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<p>Ummmm, yes. If they weren’t the exception, it would be called COA. Isn’t the point of merit scholarships to reward the exceptional student? Some scholarships are very easily earned by nothing more than more than test scores. But, some are exceptional. A cost differential and school name normally play a factor in there.</p>
<p>I honestly am clueless as to what your point is unless it is simply that it costs too much for the avg strong student to attend a lot of schools bc they aren’t capable of giving every good student huge scholarship?</p>
<p>All merit aids are for “exceptional” students. LOL.</p>
<p>The question was, “Do merit scholarships acutally exist?” </p>
<p>The answer? Of course they do. However, pure merit scholarships are rare. In other words, don’t count on a merit scholarship when planning for college. If a student receives one, great. If not, have a plan B.</p>
<p>^ Once again I have to disagree. Hi $ pure merit scholarships are rare but there are many available at the state level available which have some relatively low requirements (relatively low by CC standards). </p>
<p>Erin’s Dad.</p>
<p>You disagree with having a plan B? Can’t say I’d take that gamble. More power to ya. </p>
<p>My younger daughter is on a full ride plus merit Stamps scholarship at the University of Miami. Google the Stamps Scholars Foundation. This incredible family offers true merit scholarships at about 25 schools, and they are adding more schools each year. The colleges vary from top ranked schools to state universities. The actual scholarships vary a bit from school to school. At Miami, it covers everything, tuition, room, board, books, computer, travel, even misc. expenses. There is also a stipend for an extra program. Aside from the money, the Stamps Foundation offers its scholars many other unique opportunities. My D passed on several high ranking schools as well as other merit offers for this program. It is outstanding.</p>
<p>dumbo11.</p>
<p>Congrats! I am a big supporter of private scholarship foundations. I hope to found a similiar organization someday. </p>
<p>Billcsho:</p>
<p>Exceptional within a tight set of standards. Several kids at my school did not receive the recognition/scholarships they deserve. </p>
<p>I would hire these kids in a NY minute. They are super smart, out-of-the box thinkers. Hopefully, I will get that opportunity. If I have to create positions for them, I will. </p>
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<p>Perhaps the issue is where they applied? There are a lot of exceptional students out there. Most exceptional students recognize that there are other students just as competitive as they are and that some are more so. Our ds is a pretty exceptional kid, but he knew he needed to apply to lower ranked schools in order to ensure financially secure outcomes b/c he knows acceptance is really only a minor part of the entire picture. Being able to afford the program is even bigger. </p>
<p>As I linked above, there are some great opportunities in honors programs at lower ranked schools. Making the most of the opportunities at any given school exists as an option for all students.</p>
<p>Now, if by “deserving” you mean that they should have been given a free pass to top schools…that is very short-sighted b/c it is simply unrealistic. </p>
<p>But, we don’t connect future success to a small handful of schools. We believe that really strong, high achieving students can make their mark just about any where b/c the drive is internal. That is obviously not the predominant POV on CC.</p>
<p>@sparksflying
It really depends on your criteria. Is the top 10% exceptional? Or the top 0.1% exceptional. Some schools do offer good scholarships to ~15% of incoming students. That is a very significant portion of the freshman class. Of course, there are always good students that do not receive merit aid if there are a bunch like them in that school. That is why they are so precious and worth mentioning. Some schools do offer more, some less. For instance, Purdue offers over 1000 Trustees and Presidential Scholarships to freshmen each year, and yet, some students received nothing with ACT 35. I am sure they deserve some merit aid somewhere, however, they just do not meet the criteria which may be beyond a good GPA and test score in that particular school.</p>
<p>If you do not consider those exceptional students that received merit aids, then there is no merit aid. LOL.</p>
<p>Once again, if you are looking for merit aid at those top private schools, you are barking at the wrong tree. The acceptance to those schools is already a merit award to them. Those schools offer need based aids.</p>
<p>Mom2:</p>
<p>I suppose I am comparing them to other less impressive students who DID receive large institutional scholarships at prestigious schools. You’re right. In the end, it doesn’t matter. Exceptional minds cannot be categorized and slotted. These kids will rise to the top. </p>
<p>I am sure each school or scholarship has different criteria. One kid that does not get a scholarship does not mean he/she is inferior in all sense. Just think about the National Merit Scholars that received corporate sponsored scholarships. I am sure there are plenty of smarter kids in the finalist pool did not get one only because their parents are not working in those companies. Sometimes the criteria is not as obvious.</p>
<p>I also have a different perspective on stats. Test scores are just one small measure of a student. Holistic comparisons can make a significant difference and is where students differentiate. I read the thread on here about “where are students doing all this research.” My thoughts were more along the lines of why was so difficult to imagine really strong students not researching and pursuing projects at home?? My ds has compiled vast amts of data available on the internet and run various algorithms, created his own mathematical models, etc. He did it by himself with a laptop. </p>
<p>The point is that my ds is a unique student with a strong background and is an incredibly independent thinker. Some schools really rewarded him for his strengths, but they were still outside of our financial reality. Do we scorn the fact that he can’t attend there? No. What is the pt? As a family, we have made decisions that impact all of our realities and we live in the world that we live in. So, alternatively, he also applied to schools with guaranteed scholarships based on something as simple as test scores and then he applied to programs within the schools that would hopefully recognize his strengths. Some did. Some didn’t. Obviously, at the schools that didn’t there must have been other really great students who were far more competitive than his application. Good for them!!! They must be really great students that deserved the opportunity more than he did. </p>
<p>Will he be going to his original first choice school? No. But, he is very happy with the program that he was accepted into and I have no qualms about him making the most of every opportunity
that he will find on that campus…just like his older siblings have at their lesser known, affordable schools. And, his efforts have been rewarded with a lot of scholarship $$.</p>
<p>I think the biggest disservice we can do our children is to tell them they “deserve” something that is not a given. We don’t see the big picture from our side. Other students out there definitely may fit the descriptor “more deserving.” We should encourage them, but we need to be realistic.</p>
<p>billsho:</p>
<p>I understand what you’re saying and am able to see past this nonsense. Hopefully, I can serve as rock upon which my peers can lean during this ridiculous period in their lives.</p>
<p>I do understand it is a harsh moment when students are comparing FA packages. My D has some disappointments too. So it is crucial to choose the right schools to apply and try to get at least a few admitted schools so that one may compare the FA offers. It is not uncommon that one get a good scholarship from one school but nothing from a peer school as they may just have different criteria.</p>
<p>billsho:</p>
<p>It’s all part of the journey. I prefer to count on myself, the only real known. Expect nothing and you’ll never be disappointed, right? lol </p>
<p>@sparksflying
As Woody Allen said (not that I am a fan of him), “I have no expectation, but I am still disappointed.”
That may be a quote for many students when they open the FA package. ;)</p>
<p>At graduation, this quote from Good Will Hunting will take it’s place.</p>
<p>“You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for $1.50 in late fees at the public library.”</p>
<p>@sparksflying, sorry I was unclear. I was replying to this quote of yours:
Pure merit scholarships are NOT rare. You can count on some, particularly at the state level. Hi $ merit scholarships are rare. A “plan B” is not necessary if the student has a true safety on the application list.</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad:</p>
<p>I’ll buy that. Unfortunately, not all schools are capable of meeting the specific academic requirements of a student. Some kids know exactly what they want to do with an education and exactly what they need to do it. So, random offerings of big merit $ are of little use to them.</p>