Anyone attend High Point's Scholarship weekend?

<p>We are going to the second one in a couple of weeks. Just wondered if anyone had been this weekend and if you could tell us what to expect, etc.</p>

<p>My daughter and I are also going on the 27th. We would also like to know how the weekend went for those that attended.</p>

<p>I'm hoping someone can let us know about attire for the weekend even if they don't want to share their interview experience. The interviews possibly start at 7:30 AM with the shuttles picking up at 6:30? That's extremely early!!! Do you know if these are individual or small group interviews? I had read they were expecting 280 this past weekend and 300 the next time. I'm hoping it won't be chaos!</p>

<p>jtennis,
In one of your posts you mentioned reading about the interviews from last year. I am new to this site and cannot find those posts. Could you tell me how to find them?</p>

<p>bfraz,
I'm attempting to find that post but have been unsuccessful so far. I'm hoping someone has been this year to give us some advice because I did not pay much attention to the details, except someone mentioning that they wondered if the interview itself didn't really matter as much as your SAT/ACT score.</p>

<p>My husband and I attended with our son this weekend. It was run VERY smoothly. We drove in on Friday as we live only 1 1/2 hour away near Raleigh, NC. We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard near the school. There was a shuttle bus, but we drove over to the school as we had our car. They guide you in as there are students along the drive into the school directing you and waving (it is a little like Disney). After they drop you off at one of the parking lots, they have a shuttle bus waiting to take you to the dinner. No wait for anything.</p>

<p>The dinner on Friday was buffet followed by the president speaking and entertainment. Saturday morning is pretty early. You drop off your child at a set location, and the parents head off to breakfast. The kids get their interview schedules, and they have a continental breakfast for them. The president speaks to them for about an hour, and they then go to the chapel for a student question and answer session. The parents then have a session with the president. He is quite the speaker. He is very impressive. You are given a copy of your child's interview times also. Therefore, we touched base with our son after his first interview, and had lunch with him. He had a second interview in the afternoon. There are informational sessions (student life, financial aid, tours etc.) that you can attend during the day. There was a final reception at 3:00 PM with the department your child is considering for a major. We headed home after the reception exhausted, but with a very good feeling about the school.</p>

<p>It was definitely a large group, but it really did not feel that way. It was run extremely well. </p>

<p>The boys had on either suits or jackets and button down shirts and ties. The girls dress varied. A lot of the girls did not understand the term "business professional". They looked cute, but it was not business professional. </p>

<p>My son had one interview that he thought went fine, and one that went great. He had a friend who had one good one and one not so good. I think it depends upon who interviews you. He was very nervous, but he said afterwords it was not so bad. They asked about some of the classes he is taking now and one of his essays. </p>

<p>Good luck to everyone.</p>

<p>Cathyl111,</p>

<p>Thanks for the info. Did they tell your son when he would hear if he will be awarded a scholarship? It sounds like a long day on Saturday. We live in Massachusetts and are flying out later that night.</p>

<p>You will definitely be tired flying out on Saturday.</p>

<p>They told us he would hear by mid-March. The decisions look like they will be made about 2 - 3 weeks after the second group. We were told no decisions are made until after the second group. I think they might have possibly separated the groups alphabetically. Most of the people we met had last names early in the alphabet. My son's friend is a G and we are an L.</p>

<p>We are an F! Is High point one of your son's top choices?</p>

<p>There goes my theory of the alphabet.</p>

<p>High Point is one of my son's top choices. He is also seriously considering Appalachian State. A very different school, but he would do well there also. It would save us a lot of money also. </p>

<p>Where else is your daughter considering?</p>

<p>She has applied to 10 schools. Top choices are Providence College, High Point, and Assumption College. Waiting to hear from Elon and Holy Cross. We had never heard of High Point. We were at a soccer tournment in Greensboro this summer and had a free day to tour some schools. Someone told us to go look at High Point. My daughter loved the campus! Not a good college to visit first. She is comparing every campus to High Point! She has some hard decisions to make in the next 2 months. Already received some great scholarships. We have a daughter who is a junior at Bentley College and another who will be entering college in 2010 so $$ is a factor.</p>

<p>Glad to hear about the interview weekend! HPU is my D's #1 choice also, but with two in college at the same time, $$ is definitely a factor. The FA told me that they only meet on average 25% of your need--I had asked about a 50% figure I had read (because I thought that was pretty low!), and she said honestly it was lower now because the size of the incoming class is almost triple what they used to be and the $$ available hasn't tripled. What worries me is that even though the scholarship is renewable, if you are lured by a school grant also (she said average need grant is around $4k), it is not guaranteed for the next year. They state that several times in their FA info. (as if they want you to be sure you understand that!) They have had very large tuition, etc. increases over the past few years so that is scary too--comp. fee could be up to $40k by soph. year! We visited HPU first, so I know exactly what you mean--nothing else compares. It's the Taj Mahal!!! I was wowed too. We went on an individual visit last spring and back to the summer open house. Met the president the first time and then heard him speak at open house--he is truly amazing!! The energy on campus is unbelievable. She likes Wingate Univ. in NC also--and has a great scholarship offer from there. Also looking at Clemson and Winthrop in our state, but she really wants a smaller school. So we'll see what happens. Good luck to all of you!</p>

<p>When I saw the large group this past weekend and realized there is another group in two weeks, I kind of figured that the scholarships offered will be of a lower value. Granted everyone will not be going to High Point; however, there is only so much money to go around.</p>

<p>My D & I also attended this past weekend. We also brought my mother along. She was totally blown away by the campus, the amenities, the fact that it is all fulltime Professors, no TA's and especially by the President. When we visited in Oct. we spoke to the President for over 1/2 hr. This past Fri. we were walking around campus & he was on a golf cart handing out Hershey bars & stopped to give us one. When he realized we were there for the Scholarship weekend, he chatted with us for over 5 min.. My friends daughter is graduating from college in May & has never laid eyes on her College President in 4 yrs! </p>

<p>The description of the weekend was right on. It is very well organized except for the info. re:shuttle buses from hotel. We were also at the Courtyard Marriott & were told the bus would leave at 5p on Fri & Registration wasn't until 6p. We asked the President when we saw him, if we should drive instead & what the parking situation would be like. He said it didn't sound right that the shuttle would leave so early. He had Roger, the Dir. of WOW, call Admissions to ask if the shuttle was leaving more than once & we were told that it would only leave once at 5p. He said we should drive over. We did, but then realized that the shuttle came to the hotel at least 2 or 3 times. So, you may want to double check on that. Since there were no problems parking, we also drove over Sat am. </p>

<p>My D's interviews went very well. Both had 1 Professor & 2 students and were very casual. The 1st one they didn't have any paperwork in front of them & also did not write anything down. The 2nd one had her application in front of them. They asked her questions re:her class rank, SAT scores, her job, sports & how she managed to do so well in school with how busy she is, etc... Again they did not write anything down. Whether they then rank them after they leave the room, I don't know. </p>

<p>The President is very smart though. Bring 600 students back down. Make them fall more in love with the school- how could you not! Then from what I've heard, the scholarships awarded mostly range from $2000-$5000. How can you say NO to your child, when you yourself want to go back to school there! So you end up spending more out of pocket than you intended. I think he has my mom so convinced that she'd pay the difference for us if my D wants to go there!</p>

<p>bballcourt, you're right! He's a marketing genius! After our first visit I was ready to quit my job and go back to school there for my master's degree! One parent on our tour last spring asked the president if he didn't think the kids got too spoiled (how would they react to the real world after graduation)--his response was "wouldn't you work hard to stay here? why would you want to leave?" We saw him both in the dining hall during the tour and outside his office at the end of the tour and it was a regular school day--not open house, etc. where he had to be visible. He talked to us both times. We know a student there and he walked up to her and called her by her first name when we were talking to her at lunch--she says he knows everyone! If my mom didn't have 2grandchildren in college now and 5 more going in the next 4 years I think I might take her along too!</p>

<p>For the dinner my daughter wore a nice skirt, sweater, and heels and and for the interviews she wore dress pants and a jacket - all business appropriate. I would agree with of the comment above that some people were not in "business" attire - Uggs, very casual skirts, etc. The earliest interview, I believe, was no earlier than 9 am. I just wish we could have done early registration then, too - now it's another trip to arrange!</p>

<p>My sons interview times were 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. His friends were 11:00 AM and 12 noon. I am not sure when the first interviews were scheduled for.</p>

<p>We are lucky we are in NC. It can quite expensive if you have to make a lot of trips to the campus. Mamagym - did you have to come from out of state?</p>

<p>My daughters interview times were 1030a and 1130a. It was nice to not have too much time to get nervous in between. But, we finished the programs, the campus tour, lunch, etc.. by 130p & had to sit around and wait for 3p for the reception. </p>

<p>Did anyone else receive a letter asking for copies of your 2008 Federal tax returns? I have to call because they want them within 1 month & my taxes may not be done by then. I own a small business & the Business has to be done before my personal ones, and it all depends on my accountant.</p>

<p>You have a great point about the interview times. My son's first interview was 11:00, and he had a 3 hour wait until his second interview at 2:00 PM. He would have much preferred to have them closer together (less time to get nervous).</p>

<p>We did not receive anything requesting federal tax returns. However, we are not applying for need-based aid only merit aid through the school.</p>

<p>Yes, we're out of state, so flight, rental car, and hotel add up quickly.</p>

<p>Daughter's interviews were at 11 and 2. Liked the first one better - it was with faculty and students from her major.</p>