<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>Without seeing a specific list of what you applied for, it is hard to comment. In general, most national level scholarships are VERY competitive. You are better off applying for scholarships from local organizations, your odds are a lot better. Although the dollar amounts are usually smaller. Also, if there are specific scholarships to apply to from the school you are attending, obviously you have a better shot at those than one at the national level. But if you are Ivy bound, everyone else in your class is also used to winning/getting everything they apply for. So that competition is also quite tough.</p>
<p>Regarding summer programs, did you apply for programs that college students can also apply to? Those are tough for high school students to get into, as the college students often have some experiences that high school students don’t on their applications/resumes.</p>
Thanks, but no. I only applied to the high school’s level ones. What I don’t understand is that I didn’t get some scholarships whose acceptance rate was about 25% nationally, or 2000 people nationally like Buick Achievers.</p>
<p>I’m not much help since I’m still in high school but maybe you should try contacting the scholarship programs directly (especially the less competitive ones) and ask them? And can’t you always just ask a professor at your school to do research under him/her over the summer? Might not be what you wanted but better than nothing I think.</p>
<p>Very doubtful that the scholarship programs will give an honest answer… It is possible that part of the answer is geographic. National scholarships like to spread the winnings around. So if you live someplace like NY, NJ, or CA, your odds of winning are much lower than if you live someplace with a lot fewer applicants.</p>
<p>But there probably is not only one answer (unless one of your recs is not as solid as you think, or one of your essays is controversial/not as good as you think). Each program or scholarship may have had a different reason for rejecting you. Scholarships are always a crap shoot, everyone wants “free money”. And summer programs are like colleges, safeties or backup plans are a good idea. Given that you struck out on scholarships and programs, maybe a summer job is what you ought to be looking for now…</p>
<p>The OP’s original point is well taken. We’ve noticed that summer academic programs appear to be getting harder and harder to get into despite over-the-top national awards, pinnacle standardized test scores and other such credentials one might have. Two things I think contribute: geographic diversity as previously mentioned; if you’re from the East Coast, you have a better chance getting into a West Coast program and vice versa it seems. Second, it’s almost a crapshoot since everyone seems to have great credentials and there are so many people applying. All you can do is have multiple backup plans and don’t get your heart set on any one program. It’s kinda reflective of the whole college app process in general. Also, it appears that girls are having more difficult, because there are equal dorm beds alotted for boys and girls and there are more girls applying. Once the female beds alotted in the dorm are full, that’s it, for them, although a less qualified male may get in because beds are available. Because, it’s high school, maybe the program can’t have both genders in the same dorm.</p>