<p>Hey, I was just reading about Colgate's Alumni Memorial Scholar program and it says that the "top 200 accepted students" get this. I was wondering, how do they determine the "top 200"? As in, what are the stats like of students who are accepted into this program? Any examples? Thanks : )</p>
<p>Oh and also, can one be accepted as both an AMS and a Benton Scholar? Or just one or the other?</p>
<p>These are awards given to accepted students to encourage them to attend Colgate and to identify them as top students. The decision in each case – and I don’t think anyone is likely to become both an Alumni and Benton Scholar which would sort of defeat the whole purpose of spreading around the wealth among accepted students – is made by looking at all the factors, including GPA, honors, and so on. You don’t get to wear a sash or a medal or anything, but it’s a nice honor to be chosen as a top admitted student. Beyond that, you aren’t going to have any particularly special treatment. </p>
<p>I vaguely remember from my day (decades ago) that the scholars may have had a special dinner evening and a few other nice things. Kind of like a Mensa meeting or a Phi Beta Kappa get together where everybody tried to outsmartness everyone else, I imagine. Needless to say, I was not part of the group but had to remain behind with the lesser lights. </p>
<p>As far as statistics go, these are likely students with 4.0 range GPA’s and top SAT’s in the 700s. Of course, these grades and scores aren’t so rare as they were in my day when grades and SAT’s were actually difficult to achieve . . . but again I digress . . . If you’re a smarty pants, you too might be so designated.</p>
<p>You can only be accepted as one or the other. Also, being accepted as both is unlikely because the two designations are for fundamentally different things.</p>
<p>I think the main criteria for being an AMS is to have at least a 1500 Math and CR on the SAT. At least, that is what I’ve noticed with my friends who were AMS.</p>
<p>That’s not the only criteria - I had a 1550 and wasn’t AMS. GPA, demonstrated leadership and perceived “fit” are components as well. It’s the top 200 applicants that they want the most, so they will all probably happen to have high SATs as part of what makes them so desirable. There’s also a research fellowship of up to $5000 available for AMS.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, everyone! I actually got my AMS acceptance letter the other day, which was a really nice surprise.</p>
<p>Alexithymia12 first congrats on your AMS!! can you share your stats, as in SAT score, GPA, country, etc?</p>
<p>Thanks! I’m in the US and I have a 2360 SAT (1560 without writing), not sure how to unweight my GPA but it’s probably around a 3.9… +solid ECs (though nothing spectacular); from the letter it sounds like they really value leadership and community involvement as much as those objective stats.</p>
<p>My S got the AMS last year. I was a bit surprised that there wasn’t anything more to it. Considering the price tag for Colgate, I was annoyed to see that they couldn’t give the kids who got that award some money. Its simply just a few words on paper to say that your a top recruit. Its certainly nice to hear but if Colgate really wants to attract top students then throw in some dough… Otherwise, this is a very weak attempt to recruit anyone. </p>
<p>In this day and age money talks!!!</p>
<p>BTW we didn’t get a dime in fin aid either. Honestly, they have to be kidding…</p>
<p>Shame, shame, shame</p>
<p>I believe AMS students that do qualify for aid get all of their aid in the form of grants, with no loans, while non-AMS get a mix of the two. Plus there’s $5000 for research. So there is a financial incentive…</p>
<p>I’m not trying to be rude but that research money is still being given for some function that you need to perform. Many schools give out money like that for research or just to start a club. Duke gives out $3000 to any student who would like to create their own club or organization. Once again, it’s not money you put in your pocket, it doesn’t lower the cost of your tutition. Again, I just thought they could have been a bit more generous. In comparison to many other schools, they just didn’t match up well. I’m not putting Colgate down. I loved the school, its beautiful, and the teaching staff was quite impressive. I just would have liked to see them be a bit more generous for the price tag. </p>
<p>When we declined the acceptance I did mention this fact. Maybe if more people comment they will change it and do something in the future for others. One can only hope. </p>
<p>Congratulations to everyone who has been accepted and selected for AMS…</p>
<p>@Dungereedoll</p>
<p>I take it by your 2 posts that you didn’t qualify for aid? I’ll assume your S received some merit/scholarship money from his eventual choice? That’s always cool. When you’re talking 57 grand a year I suppose every little bit helps. In defense of Colgate’s Fin Aid dept, they don’t have the endowments/gifts that the ivies or larger LACs get so most all those funds that they do have need to go to the families that have proven need. Sorry you weren’t awarded any funds, but still, an honor is an honor . . .</p>
<p>Colgate is upfront about the fact that they only offer need-based aid and no merit-based aid because they simply can’t afford to pay for nearly everyone like Harvard and Yale can. So while it would certainly be nice, if you didn’t qualify or apply for aid then it’s not really much of a surprise…</p>
<p>In a perfect world it they’d have the funding to make such offers, but in the meantime I’d rather see Colgate’s aid money awarded based on need than merit. All grants for those AMS that qualify for aid is pretty generous, considering the four-year price tag.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, its always a gamble waiting to see if any money will be thrown your way. So like you said its still an honor to be consider for the AMS. The recognition is very nice and Colgate is a great school.</p>
<p>When D is ready to look at schools, I’m fairly sure we will be taking a road trip Upstate again. And I will look forward to it!!</p>
<p>Congrats to All…</p>
<p>Do you think that all of the AMS letters have been mailed?</p>
<p>@Dungereedoll</p>
<p>I assume you are a bit disillusioned with the AMS program because you don’t qualify for aid. However, I think you should be quite thankful to have a combination of income and/or assets that gives you an EFC that disqualifies you from any aid from a school that promises to meet 100% need.</p>
<p>No I’m a bit disillusioned because it was one of the few schools that my S applied to that gave nothing thats all, plain and simple. As for the fact that I should be thankful, lets not even go there. Thats a discussion for a differernt CC forum and you probably don’t want to hear what I would say to that statement.</p>
<p>@person0715</p>
<p>No need to go there. As a parent I’d have to say that any assistance, aid, grant or whatever that helps with tuition, then it’s all good. Just because someone makes too much to get need-based aid doesn’t mean they should feel grateful that they do. In most cases there’s a ton of schooling, hard work and long hours behind that income. If you’re ticked that Dungereedoll appeared to feel “entitled,” and then bitter that nothing was offered, well, I didn’t get that. I read a few comments that came off as a parent bummed that they didn’t get a little help.</p>
<p>@DowneasterDad</p>
<p>Thanks for your support. Thats exactly what I was saying :)</p>
<p>Hello, My D graduated in 09 and was an AMS. She DID get aid as I am a single parent and we qualified. She had ALL her financial needs met. They sent her letter in FEB and paid for her to visit the School. She received 10 offers that were very good, but Colgate’s was the best. She graduated Magna Cum Laude, and was a leader on campus. We were extremely thankful that she was able to attend this top rated school! She has a great job and is giving back to Colgate in many ways. As we were from the midwest, her HS only offered ACT and her score was a 33. She was Valedictorian also. But she has other qualities that made her desirable that they look at, like volunteerism.
Good Luck! It is a fantastic place to learn!</p>