In a couple of weeks, we are talking my daughter on a combination of interviews/tours at Lafayette, Muhlenberg, Dickinson and Gettysburg.
In order to attend any of these schools, she is going to need to be offered a meaningful amount of merit aid. She’s got a CR 720, M 780, E 800 SAT, around 97-98 GPA (unweighted), all AP/Honors classes except for 1, solid ECs, no sports/unique talent. I think the metrics certainly put her in line for merit aid at these schools (and at the others we are targeting).
Do we ever have the discussion with admissions that merit aid is needed or do we just do the tours and interviews and apply to schools that we know offer significant merit aid and see what they offer based on the transcript, resume and interview? In other words, is telling the admissions office, up front, that we require merit aid going to increase the chances in any way of getting a larger merit offer? Can it hurt? If they weren’t going to give merit aid in the first place, then it doesn’t really matter since she wouldn’t be going there anyhow.
If it is a good idea to discuss this up front, with who and how would we do it? Does my daughter ask in the interview about merit aid opportunities at the school and leave that as enough of a clue? Does she also try to hint that it’s needed for us? That could be a little harder for someone not fully understanding the finances to finesse.
Do we (the parents) bring this up with an admissions officer during a visit?
Any other suggestions?
Additionally, does anyone have any “go to” dos and don’ts for the admissions interview or links to good articles/discussions that will help her have a solid interview?
I don’t think you need to state the obvious; you have to leverage what you have: a student who will be courted by many schools due to her high metrics and attractive profile. The schools will be happy you’re considering them and will respond in kind based upon how much they want her and/or within the limits of resources they have for students like your kid. As for the interview, they really want to just know that your kid can communicate and will be able to share her knowledge, wit, enthusiasm, initiative and energies with her potential future classmates. Can you imagine if you’re on the merit scholarship committee and in walks a totally socially inept but top SAT/GPA student? You’d surely be less inclined to offer (from your limited merit $ pool) that kid money when you can snag the kid who came in before was engaging, clearly tied into his/her communities and would be a great asset to both the campus and the classroom.
I’m not saying your daughter needs to put on a fake face – but truly, the scholarship interviews are looking for kids who are their own people and internally motivated to make a difference. Good luck to your family!
I have been to all of those schools for interviews. It is not the right time or place to get very specific.
After the interview, they will escort your child back to the waiting area and ask you or your spouse if you have any questions. This would be a good time to ask for a brochure on scholarships and leave it at that. Once you get home you can email and ask more specific questions but frankly I doubt you will get much information other than they will review the merit aid potential once the application is received.
Merit aid is usually given to the ones they want to go there.
I think what might be more helpful would be for the kid to find out beforehand via research why the school is a good match for her. For example, maybe the school has a great program in XYZ, and has someone on the faculty, Prof W who is known to be doing research on XYZ If the kid enthusiastically brings up during the interview that she is interested in XYZ, does Prof W teach undergrads, etc, that might register with the adcom.
It’s like a job interview - applicant should know about the company ahead of time and be able to express why they want to work there.
At many of the schools we visited, the subject of merit aid is brought up the by college rep in the info session. For instance, at Lawrence University, we were told the dollar amount ranges for different types of merit awards, and what they looked for in those awards. The dollars were specific, the qualities were broad enough to allow wiggle room. I think it is appropriate to ask a general question about the type of merit aid programs available.
You can also check the common data set, in the financial aid section, to see how much non-need based aid is given. There is a separate line item for that, showing how many freshman got merit aid and the average size of their award, as well as the total merit dollars awarded.
Ok, seems like the visit/interview isn’t really the place to note that we are looking for merit aid. Asking for a brochure on scholarships sounds like the best idea.
All good tips so far.
Yes, I’ve got a large thread going in the parents forum about uncovering schools that do give significant merit aid and I’ve reviewed the CDS info and the individual college websites as well.
Anyone have any good articles listing specific advice for the college interview?
Just tell her to relax. The interviewers are young usually early 20s so she won’t be intimidated. She should have a few questions to ask to show she is really interested. She should dress casual but neatly.
Also, put Providence College on your list. The Honors College can be a full ride. She has a great shot. Also Washington & Lee grants full rides plus a stipend to 10% of each class. It is worth a shot.
@BatesParent2019 She did one interview at Franklin & Marshall with an older woman. Further research showed no merit aid there, so kind of a throwaway, but maybe good practice. She felt it went well and they talked about all sorts of different topics.
At this point, I think the list is Lafayette, Muhlenberg, Dickinson, Gettysburg, Denison, Kenyon, Oberlin, Clark and St. Lawrence. Slim chance of merit at Skidmore, so barely still on the list. Macalester and Grinnell both may be too far away. She doesn’t like the idea of a southern school, so not really looking at any of those.
She thinks University of Rochester is too large of a school, although it fits the same profile as the other schools and similar class size as the smaller schools, just more people total there. Who knows what these kids make decisions based on. Still trying to get that on the list, but don’t think that’ll happen.
I think it’s ok for a student to say that they are very interested in a school and follow it up by asking if there are any scholarships that require a special application. This can certainly be done at the end of the interview when the interviewer asks a student if they have any questions.
The interview is actually a big deal at Muhlenberg. They really value it as opposed to some schools that say they do but in the end give it no weight. Have your daughter do some homework on the school and have a few questions about things that she is interested in ready to ask the interviewer. Things like study abroad, clubs or activities she is either involved in now and wants to continue or ones that she might like to try at college. She can ask about the new President if she wants to roll out a softball question and get the admissions officer talking. The merit aid questions can wait for the financial aid office later in the process. You can find the current stats about the percentage of students that get aid and in what amounts on line now if you need to help to narrow your list. Best of luck to you!
@bp0001 I know. I think Rochester would fit her well. She’ll potentially like to do some research and travel abroad and I think Rochester is strong for both. If the class size is small, what’s the difference if there are 2500 or 5000 students? Will keep trying on that one as I think she’d like it.
@beenthereanddone good to know about Muhlenberg. I’m sure she’ll treat all of the interviews as if they are very important. With some schools, I’m finding that merit aid is handled entirely through the admissions office as opposed to the financial aid off, so those seem to be the people to talk to when the time comes.
This may just be accidental wording, but, “Do we ever have the discussion with admissions that merit aid is needed or do we just do the tours and interviews and apply to schools that we know offer significant merit aid and see what they offer based on the transcript, resume and interview?” sounds like you (the parent) might be planning to accompany your student to the interview and to meet the admissions officer. I really would not do this.
Strategically, the interview is an opportunity to help the college find reasons to really want your student, not a time to offer up reasons why this student might not be as desirable as another student.
Early in the fall your student could follow-up with the regional admissions officer and ask if there are any merit scholarships for which a separate application is helpful. That signals rather nicely that the student is interested and serious about merit awards.
@arabrab yeah, not exactly sure how that works. At the Franklin & Marshall interview, we went into the admissions office and they sat us there talking to a couple of students while my daughter went in for the interview. We did meet the admissions officer when she came out with my daughter at the end. Am I better off just parking the car and sending her into the admissions office alone?
Another good suggestion about bringing up merit aid.
Will you be able to eat at the dining halls for all or are you doing multiple interviews in a day? Muhlenberg has a very impressive dining hall and very good food.
@gandalf78 will review that link. @BatesParent2019 we should be able to eat at Muhlenberg and Gettysburg. Already ate at Lafayette (not impressed). Won’t have time to eat at Dickinson.
@lexluthor5 The regular dining hall at Muhlenberg is probably not open for most of the summer. They do have two other options. They have a “grill” type operation they call the GQ. Sandwiches, grilled items, Mexican foods, sushi, a mix. On Wednesday’s throughout the summer they have an outdoor cookout on the parents plaza featuring different themes every week. Everything from pulled pork to jerk chicken depending on the theme that week. There are also plenty of other dining options nearby but off campus if those don’t appeal to everyone. Best of luck to you!