those who did not get in - remember, the acceptance rate is 31%, and I’d be very surprised if you did not get in.
@PandaBearMom Thanks so much! It’s good to hear that other awards can be combined with TE – I know that’s not the case at some other TE schools. Good luck to your son! Do you know when we’ll find out about tuition exchange awards/when Richmond notifies us?
Pretty sure TE for upcoming year is $34k- my older daughter gets it from American University. When she was applying in 2014- some schools supplied the info on the award before acceptance, some with and some afterwards. There was no rhyme or reason and we had to wait until the last minute to have all info to make a decision.
@chummy1 My son is a Science Scholar - no need for the TE! Good Luck!!
I’m applying for TE at richmond through Tulane. Any idea when the admission decision hits/TE decision is made? I applied for Richmond Scholars but didn’t get any notification so i’m pretty sure I didn’t get it.
ACT - 30
GPA (W) - 4.06
Best High School in the state
Pretty good extracurriculars/essays
@nutboy21 I’m guessing TE decisions will come in conjunction with RD acceptance letters, but I’m not sure…may come as a separate letter or as an email later on.
@nutboy21 - did you get the TE for Tulane? DD was accepted EA but unfortunately no TE was granted. Not feeling very hopeful overall about Richmond but she did get it at two other schools so far.
@myjanda @chummy1 since my parent works at tulane, I don’t get tuition exchange there but tuition remission (which is the same thing, but it’s basically a benefit they offer to their employees). I’ve gotten TE so far to Richmond (came with the acceptance packet), SLU, and Syracuse and I’m still waiting to hear from BU and Drake among a few other places.
@nutboy21 - congratulations! DD was accepted at Tulane but not awarded TE, and was waitlisted at Richmond. Got TE at Syracuse and Case Western so far. You’ve got some great choices!
Update: Received Richmond acceptance today along with TE! Also received TE at American. Just waiting to hear from one more college before making my final decision.