<p>I read some posts and found out that people are starting to receive invitation letters. I called UC yesterday and found out that I am invited, too. They gave me a website to RSVP.
So here’s the question. I’m not sure if I’m ever going to get that mail. What’s suppose to be in the letter? Is there anything important or it doesn’t matter whether I read the letter or not as long as I know how to RSVP?
Thanks for any help in advance!</p>
<p>Okay... here's the gist of the letter:</p>
<p>10 Cincinnatus awards of $80,000 (et. $20,000 per year covers full tuition, fees, room, board and a book allowance)</p>
<p>100 Founders awards of $24,000 ($6,000 each year)</p>
<p>200 University awards of $14,000 ($3,500 each year)</p>
<p>Century awards of $8,000 ($2,000 each year)</p>
<p>Every student invited to Cincinnatus can accept the Century award or attend the competition and be awarded at least $2,000 in UC scholarship funds if RSVP is recieved before 1/31/09</p>
<p>All scholarship may be renewed for the length of one's undergraduate academic program, providing the student maintains a 3.2 grade point average and complete the annual 30-hour community service requirement.</p>
<p>A few pages talk about the reservation process... but its not all that important, all that info you can read when you register.</p>
<p>And then date, time, place:
Saturday, February 7, 2009
8 am to 3:30 pm
Myrl H. Shoemaker Center Fifth Third Arena</p>
<p>Hope I helped! Congrats!</p>
<p>Thank you, Chaswied. You really helped!
It's good to know that it doesn't make any difference whether I receieve the letter.
Are you going to attend the competition? My mom and I are still discussing whether to attend or not. Airplane tickets are extremly expensive. If I don't get anything above the University awards, the ticket money would totally be a waste.</p>
<p>It won't totally be a waste because you can take your math placement test.</p>
<p>Well... If both my mom and I are going, that would cost 1500*2=3000 USD, not including hotal money. I thought math placement test can be taken online... But I'll put that in mind anyway. Thank you, Taxguy.</p>
<p>Whoa, $1500 each to travel there? Go to Kayak.com. I bet you can each get to Cincinnati for much less. Here is a little known secret:</p>
<p>Consider flying to Dayton instead of Cincinnati. Dayton is only about a 60 min drive and the airfares are 25% of what Cincinnnati would be.</p>
<p>taxguy, I guess I didn't state my status clear enough... I live in Taiwan, so going to Cincinnati would be traveling over sea.</p>
<p>Taiwan... thats impressive. It's encouraging to hear that UC is so far reaching.</p>
<p>Yes, the plane tickets plus hotels and food would probably end up being $3500, but the scholarship is $3500 each year... So that would still be 3 years of cheaper tuition. </p>
<p>Then again... with that logic, you'd get $2,000 each year without coming.</p>
<p>I guess you have to weigh the options. What I would do is read the profiles of the past winners and see if you match up. If you are confident that you sound like the type of person who could excel at the competition, I don't see why it wouldn't be wise to take the trip. </p>
<p>Also, this might give you a good chance to check out the school to make sure it is the right fit for you... or to check out other schools on your list while you are in the states.</p>
<p>Yes, I plan on going to the competition, but it will probably only cost me about $5.00 USD because I only live 30 miles away from campus.</p>
<p>Here are some links about past winners:</p>
<p>Full</a> Scholarships, Nationally Ranked Programs Bring the Nations Top Students to UC</p>
<p>ahh, Chaswied, hate you for where you live.
How I found out about UC is quite complicatated, few people in Taiwan knows about UC. But anyways, UC is the one and only school I have applied in US because I think it's a great school to study ID. I was thinking, if can't make it to UC, I could still study in Taiwan. There are very nice ID school in Taiwan, too. And our CEEC(It's like SAT to you guys, but we can only take it once a year.) are only two weeks away now. Shame of me still sitting in front of the computer.
But still, thank you for all your informations.</p>
<p>if i havent heard yet does that mean i didn't qualify
i think my stuff got in late- i got my application in on time but i think my counselor sent really late</p>
<p>well i'm gonna go- and im leaving a day early for a tour of the DAAP school.... i think if you do decide to go, give yourself an extra day to explore the campus/classes/daap/whatever else interests you to make sure its where you want to go- you're spending some four or five years (depending on major and coop) there!
anyways
hope to see all you daapers (or whatever we're called) and everyone else there!</p>
<p>I am glad that all of you are interested in DAAP. Be advised:</p>
<p>Most schools have an inverse corelation between toughness and admission. The harder the entrance requirements, the easier the school and the less weeding out occurs. This is also vice versa. However, even though DAAP has very high admission standards, it is a VERY hard, and DEMANDING school. You will work long hours and be required to put in "all nighters" at times. I hope you know what you are getting into. It is no easy school. Several national merit scholars who thought they could breeze through due to their "inate intelligence" have been greatly surprised to their detriment.</p>
<p>Definitely worth going to the competition. Last year my daughter was fortunate enough to receive the Founders level award. The competition is conducted in two parts. One part is writing (which also counts as your English placement test) and the other part is a group activity. Good luck!</p>
<p>for ppl who went last year: what exactly were the activities? could you describe what the format of the day was and what the schedule was like?</p>
<p>applesnbananas, the kids and the parents have their own separate programs. I can't speak for the kids but can share with you the programs that occured about two + years ago.</p>
<p>It was a full day affair. We were put in giant room and given a general overview of the school and its programs. We were then broken up into sections who rotated among the various presentation.</p>
<p>One presenation was by current students from various schools describing campus life and and the academics. They were also there to answer any and all questions from parents.</p>
<p>There was a program on diversity and one cut skit involving kids who had some drug probelms or roommate programs, showing solutions that they should use to overcome or deal with these problems.</p>
<p>We also had a program at your child's school of interest where we were given a lecture by the school on their programs. Each school such as DAAP, Arts and Science, Engineering, Business, Criminal Justice etc. has a program for both the kids and the parents on the expections of the school. They also had plenty of time for questions and answers.</p>
<p>The school also fed us for lunch,which was one of the worst meals that I have had. I couldn't believe how bad lunch was. </p>
<p>There were other programs too that escape my recollection.</p>
<p>Overal, other than lunch. it as a very good, informative session.</p>
<p>As for the kids, they had math placement testing and , if they didn't submit an essay for English placement,they had to write one there. I think that essay is a big factor in awarding the scholorships.</p>
<p>However, overall the reasons why one student gets a higher scholarship than another is very mysterious. To this day, I can't figure that out,which makes the whole scholarship process rather strange.</p>
<p>Moreover, from what I have seen, there isn't much of a corelation beween the top winners and performace in college. My daugher's roommate won a founders award. Her roommate boyfriend did even better. Both did poorly in school while my daughter is probably in the top 10%-15% yet got the minimim award. There were several other cases of kids who won more than the minimum award doing poorly in school and some cases where they did well. There just didn't seem to be any corelation.</p>
<p>I don't remember alot, but after check in, juice, coffee and donuts, there were opening speeches, etc. then the everyone was basically split into two groups - one group did the group activity first and the writing second - the other group was the reverse. Lunch was provided (something like BBQ pulled pork) after the two initial sessions, and then something else that I don't remember. That's all I remember. I looked for the schedule from last year, but we don't have it anymore. I remember my daughter was totally exhausted after - she had her interview for Lindner Honors Plus the day before - and the mental stress of everythng left her totally exhausted. She didn't consider anything "hard" just mentally exhausting. The group activity was a bit frustrating to her - but she managed ok. Something about ranking the importance of various aspects to a city - her opinion differed greatly from the rest of her group. Not sure how large the group was - 10 - 12 at most. That's as much as I can remember - sorry it's not more!</p>
<p>After reading taxguys post - sounds like last year was maybe a bit different from the previous year. I don't remember the math placement test being part of it at all. The writing portion was also used for the English placement - I don't remember another option to submit a different essay for the English placement. You can take the math placement online or at orientation. If you don't attend Cincinnatus, you submit your essay online I think . . .</p>
<p>Well, thanks for all your feedbacks! I decided to attend Cincinnatus on 2/13. I might have major jet lag problem but oh well.</p>
<p>Judging from all the information I gathered, I think the group activity changes every year. No one knows what will really happen. But what's bothering me is I have no idea about the essay part.</p>
<p>Will the essay be like the ones we get while taking the SAT test? What are the topics like? I saw someone talking about the essay on core77, and that guy said something about "3 steps" and I got very very confused.</p>
<p>By the way, I've emailed UC and it turned ot that there will be no math placement test this time.</p>
<p>Does anyone has any advice on what I should do while I'm at Cincinnati? I am likely to skip the general orientation.</p>
<p>Soymilk, don't skip the general orientation. I think that if you go, you should enjoy the process in total.</p>
<p>As to what to do: I strongly suggest that you go to Graeters. It is an icecream parlor that is widely known in both Cincinnati but also in the US. They have some of the best icecream in America.</p>
<p>Cincinnati is also known for Skyline Chili,which is something that you should at least sample, although I personally didn't like it.</p>
<p>I would also stroll around campus and visit the buildings that you don't get to see as part of the tour. Especially check out the athletic work-out facilities where they have the pool and exercise equipment. It is unbelievable. Also, check out the library and computer labs.</p>
<p>Enjoy your time. Bring warm clothes!</p>
<p>UC told my mom and I that I am actually eligible for another type of scholarship, the global scholarship. That scholarship includes $5000/per year. So We decided not to go after all because it may not worth th financial investment and the financial aid office strongly suggest me not to go. </p>
<p>I'm sorry for all the trouble. Thanks for everyone's help.</p>