Chances for a large merit scholarship?

Colleges and Universities A-Z George Washington University
1

<p>Hi, I really like GWU and am wondering what kind of scholarship I would get here. I'm currently a Junior (Class of 2014). </p>

<p>About me:
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Upper-middle class white male
Top 20 Public School in MD
Both parents are college-educated, father is a GWU legacy (but not an active alum)</p>

<p>Objective Stats:
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SAT: 2220 (800CR, 690M, 730W) I just took the Makeup Jan 26th SAT and expect ~2320 Superscore</p>

<p>GPA: 4.00 UW</p>

<p>AP:<br>
Sophomore Year -- World History, Statistics, Human Geography (All 5's)
Junior Year -- Calculus AB, English Lit, English Lang, Comp + US Gov, Chinese
Senior Year (tentative) -- Calculus BC, Macro + Micro Econ, Biology</p>

<p>Rank: Currently 3/~370; I would be Valedictorian if I had taken honors art instead of Latin/Chinese as a freshman</p>

<p>Subjective Info:
~~~~~~~~~~~</p>

<p>Essays/Letters of Recommendation: Very strong</p>

<p>Awards:
National Merit Commended (expected)
National AP Scholar (expected)
Honorable Mention in Poetry from Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards
AP Scholar</p>

<p>ECs:
Orchestra -- Concertmaster of two groups; members in a few others
Student Council -- Treasurer
Gay-Straight Alliance -- Vice President
Young Liberals Club -- Member
Mu Alpha Theta (Math Club) -- Member
NHS -- Member
Tri-M (Music) Honors Society -- Member</p>

<p>Additional Notes: I'm working on starting a Chinese Honors Society at my school, participated in a 4 month exchange program with a school in Western China (Lived there for 2 months), and am one of the first 6 students in my school to take AP Chinese. I definitely plan to pursue advanced Chinese in college and hope to become fluent. I guess this makes me "unique".</p>

<p>So, would I stand a chance at GWU? It's my top school outside of the ivy league and a school I really would like to go to.</p>

2

<p>I think you stand a strong chance to receive merit aid. I received a substantial amount of merit aid from GW (honestly, I probably wouldn’t have decided to come to GW had they not given me so much money) and my objective, number-based stats may be slightly weaker than yours (you have a higher GPA than I did and a slightly higher SAT score), though my subjective (i.e. extra-curriculars) may be stronger (but they’re subjective so who’s to say). Overall, GW is very good with doling out merit aid, especially to students in the honors program like me. Very few of us in the UHP (or at least out of the ones that I’ve talked to about this) received less than $20K. However, this is not a definite by any means–I’ve heard of other kids in the UHP not receiving any merit aid, but this seems to be the norm from my perspective. So overall, I highly recommend applying to the University Honors Program–and honestly, with your stats, you would probably be very bored with your academic experience if you were at GW and not in the Honors Program.</p>

3

<p>^ I have to disagree with that last statement. I had a 2280, 4.3W, got a merit scholarship, but am not in the honors program. I never feel under-challenged at all. My classes have all been extremely interesting and rigorous. Discussion sections are always full of intellectually stimulating conversation with my classmates. GW kids are smart, for sure. Not being in the honors program hasn’t been a detriment in any way, not to me, at least.</p>

4

<p>I think you have a really good chance and that you should probably apply to the honors program. You may get in, you may not, but it seems like you have a good chance. </p>

<p>Also, you’ll probably get a big scholarship. my stats were way lower and I got 10k so you should be fine.
engineers tend to get the most though.</p>

5

<p>Hi. I was just accepted with a 30,000 a year scholarship and I had a 2210 plus a 33 ACT but I was only ranked 25/650ish. 30k is the highest I’ve heard of anyone getting so I’m sure you’ll get at least that.</p>

6

<p>National Merit finalists accepted at GW - did your scholarship section specifically list NMF award or scholarship?</p>

7

<p>“Large” and “merit scholarship” at GWU is an oxymoron.</p>

<p>Merit scholarships are never, that I’ve heard of, for full tuition.</p>

<p>I’ve heard of SEAS giving merit, not need-based, of $15K a year. I’ve heard of some receiving more than that, some less. One friend of mine received only $10,000 in merit aid a year. It’s a (small) start.</p>

<p>It’s quite likely that you’ll get the maximum merit aid that GWU offers.</p>

<p>Sucks to be an upper-middle class white male from MD, doesn’t it? Upper-middle class usually doesn’t get need-based aid here, and merit aid is limited. Being middle to upper-middle class at GWU means you still end up a chunk of change to pay, despite being smart. It’s very frustrating, and very unfortunate that high-achieving upper-middle class students get shafted so much. I didn’t get a dime.</p>

8

<p>pretty decent chance, though the fact that you’re upper middle class definitely hurts. the most lucrative scholarships are reserved for fin aid applicants. you’ll probably get at least a little something something though to try to get you to commit to GW</p>

9

<p>My son is a national merit finalist and has committed to GWU. When inquiring about the $15,000 per year NMF scholarship which is listed on the website, we’ve been told by admissions to “be patient”; it will show up in his account before tuition is due. However, he has not been notified that he has been awarded the scholarship. I also cannot find out any information regarding whether ALL qualified students receive this scholarship or only a few? Has anyone had experience with GWU on this matter?</p>

10

<p>Mary - I would call the financial aid office and ask if they show the scholarship in their records. Actually, your son may need to call. I doubt they would give the information to you. Did your son look at his financial aid award online? My daughter received a scholarship and a grant and all of it shows on the Web site. Also, the scholarship was mentioned in her acceptance letter.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

11

<p>He didn’t receive any scholarship money except a Board of Trustees Scholarship which is given to “academically gifted students with need”. I have spoken with the financial aid office. The guy there said something to the effect: we’ve heard rumor of this scholarship but it doesn’t come from us. I have an email confirmation from admissions that this scholarship does exist but it can’t be awarded until sometime in May after the National Merit Corporation releases certain information to the school. When I called the NMSC, they said that a scholarship of this size comes directly from the school and they have nothing to do with it. The BOT scholarship is almost the same amount and I’m not expecting to keep it if he gets the Finalist scholarship. However, it was difficult letting go of a full scholarship to Fordham and a half scholarship to Tulane on a verbal promise! (regardless, this is where he wants to be, so it’s only money…)</p>

12

<p>Does anyone know if there is a separate application in order to apply for scholarships?</p>