<p>I am on a gap year and just got into the Univeristy of Miami for the second time, without any scholarship offers. The school is way too expensive and my Dad can cover a little over half the cost. I need at least umiami's lowest scholarship ( dean scholarhsip - 16,000 ) and I'd cover the rest with money from my summer job (5000+), loans, and working during school.</p>
<p>I've been reading about people mentioning their other scholarhip offers from similar schools. I received scholarship offers last year when applying as a senior and paid enrollment deposit to mcgill university and deferred for the year. After some experiences this year I really wanted to go to Umiami ( got in last year too ) and reapplied. I got in again but I'm an average, white, middle class kid from the east coast and can not qualify for need-based aid. There is no good reason they should offer me money, most applicants are probably similar to me. However, it is a class of 2,000 and umiami give tons of merit scholarships </p>
<p>Can I make any sort of case that Mcgill is a better school and costs half as much? Or can I mention my merit scholarships from last year ( some from Urochester - higher ranked than umiami, and other schools not as good )?</p>
<p>Should I call my local admission officer to ask for help? Letter to the Scholarship Committee ( they have final decision on all scholarships)</p>
<p>If you look at the other threads asking about trying to get more money, you can get some ideas as to what to say. I think saying some other school is a better school and costs half as much is not a wise thing to say. Also comparing last year’s award’s to this year’s is not usually relevant. Just my opinion here.</p>
<p>Talk to your admissions officer, be ever so humble thank him/her for accepting you, reiterate how much you want to go there and get some advice there. You can tell him about what you got last year in offers from other schools in the course of the conversation, and explain how you still want to go to UM and ask for help in any ideas of getting any merit money.</p>
<p>Frankly, I don’t think your chances are good for getting half the cost of the school That’s $30K. As you yourself say, “there is no good reason they should offer me money”. And we are talking a lot of money, not just a couple thousand dollars of gap. But give it a try. If it does not work out, look at the affordable options. It’s not just about getting accepted to a school, but paying for it too. If you cannot afford it you cannot go.</p>
<p>Do your test scores, GPA and class rigor meet the requirements for the scholarships?
I also noted on this page that merit scholarships are not automatic (everyone who qualifies does not receive the scholarship, unlike some schools that guarantee them for all who qualify).</p>
<p>It also says that funds are limited, so applicants should apply early. Which means that it is doubtful that there is leftover money at this point.</p>
<p>What someone gave you last year is irrelevant, because you must apply for financial aid each year. What does this year’s financial aid package from McGill look like? Do you have merit aid again or simply need based aid?</p>
<p>Thank you for confirming my initial doubts that last years offers are irrelevant. </p>
<p>I do not have any aid money from McGill, it’s just a cheaper school. Tuition for a BA is 16k and for a BS, 28k. Miami is 41k. </p>
<p>KKmama, that document is from 2007-08. I have a card from 2012 which says minimum requirement of 1350 SAT - which I am JUST over. I have an A- average. My school doesn’t rank. I’m pretty sure I qualify for merit scholarships but just barely and I did not receive one. </p>
<p>cptofthehouse, it’s more like a 25k gap ( don’t know exactly, my Dad never gives me a straight answer). If I can obtain even their smallest merit scholarship ( dean scholarship - 16,000 ) I could cover the rest with my job and some loans.</p>
<p>I will talk to my admission officer, thank you for your responses</p>
<p>*in again but I’m an average, white, middle class kid from the east coast and can not qualify for need-based aid. There is no good reason they should offer me money, most applicants are probably similar to me. However, it is a class of 2,000 and umiami give tons of merit scholarships *</p>
<p>Miami may award many merit offers, but they probably don’t offer then to “average white” kids. Those offers probably go to top students. </p>
<p>The misleading aspect of a school that offers many scholarships is that too many assume that virtually all good students that get accepted should get a merit offer. No. Of the accepted students, a school determines who has the top stats (such as the top 10-25%) and gives them merit offers. So, they may offer 100s of awards, but those aren’t given to average kids.</p>
<p>1350 SAT - which I am JUST over.</p>
<p>The top 25% have about a 1430+…so merit is likely going to those kids, unless you have some other special hook…URM, talent, etc. BTW…the top 40% have at least a 700 in the math section of the SAT.</p>
<p>As m2ck notes, merit offers typically go to a certain percentage at the top of the applicant pool.</p>
<p>In the case of Miami:
</p>
<p>These are not evenly distributed either, as Miami has some big scholarships at the top end, so to get big merit awards you typically need to be in the top of this 24%, say top 5-10%.</p>
<p>The way to get big merit awards is to select schools where your stats are at the top of the applicant pool.</p>