<p>This question really IS for a friend. Those of you who know ME know that my daughter is only looking at "warm weather schools". Can someone explain merit aid at Brandeis? A coworker of mine was under the impression that Brandeis gives no merit aid. I, on the other hand, had heard that they were actually fairly generous with merit aid. I know some of this "stuff" is on the website, but I didn't see the specifics, like SAT scores or GPAs or the like for any of their awards. Any input would be welcome.</p>
<p>Brandeis provides generous merit aid for top students. Roughly the top 10% of the application pool will most likely be the recipients of such aid.</p>
<p>i think the info you find at the brandeis website is the best you're going to get regarding their merit awards - ie, i don't think you will get sat/gpa info. i know some schools clearly spell out the gpa/sat you need for various merit awards - i just don't think it works like that at brandeis.</p>
<p>just make sure you friend knows that in order to be considered for merit aid, you have to complete the Profile form (maybe the fafsa too - check the brandeis website).</p>
<p>"Approximately 200 students in the current first-year class of 800 received scholarship awards ranging from $5,000 per year for four years up to full tuition per year for four years." from brandeis website (<a href="http://www.brandeis.edu/admissions/applying/scholarships.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.brandeis.edu/admissions/applying/scholarships.php</a>)</p>
<p>Yes, indeed, Brandeis is generous with merit aid. Note that they do require submission of FAFSA and Profile forms even if the student is not applying for financial aid if the student is applying for merit aid.</p>
<p>Well, I have a data point. My son was offered the presidential scholarship (20,000/yr) last year - 790 v 670 m 780 writing (790 chemistry 750 IIC) - 3.6 UW :-( <em>but</em> with big pile of SO medals, including national. So it looks to me like they are really looking at the person and their accomplishments in total.</p>
<p>ohio_mom, please excuse my ignorance...but what is an SO medal?</p>
<p>A friend of mine has a son that got nothing. He is a good, but not great student. He ended up at an oos public. I also know 2 top students who got full scholarships there. I also know of one family who has 3 children in college right now and he received about 28,000 in grant aid, but I cannot tell you the breakdown between merit and financial aid. He is very good student w several awards, lots of good ecs (B+/A- student in challenging classes from challenging hs).</p>
<p>quiltguru -
science olympiad - <a href="http://www.soinc.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.soinc.org/</a></p>
<p>(shameless plug for a great organization)</p>
<p>There is an important caveat here that your friend should know. All merit applicants must submit the CSS profile and the FAFSA, even if they don't want, need or qualify for need based awards.</p>
<p>This greatly surprised us, since no other school has requested this....but son and I are working on the forms.</p>
<p>I think what Cami says is important. There may be other merit based programs that are "more available" to those that had submitted Fafsa and CSS. My d is in the Tradition Program at Cornell. Now, she is only getting the minimum amount of $600, as there was no financial need but she was eligible for "work study status" and is earning some $ from a campus job. In reading the info from the Tradition program, I do not think she would have been admitted into it if we did not request financial aid. With 2 girls in college next year, we will be updating our Fafsa. Maybe we'll get more than the $600 minimum. I know a lot of people are hesitant to ask for financial aid as they believe it will hurt their chances for admission, but there really is an upside to it. D was also awarded $8,000 merit from CMU. My gut feeling is that she would have not been offered this money if we did not request financial aid.</p>
<p>Here's what is reported on the US News premium edition info. regarding merit at Brandeis --- this is for students enrolled in 2004.</p>
<p>63% of first year students received some form of merit scholarship
, average award was $16,317.</p>
<p>However, for all students, only 22% were receiving merit. Average was $17,454.</p>
<p>Obviously that first year percentage doesn't jibe with what Brandeis says on its own website and, if true, it's one of the highest percentages for merit money I've seen at any school. I don't have an explanation, just passing on the info. from US News. It could be that the first year number includes outside awards as well as institutional awards. On the other hand, the difference in percentages suggests to me that, if true, there may be a high GPA threshold to keep merit money after freshman year.</p>
<p>The Presidential is renewable for four years. I do not recall the GPA requirement but it certainly looked doable. I would suspect that many of Brandeis' applicants enter with various types of outside scholarships that are not renewable.</p>
<p>Ohio, Mom, yes, I suspect that is correct. I must say, that is one of the largest first year merit percentages I've seen at any school.</p>
<p>parents should realize that any program that conditions merit aid awards on the FAFSA or CSS is not really awarding merit aid. It is engaging in yield management. </p>
<p>See the recent Atlantic Monthly issue for more details.</p>
<p>My son had to submit both the Profile and FAFSA for MUSIC merit money (determined by audition) at Boston University.</p>
<p>Well, whatever it is called, it is useful to know that it may be available.</p>
<p>newmassdad,</p>
<p>Do you mean that they increase aid offers to needy students with high stats so that these students will take them as choice #1 instead of going to a higher prestige place offering less money?</p>
<p>And that's not necessarily a bad thing, newmassdad.</p>
<p>The best source for an accurate answer is merely to call Brandeis' FinAid office. Colleges usually have 100's of scholarships which are awarded by the college on admission and as an upperclass undergrad. The FinAid office knows what these are and the general qualifications for their award.</p>
<p>I know that there is lots of good advice to be garnered here at CC, but I am often baffled by questions and subsequent posts based on anecdotal evidence which are of limited value when the best info can be easily obtained by a simple call to the college itself.</p>
<p>Our DS made lots of calls to colleges he was considering about merit aid and got tons of good and detailed info, often by followup mailings from the admissions and/or finaid office. From one college he found out about a scholarship for members of a Presbyterian Church USA congregation. It was for $14k per year and only required a letter from our pastor!!! And yes he was offered this scholarship! BTW, the college was the College of Wooster.</p>
<p>So advise your friend's student to call Brandies directly and see what info they will gladly provide. Thats what they are there for!</p>