<p>Wooo just got accepted. I received a Bicentennial Award valued at $17,300. I was wondering if that was renewable scholarship for 4 years? Thanks!</p>
<p>Congrats! It is renewable for four years- son received it also- was a wonderful surprise!</p>
<p>Congrats! </p>
<p>Just to poke in here-
I also just got accepted and received the Bicentennial Award!
Reading the description on the guide for Financial aid, it doesn’t say whether that is a merit-based or need-based scholarship. All the other ones do…</p>
<p>Anyone happen to know?</p>
<p>I never heard of the Bicentennial Award before. I think it is new.</p>
<p>The only mention of it that I could find was here:</p>
<p><a href=“http://admissions.rpi.edu/aid/forms/incguide1314.pdf[/url]”>http://admissions.rpi.edu/aid/forms/incguide1314.pdf</a></p>
<p>I got the bicentennial award too with 25k! My family does not receive much to any need-based money because we’re middle class and the government thinks we can afford college, so I doubt it’s need based…</p>
<p>I was wondering what the highest scholarship value they gave out was?</p>
<p>Dadinator- I think it must be new too, because there’s nothing out there when you try to search about it. It’s only mentioned in that financial aid guide but like I said, doesn’t say whether it’s merit or need, unlike the others. I was thinking it might be a combination of both?</p>
<p>Kawhitney- Congrats! Sorry, I don’t know about the highest they give out, I just knew they’re pretty good with giving out grants/scholarships. You can get an idea of how much other accepted students are getting by looking through the Regular Decision thread. Thanks for the insight on the bicentennial, my family is in the same situation, we don’t need that much need-based which is why I was wondering if it was merit.</p>
<p>Anyone know if RPI will increase their merit offer if you have a higher offer from another school- specifically WPI or Northeastern?</p>
<p>PA-C: I can’t say it’s a guarantee, but if you have a better offer from a similar school (especially WPI, because that’s my position as well), I would definitely take a shot at contacting financial aid/admissions and explaining (in a totally polite, subtle way, but you know what I mean) that it would make your choice to come to your top school RPI much easier if it could match the cost of say, WPI or Northeastern. You can’t lose anything from trying in any case. My brother successfully bargained for a little bit more from WPI when he was offered more by RPI (this was back in '07).</p>
<p>For anyone wondering as I was about the basis of the bicentennial award, I emailed financial aid and it IS merit! Woo!</p>
<p>Does anyone know what Rensselaer’s policy is on merit-based awards? I received the bicentennial apparently (25000/yr) but I remember receiving something earlier about the Rensselaer Medal award, because my calc teacher recommended me. Do they not combine awards, or did they just forget?</p>
<p>I also got accepted with the 25k Bicentennial Award. I actually thought it was need-based. Awesome to know it’s actually merit!</p>
<p>My S got the $15k medal award, but it seems with 4.0 and 800 M SAT he might have got a bit more. What are you folks scores, etc that received the bicentennial award? I want some leverage when I ask them to review his merit award. Thanks.</p>
<p>Where you have leverage is if your son has better offers from other schools. They may say they don’t match other offers, but trust me it is worth a try.</p>
<p>My MathII SAT was 770 and my SAT is 2230.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m not sure using other students’ scores as a basis to see if your own applicants’ award is comparable is going to work for leveraging- every application has more that they consider than just scores. What really works is comparing offers from other schools, especially similar schools. (But, because you asked, I received 28k/yr Bicentennial and my ACT was 32, SAT was 2120 and 760Bio,700Chem,710USH… but I also think my application was a lot stronger outside of scores)</p>
<p>We are a bit surprised and thrilled. Thank you!</p>
<p>DS received The 2024 Bi award as well. $28,000. It is merit based and apparently no grade minium must be kept.</p>
<ul>
<li>His essays were compelling - how gaming provided the tools to overcome much of his high functioning autism (aspergers) - touching and gently humorous.</li>
<li>He provided a portfolio (gaming) which was 80% simple conceptual line art that demonstrated his thinking.</li>
<li>ACT - Comp=33, CR=35, S=35, E=32, M=30</li>
<li>Grades 3.7ish though overcame a 5 month illness senior year which crashed his grades. On the rise with explanatory letters from counselors and himself.</li>
</ul>
<p>This is going to make April very difficult!</p>
<p>Do we send our Aspie across the country to Troy, NY?</p>