Chance me please!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey all! I was wondering what my chances were at getting some highly competitive full tuition/ride scholarships. The main ones that I want are the AB Scholars/ Robertson Scholar Program at Duke and the Chancellor’s Scholars & Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholars programs at Vanderbilt. I really want a full ride merit scholarship to an excellent school as I don’t qualify for financial aid and don’t intend on taking out loans. Here are my main stats, as of the summer before senior year:

GPA:
3.96/4.0 UW | 4.86/5.0 W
Rank:
4/290
ACT:
34 composite, 36 reading, 36 writing, 36 science, 28 math
most recent: 34 composite, 36 reading, 35 writing, 36 science, 29 math ( 9 essay :frowning: )
SAT:
2200 composite, 800 critical reading, 710 math,( 690 writing, 9 essay :frowning: )
PSAT:
218 composite, 80 critical reading, math 68, 70 writing
AP, not in yet: I took Chemistry, English Lang and Comp, APUSH, Spanish lang and Comp

Extracurriculars:
President of Key Club, founded and directed/organized a charity music festival junior year to raise money for local elementary kids’ school supplies (will be in key club for 4 years, previously vice-president and sophomore rep)
President of Spanish National Honor Society, organized students to volunteer with the local Hispanic community (will be 3 years)
Vice-President of Science Olympiad team, won first at regionals for the last two years, individually placed 3rd in my category at state competition (will be 3 years)
Officer in National Honor Society (will be in NHS for 3 years)
Captain of Cross Country team, 3rd place at regional meet (will be 3 years)
Captain of Archery team, state champions and individually I am 3rd in my state (will be 4 years)
Student researcher in prestigious laboratory mentoring program, working on publications and presentations. (summer program + two class periods of school day)
Superior showcase performance rating at state thespian festival competition + several Best Actor awards from my school theatre department’s annual ceremony (3 years)
Competed in the national mock trial competition, got two STAR witness awards (1 year)

Misc:
-Good people/speaking skills
-strong essay writer
-250+ hours of volunteering, including: at soup kitchens, my regional food bank, and a 90-hour medical profession introductory program in a hospital

Hook:
First-generation Lebanese American

Would I need to retake any standardized tests if the scholarships are a reach? I’ve taken the ACT four times and the SAT once. I’m also open to any other scholarship/college suggestions!
Thanks

2

It seems very unlikely that you will receive a merit scholarship from a school like Duke. Having said that, it doesn’t hurt to apply. Good luck.

3

Thank you, so what should I work on?

4

" AB Scholars/ Robertson Scholar Program at Duke and the Chancellor’s Scholars & Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholars programs at Vanderbilt"

Very low chance of getting those scholarships but good luck

5

“Full ride” scholarships are exceptionally rare. Something like 2500 full rides are awarded annually nationwide to non-athletes. You are a very strong student, probably good enough to get into Duke or Vanderbilt but not good enough to stand out enough to be awarded a full ride. Two schools that do award a greater number of full-rides would be the University of Maryland (150 via the Banneker Key Scholarship) and Southern Methodist Universities President’s Scholar. I think it helps if you demonstrate a strong desire to attend in addition to being a strong candidate. Apply early, reach out to admissions officer, interview if possible. It is a lot more common to be awarded either full tuition or something like $25K/year in merit aid. I think you kind of need to decide if you want to go to a Duke / Vanderbilt or if you want a full ride. Nothing prevents you from applying and seeing what shakes out, but don’t bank on a full ride at these two schools. Some of the better financial aid books list colleges that do offer full rides. You would be better served at applying to some of them where you would be the cream of the applicant pool

6

You have a great shot in getting into Vandy- high match but I dont think you will get the scholarship
predict results- http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1787321-predict-results.html#latest

7

Thanks guys, I appreciate the responses. I’ll definitely be applying to a bunch of other schools on the lower end of the spectrum, but is there anything I could do to be a stronger applicant for those scholarships or is it such an incredible reach?