<p>I'm going to be a freshman at an Ivy League university. But for some reasons, all my scholarship and summer program applications were denied. I can't figure out why. My essays are well polished, and my recs are solid. I don't understand how it could go wrong.
1) What are some of the reasons someone doesn't manage to get a single scholarship they apply for?
2) Any applications (essay etc) tips?
Thank you</p>
<p>P/s: What funny is when I was a junior, I got almost everything I applied for; some of them are as competitive as 5%. Now it is the opposite. And I do have factors such as life challenges, need, and other stuff. Some of these programs admit as much as 25% of those who apply. So those are the reasons I don't understand why I got none of 'em.</p>
<p>There are too few scholarships for the number of kids who applied. I don’t think it was your qualifications. Sometimes other factors such as life challenges, need, how early the apps were received, connection to the program all make a difference. When my kids were younger, I know that certain programs already had kids who were affiliated with the programs or those involved in the program had an inside track. Unlike college admissions where such connections are mitigated by sheer numbers and the desire for diversity, summer programs are not always “fair” in picking who goes.</p>
<p>What funny is when I was a junior, I got almost everything I applied for; some of them are as competitive as 5%. Now it is the opposite. And I do have factors such as life challenges, need, and other stuff. Some of these programs admit as much as 25% of those who apply. So those are the reasons I don’t understand why I got none of 'em.</p>
<p>What you have to understand is that in real life, sometimes the chips fall your way (jr year), sometimes they don’t (sr year) and other times you get a few hits but not a total windfall either way.</p>
<p>You need to learn to be resilient for those off times, and keep planning backups incase things don’t come through. This is not the end of the world, nothing has changed, you just hit a bump (and a rather minor one at that) in the road.</p>
<p>Have you considered that many programs are for students still in high school? You will no longer be considered a high school student, and programs may see that you will have opportunities at college. For scholarships, there are tons of applicants just as needy/talented/ etc as you, so it’s really just a matter of luck to some extent.</p>
<p>You got to an Ivy. That’s a BIG scholarship. Now, check your local YMCA, art center, hospital… I am sure they’d appreciate your talent, energy and voluntarism. Our local institutions always need volunteers.</p>
I editted the wrong thread. Thanks for being. So. Observant. </p>
<p>
I got a job, and perhaps a second one coming. But I’m not whining. I am just truly baffled and wonder why this happened for future reference, of course.</p>
<p>
Yes. I applied to scholarships that are specifically for seniors, or are reservered for those who just graduated.</p>
<p>
Thanks for the kind words. I actually know some people whose situations are the complete opposite of mine. This makes me more resilient next year, but first, I need to figure out what part of my app this year is significantly weak,.</p>
<p>Just from the tone I’m picking up from this thread, I feel that you come off as condescending and matter of fact. You got into an Ivy League school, but it sounds like you were ‘due’ a scholarship because you got in. Someone pointed out an error, and instead of taking it in stride; you responded ungraciously, almost like you were talking to a child. </p>
<p>Perhaps that carried over into your essays? </p>
<p>Personal observation, take it how you want.</p>
<p>Look, almost everyone on this sub-forum views private scholarships as little more than a lottery. That you were selected last year - and that you were selected for almost all that you applied for! - is little short of a miracle. And the timing for you couldn’t have been better . . . I’ve no doubt you mentioned those awards in your college applications. And you got into an amazing school!</p>
<p>Now, you’re disappointed because lightning didn’t strike twice. And you come here asking for our “help” to figure out why . . . with absolutely no information. We don’t know what you wrote last year and what you wrote this year . . . so there’s no way we can tell you what was “wrong” with this year’s applications. All we know is that you come across as whiny and entitled.</p>
<p>If you really want to know whether there was some significant difference between the two batches of applications, take them to someone you trust, who’d be willing to spend the time to read them, and ask that person what he or she thinks. Perhaps one of your high school teachers?</p>
<p>Please do not post them here. There might be a sub-forum where that’s appropriate, where other students can help you evaluate your work, but this isn’t it!</p>
<p>All we can tell you is that private scholarships are a crapshoot. You got lucky once. Now quit complaining, get off of CC, and go use your summer for something productive!</p>
<p>Maybe they have just a few slots for high school grads? </p>
<p>My daughter got into a science program last year that was ONLY for kids who go to her high school… she decided on a program @ Choate instead. So she turned them down, which I am sure never happens to this program! Its affiliated with Yale U.</p>
<p>She reapplied to the program this year… and was waitlisted(#1 on waitlist). When they called to let us know that she was ultimately rejected, I was told that they take all returning students from the prior year and they only have 2 slots for sophomores who hadn’t attended last year. They also opened up this program to ALL highschools in our city… So even less slots. They also said that dd14 has a stellar GPA, LOR’s, EC’s, essays and her application package was very polished. And it was a very tough decision for them. I am sure they knew that she had other options(compared to the other kids in the program)</p>
<p>I also had a feeling that she wouldn’t get in b/c she rejected them last year. </p>
<p>Her other summer programs fell through d/t little FA. And another science program claimed they never recieved her LOR’s/transcripts from the hs. Her essay was not as it should have been d/t a family issue.</p>
<p>So we scrambled to find something else for her… and its probably for the best… as of May 1st she had no solid plans… now she has 2 programs that she will be attending. One @ UNH and the other and a journalism program @ Yale U.</p>
<p>There are tons of programs that you could have applied to once you recieved your rejection letters. </p>
<p>What this has taught DD is that when you are rejected, you brush yourself off and find other opp’s! We didn’t complain about her being denied though she is highly qualified nor did we challege the claims of the missing LOR’s/transcripts. </p>
<p>When did you recieve your rejection letters? You may still have time to regroup!</p>
<p>Maybe your thread should have been about summer programs for rising college freshman instead!</p>
<p>Actually, this thread should be read by all who think that they’re going to get private scholarships to help pay for college. Here is an ivy-bound high school senior that got none. Some of these kids post about spending a gazillion hours writing essays and applying to 25+ private scholarships, thinking that they’re going to snag a whole bunch of money…when often they win little or none…and these awards are often one-time only. </p>
<p>the fact is that many kids apply to these private scholarships and yet few get awarded any. The process is often a huge waste of time unless you have some hook or it’s a local scholarship where your chances are better.</p>
<p>Maybe these scholarships were aware that you’re ivy-bound with need, so they figured that they’d rather award to students who are attending schools that don’t give much aid. After all, if you had won any of these awards, your ivy school would have reduced the aid that they gave you.</p>
<p>I got a full ride at my school. I applied to some other scholarships, though.
I also applied to a program that is only for high school seniors, and I was rejected. I did not think because I got into an Ivy, I’m due for a scholarship like some poster said. However, I did not get one, but none of which I applied for. That’s why I was puzzled.</p>
<p>If you’re getting a full ride, scholarships are not going to help. You’re going to report them and the school will just end up lowering what they are currently giving you.</p>
<p>The better question might be to ask why you were awarded this particular scholarship from your university, when all your other applications were rejected. Would it not have been more logical to be rejected by all?</p>
<p>Unless you meet someone who sat on the committee, and who specifically recalls your individual application, there is no way for you to get answers to your questions about this.</p>