<p>I'm a junior and am starting to get into the college admissions process. My dad went to Vandy and I'd love to get a scholarship there. What do you think of my chances?</p>
<p>1/180
4.28/4.3 weighted; 4.20 unweighted
sophmore AP: Chem (5)
junior APs: us hist, eng lang and comp, bio
senior APs to be taken: BC Calc, Physics C, Econ micro and macro, French lang
PSAT: 234
SAT: 2330
Chem SAT2: 800
1st Place in State of Tenn Algebra 2 Math Contest
AMC 12: 115
Local ACS Chem Olympiad: 2nd Place (55/60)
State Science Bowl: 6th
TN Tech Science Bowl: 2nd
Varsity Tennis since 9th grade
Part of Research Team at Chattanooga Heart Institute
Will attend governor's school for sciences
Science Olympiad
Participating in YMCA Youth Leadership Chattanooga
Selected for Sophomore Leadership Organization
VP Young Republicans
Volonteer at Habitat for Humanity every Saturday
CISV Interchange with Denmark (Month long student exhange program)
Interested in chem and math
Premed</p>
<p>You would probably really like it and do well at Vanderbilt. However, merit scholarships do exist (forget about it at schools of Vandy's caliber in the NE Ivy and sub Ivy group where the policy is often zero merit or athletic aide). My S's year merit money seemed to be used to attract top score students who would also add something new to the class. Vandy is putting together quite a diverse class these days and merit money an attraction. Many kids across the USA realize that Vandy does have merit money and are applying. Would suggest you go by and talk to an admissions staffer and learn more about their scholarships and the odds since you would likely be considered. Do your homework on the website first. If possible, on a day or overnight visit, ask a student to introduce you to a merit student. My S did an overnight with a guy who had landed one, and he was a very cool person..gracious and very talented. He had turned down a full ride at another university and Stanford and Duke. Loves Vanderbilt and seemed on first name basis with his profs after one semester. good luck</p>
<p>With your PSAT score, you seem to be a shoe in to be named a National Merit Semifinalist. Since 90% of all semifinalists become finalists, that will earn you $$$ at Vanderbilt. My son gets $5000 per year for that designation. His other "merit" money is tied to financial aid and is not a pure scholarship ( according to son, Vandy doesn't have many pure scholarships; rather they award financial aid generously for those who have need and deserve merit awards).</p>
<p>There are MANY, some of which take need into consideration, some of which don't. My d had similar stats to yours and received a Dean's Select Scholarship (3/4 tuition) last year. Btw, she was offered the scholarship without having been invited to one of the scholarship weekends, so she wasn't one of their VERY top prospects (but made out all right anyway!).</p>
<p>You sound like a great candidate for both admission and a significant scholarship - keep up the great work.</p>
<p>(Looking through the named scholarships, I saw that Dinah Shore was a 1938 grad and later endowed a scholarship. All the students probably have no idea who she was, but some of us more ancient parents remember her. I was impressed!)</p>
<p>There are full tuition merit scholarships (does not include room/board) however, you can get $2000 or 2500 each year for National Merit in addition to full tuition if you name Vandy as your first choice school with NMSC. The $5000 annual National Merit Award is available if you don't get other merit money. My son was invited to scholarship weekend but we know several others who weren't and received 3/4 or 1/2 tuition merit scholarships (totally unrelated to financial aid). My advice would be to make sure you show significant interest in Vandy by visiting, staying in touch with admission office, etc. Your stats look very competitive to me...I would predict you'll get a nice award. Keep up the good work and make sure your essays are specific to Vandy and express how much you would like to go there. Good luck. BTW, my son loves Vandy!</p>
<p>Just looked at your stats again and realize that you are probably a Tennessean. You will get lottery scholarship and General Assembly Merit scholarship in addition to whatever Vandy might give you. That is a little more than $4000/yr. in addition to National Merit. Also, apply for any outside scholarships that become available especially in your hometown, i.e. Sertoma, Chamber of Commerce, local business organizations, etc etc. Your school's guidance counselor should be a good resource for that. Those scholarships are usually 1-2k/ yr and some are renewable for four years. It all adds up.</p>