<p>My S is very interested in UR.
His GPA is 3.8 (UW) and 4.0 (W).
SAT is 700 (cr) 660 (m) 680 (w).
AP's are 4's and 5's.
He has the usually EC's with emphasis on theater productions.
Do you think he has a shot at merit money?</p>
<p>My SAT scores were 700, 720, and 680 and I got no merit money, with a little bit better GPA.. so, realistically, probably not :( It's mostly because UR doesn't give out "little" merit scholarships - you either get, essentially, a full ride or no merit money.</p>
<p>Edited to Add: Of course there is still a small chance but I was just making the point that it's not something to bank on. However, he should definitely still apply and consider it. I am going there in the fall :)</p>
<p>Future: Merit aid is nice, of course, but I'm not sure if you are aware of one of the best, if not smartest, resources UR has going for it which many, many universities don't: University</a> of Richmond: Need-Based Financial Aid</p>
<p>Yeah, Shecallsmedad is right... I forgot to mention financial aid is great too :) Especially the $4000 loan/work-study cap off.</p>
<p>The $4,000 per year cap on loans is a nice spin but the reality is that most kids graduate from UR with debt greater than the spin would indicate.</p>
<p>US News indicates that the average total indebtedness of 2006 graduating class was $17,165.</p>
<p>Please note that the $17,165 debt per student has likely increased since the class of 2006 was exempt from the massive 26.9 percent increase for the total cost of attendance which commenced with the entering class of 2005 (being the class of 2009). </p>
<p>Because Richmond's graduating class of 2006 graduated with a debt of $17k+ when the total cost of attendance was only $33,510+/- then I will be surprised if the average indebtedness for the members of the class of 2009 and thereafter that pay $50k+/- per year do not incur an average total indebtedness greater debt than the $4,000 cap would indicate. We will see in a few weeks when the US News numbers are released.</p>
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<p>The above being stated UR is a great (albeit expensive) school.</p>
<p>If I recall, the $4,000 cap was recently implemented. As a result, it wouldn't surprise me to see the debt number rise next year as a result of the aforementioned tuition raise, but then come back down once the numbers in the magazines reflect more current policies. In theory, since the cap is $4,000, the max debt a student would graduate with (from the school) is $16,000, therefore the average (since one in 15 is getting a full ride and others don't need any aid) should be less than that.</p>
<p>Note: I'm not saying that "everyone gets to go to UR for next to nothing depending upon how poor one's parents are." I'm just pointing out that UR's high cost of attendance (on paper) is not necessarily cost-prohibitive and the actual cost of attendance can be very competitive with any other state or public school. Just trying to calm any "sticker shock" "Future" may have...</p>
<p>I have a son who will enter UR this August. Here is my experience.</p>
<p>The EFC as determined by UR was virtually identical to the FAFSA EFC. At least in my case, the supplemental info UR asked for did not change the EFC. Their treatment of assets was eminently fair. They did not include home equity as an asset and considered 529 plan money as an asset for me to pay my share, rather than money to reduce their share, (as some other school's FA packages did.) They truly met 100% of need. My son did receive loan/work study, capped at $4000, and UR even included an extra $100 in grant for loan application fees. They did, however, reclaim the $100 when I opted not to borrow. As a Virginia resident, my son is eligible for a state-funded tuition assistance grant of $3200, which reduced the $4000 L/WS to $800 of work study. Another small scholarship further reduced the work study amount.</p>
<p>I felt that UR did not "punish" me for having saved for college expenses. Also, as I will have another kid going off to college before this one graduates, I am pleased that UR says the will reduce EFC by 50%, per FAFSA guidelines. I have every reason to believe that they will, based upon my experiences so far.</p>
<p>One other thing, my son was admitted from the waitlist and received the same FA consideration as regularly admitted students in a timely manner.</p>
<p>Otis, I'm curious...what has changed to make UR a "great" school to you? According to you a while back, UR is a "fine school" but not a great school. In fact, you made quite a point to put someone in their place when they dared to insinuate that UR was "great."</p>
<p>I apologize for the thread jacking, but your about face over the last couple of years is amazing, and I was wondering what happened during that time to make you change your mind.
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/783784-post10.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/783784-post10.html</a></p>
<p>Don't count on anything ... I got full tuition from Vanderbilt, but not one dime from Richmond.</p>
<p>Ohio, doesn't your comment just say more about your family's financial state (which must be okay) than anything?</p>
<p>I would also make the important point that merit awards at UR are not based solely on having the highest numbers. High numbers are helpful, but there are no cut-off scores at any stage of the process. Richmond Scholars are selected by our faculty committees based mostly on essays and other evidence of potential for outstanding contributions to the classroom (or lab, or theatre etc. . . .). That is not to say that those who do NOT receive awards are judged not to have potential for excellence--they do. But Scholars are the best of the best. </p>
<p>As for Ohioguy--congratulations on the big award at Vanderbilt. That is wonderful. My feeling is, though, that there is purpose in making scholarship decisions based on things other than stats and it is that the same students do NOT get rewarded at every institution but that the awards get spread around to more students rather than you piling up a long list of full-ride offers. More students being recognized is a better thing if you ask me.</p>
<p>Thanks for that info on what the scholarship decisions are based on. My D will be applying to Richmond and we are hoping for some merit aid.</p>
<p>I realize my earlier post sounded a little harsh ... that wasn't my intent at all. I was mainly commenting on how difficult these things are to predict.</p>