<p>So what tipped it for Maryland, oregonianmom?</p>
<p>^ He ruled out Mizzou, Indiana and Ohio based on their locations, mainly. He was trying to decide between Maryland and Wisconsin, and the scholarship tipped it.</p>
<p>For my son:</p>
<p>Stats: 4.18 W GPA/33 ACT/from California/leadership ECs</p>
<p>American University ($20K/year, $80K total)
Seattle University: ($15K/year, $60K total)
several acceptances elsewhere, but no merit $</p>
<p>Ricegal, is your son considering Seattle University then?</p>
<p>Here is an update on my son’s merit scholarships:</p>
<p>American University - $27,000/year Presidential Scholarship and Honors
U of Maryland Colege Park - Honors $8,000/year
U of Delaware - Honors $12,000
UNC Chapel Hill - accepted EA, no word on scholarship or financial aid yet
Duke - awaiting decision
Emory - awaiting decision
NW - awaiting decision
Hopkins - awaiting decision</p>
<p>So far, my son is leaning towards UNC - good school, lower cost than the privates on the list (with the exception of American). He visited again this past weekend and really liked it. I am having a hard time giving up $27,000 a year from American. I want him to visit the school again. It is a lot of money …</p>
<p>It is a lot of money, NewJerseyMom. Wouldn’t UNC Chapel Hill still be cheaper? It is a public. I think it is worth another look at American, certainly. It sounds like that would be every year, not just the first one. That’s over 100K! There’s more to college then money. Well, maybe not. ;)</p>
<p>citrusbelt - $27,000 for four years is $108,000! We are out of state for UNC, so actually American, although a private school, would be cheaper for us than UNC. We’re still hoping for some money from UNC. Also, we can drive to American, we would usually have to fly to UNC. In the end it will be his decision. You are right, it is still a public school, so less money than some of the others.</p>
<p>MarathonGirl was offered $12,000/yr. “Making a Difference Scholarship” at Clark University. She’s interested in their international development program, but is still waiting to hear from most of her other colleges. I think she may wind up in one of the classic CC conundrums: merit money at a school she sort of likes vs. no money at a school or two she loves.</p>
<p>D was just notified of a full tuition scholarshp at Vanderbilt. Very, very excited.</p>
<p>S has received:
$5,000 per yr from U of South Carolina + admission to the honors program+ in state tuition.
$10,000 merit scholarship from Fordham.
$15,000 merit scholarship from Loyola Md.
$25,000 in merit scholarships from Rollins + a free laptop + admission to their honors program + admission to their 3/2 MBA program</p>
<p>All previous amounts were per yr.</p>
<p>D has received:</p>
<p>Ithaca College-Park School: $12,000/year and finalist for full scholarship
UMiami: $16,000/year
Syracuse (Newhouse): $12,000/year
UDelaware: $8000 and honors
UWisconsin- accepted EA no scholarship OOS</p>
<p>Waiting on:
Lehigh University
Emory University
Vanderbilt University
University of Southern California
Boston University (did not fill out FAFSA and CSS)</p>
<p>We are probably done in terms of merit money for the cycle.</p>
<p>oregonianmom, I am just curious, what are your sons’ stats? BTW, I, too am from Oregon</p>
<p>Ingerp, in response to your question, we were successful in increasing the merit aid offer for our son at Ohio Wesleyan. This was back in 2005. We waited until he had received all of his acceptances and merit offers. My husband called the financial aid office, and explained that OWU was S’s first choice, but that the cost of attending several of his other choices was lower. He asked if it was possible for them to increase their offer. My son received an additional $3000 annually. Another friend did the same thing a few years earlier at Lawrence University. Her daughter preferred Lawrence, but had received a better offer from another LAC. The financial aid office asked to see the offer, and agreed to match it. (An admissions officer told me when we visited OWU campus during spring break that if my son had applied earlier than almost at the deadline, he would have received a better merit aid offer.) Good luck to you and your son!</p>
<p>Well, guess the jury’s in on merit awards, so here’s D’s final tally:</p>
<p>$200,000 Brandeis (full ride 4yrs, will attend)
$100,000 Florida A&M (full ride, 4yrs)
$140,000 Fordham U (Rose Hill - full tuition 4yrs)<br>
$90,000 Iowa State (full ride, 4 yrs)<br>
<strong>zippo</strong> Loyola Marymount<br>
<strong>zippo</strong> U of MD College Pk Honors Program (in-state)<br>
$5000 U-Mass Amherst, Commonwealth Honors College
$60,000 U-Rochester ($15K, 4yrs: declined invite to Renaissance Scholar full tuition interview, upon Brandeis award)
$12,900 Washington University in St. Louis (school tied for 1st choice)<br>
Yale Waiting on 3/31 D-day, but doesn’t do merit.</p>
<p>D’s National Achievement recognition was helpful. We are stunned and grateful beyond measure.</p>
<p>^ !!! Awesome - obviously your D with the support of a great family have done a fantastic job of college admissions. Congratulations!</p>
<p>SuperMom,
Obviously you have a Super D!! Many, many congrats. UMD lost a good one!</p>
<p>Congratulations! My oldest D had a fullride tuition to a great school years ago. I remember the high we felt for days and weeks. It was a God sent at a difficult time financially for us. I cried when she got that offer and wasn’t embarrassed about it, either. My D was offered zippo to our big state Us, too. She ended up with two fullride offers and a couple half rides, so she actually had a choice. Your D also had a choice. Celebrate, take her out to dinner, revel in the fact that sometimes nice kids DO hit the jackpot.</p>
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<p>Citrusbelt, I ABSOLUTELY feel you. Our EFC would have made attendance at most schools impossible, so merit was critical. And yep <em>sheepish grin</em> – I did cry.</p>
<p>Thanks all for the kind words, and congrats all 'round to the class of 2008/2012; the most academically formidable bunch of parents and kids ever assembled on one message board! :)</p>
<p>SuperMom,
I cried when DS got merit $$ from one of the top schools on his list. I pulled the envelope out of the mailbox, realized what it was, and lost it on the spot. No shame there!</p>