<p>Hi!
I'm a new user on CC and I just accidentally posted another post which was the incomplete version of this one so PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND ON THAT THREAD!!!!!!!! Sorry about that! BTW, Is there a way for me to delete a post? </p>
<p>I wanted to receive any types of advice(personal or know-how) about financial aid available both in forms of scholarships or grants for a middle income student. Or any specific high schools that have legitimate financial aid for middle income students.</p>
<p>I have been interested in the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship and I had a couple questions on that:
1. When should I take the SAT for the application?
~While their website does only say the minimum is 500 in each subsection, what should I really aim for?
~Is this a HUGE factor in their decision? </p>
<ol>
<li><p>How do they determine the winners? (As in, what do they look at)
-teacher recommendations
-essays
-GPA and overall grades
-extra curricular activities (sports, debate, student council, art, etc.)
-SAT score </p></li>
<li><p>On average, how many people apply yearly?</p></li>
<li><p>(Related to #3) What aspects of the application should I focus on?
-raising my SAT scores
-writing essays
-having standout awards in extracurriculars
-teacher rec/ good grades</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thank you so much and I hope you can give me ANY advice on my financial situation and the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship!!!!! :D </p>
<p>I doubt anyone here can tell you what the selection committee is thinking or how the make their decisions, but I’ll answer what I can.</p>
<p>The CDB application appears to really get to know the applicant and there is ample opportunity to tell them who you are and what you care about. For that reason, I don’t think any <em>one</em> piece of the application is the most important. They all matter because they all contribute to a fuller picture of the applicant. The organization obviously cares about learning all they can about each applicant and giving each student a chance to shine. </p>
<p>Any hints I could find suggests that there are “hundreds” of applicants. </p>
<p>I suspect that SAT scores of those selected are considerably over the 500 minimum. There are many applicants and those just over the threshold would be less likely to go on to interview or be selected.</p>
<p>@kaibab3‌ Thanks for the info! BTW, I wanted to ask: I’ve heard that you have to maintain a certain grade to continue getting support from the CDB Scholarship, do you by any chance know how they regulate that?</p>
<p>They have meetings during their high school career. Part of the scholarship is support and exchange of ideas during HS. I’m sure they ask for grades.</p>
<p>I know two kids from my kids school who have won recently. One is in 10th grade and one in 8th. One got an almost perfect math score and good verbal. Don’t know the other scores.</p>
<p>This year they had 30 scholars. I think it was closer to 15-20 two years ago. </p>
<p>My D applied but was not selected. The completed application has many essays, needs coordination with recommenders, and is a difficult endeavor. I think her completed packet was about 70 pages. So get organized with recommendations, start outlining essays, use the checklist, and give yourself lots and lots of time to get it all done. If you have not already taken the SAT for talent search, be aware there are likely some registration challenges due to age, read SAT test registration and photo information carefully. </p>
<p>Yay Finally a fellow applicant! I’m applying this spring! I’m also glad to see a new thread about this, all the CDB ones are super ollllllddd. I’m also applying for the JKCF Young Scholar program. It’s for low-income, high achieveing kids and it’s ridiculously generous. It’s not specifically for high school tuition though, but part of the scholarship MAY cover that. It’s also highly personalized. You would apply in the spring of grade 7. Since the 6th grade, you can’t have any Cs in the core subjects. P.M Me for more info infinty, I’m sssssuuuuuuppppeeeerrrrr excited!!! <:-P </p>
<p>(P.S. If you qualify for JKCF, you can apply for and be accepted into both CDB and JKCF Young Scholar,although I think there’s only one girl who ever did that. Fingers crossed I’m the next! :0 ) <:-P </p>
<p>Also, I would have to say that around 1,000 students per year is the yearly app. rate. There’s actually a kid from the MUN and debate program I’m in that won this, in that last round, but I don’t talk to him so unfortunately I can’t ask him forn advice.</p>
<p>@KimberlyLaila‌ Thanks for the info and good luck to you!!!
Have you taken the SAT? Do you know what range you have to be in? I was guessing around the 2100-2400’s? :> </p>
<p>(P.S. Good luck for applying for the JKCF! My debate partner recently won it and she got perfect scores on her writing and CR… Anyways, good luck to you for both!!!)</p>
<p>I’d assume that the winners have some of the best SAT scores out of the entire group. Def 2100-2400. Good thing we’re applying before the changes to the SAT format, to complicated! Thanks!<br>
Also, I’m not really interested in BASIC and ABC. For ABC, I feel its just advising not that much money. lol I’m cheap. For BASIC Fund, I’m in my second to last year of MS @ A public School So I’m just gonna stick it out. </p>
First of all, good luck to you all!
My child is a 2014 CDB scholar, and it is a great honor.
I agree with kaibab3 that all pieces of your application are important. I do not know how each component is weighted.
Just be yourself in your essays and if you get selected as a finalist, in your interview as well.
I’m not sure about the other scholars, but my child scored over 2200 on the SAT.
You do have to maintain a high GPA during high school, and they ask for your grades after the conclusion of each semester.
Good luck, everybody! It truly is an amazing program!
Don’t forget, the schools themselves offer very good need-based aid. Exeter is free with family income under 75K, and sliding up to 200K, and Andover’s aid is comparable and admission is need blind.
<:-P </p>
</p>
Anyways, good luck to you for both!!!)</p>
Thanks!<br>