<p>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^</p>
<p>At the formation of the athletic conference known as the Ivy League, the eight university Presidents set out on a course of abolishing aid for either athletic or academic merit.</p>
<p>mm, to a point...
There is what is called the Cornell Commitment, which is technically sponserd by alumni, but the application for scholarship is the admissions application (no special boxes need to be checked). I am what is called a Cornell Tradition Fellow (I think 150 new fellows join every year). Tradition Fellows are selected based on merit (work, sercice, scholarship) and are given aid ($4000, plus other little perks). The two other Cornell Commitment fellowships are the Meinig Family Scholar and the Presidential Research Scholar. (<a href="http://www.commitment.cornell.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.commitment.cornell.edu/</a>.) Just apply, and see if you get one. I didn't know anything about it till I got it. </p>
<p><em>Hint</em> if you have extensive work/service or research qualities, write an additional essay dedicated to that topic. I did, and it made me $16000+, and I am by no means in the top 150 kids here (not even close).</p>
<p>Also, some colleges have a form of dean's scholar. I'm getting 600/yr (not much, I know) from Engineering yet I didn't even apply for financial aid. Technically, its a "book award" so I can't actually spend it on tuition or room and board (but since I'm paying everything in full, thats irrelevant).</p>
<p>I know that at least UPenn does something similar; the other Ivys may or may not have similar scholarships.</p>
<p>Jerew,</p>
<p>Isn't there still a need based component? Doesn't the Cornell Commitment program dovetail with financial aid? In other words, grants instead of loans? Or maybe I'm wrong about that. Did you apply for need based aid also?</p>
<p>Wharf</p>
<p>Yeah, good observation Wharf Rat. Actually, the selection is 100% merit, but the actual amount given does vary with need. That said, I would have had to pay an extra $4000 in loans (no need based grants), but $4000 was replaced with the merit based grant. Money is still given to those who didn't apply for financial aid, (600 I think). Either way, it is money I got from Cornell based on something I did, that I would not have gotten if I wasn't selected. Thus, "merit" aid.</p>
<p>My d is also in the Tradition and is getting the minimum amount- $600. We did put in a Fafsa, but based on financial circumstances, we got the minimum. I am not complaining. Next year we'll have 2 kids in college, so the new Fafsa will show changes in our financial circumstances based on 2 tuition payments. I will be curious to find out if we get more from the Tradition next year. But even with my d getting the minimum amount, part of being in the Tradition is that you are expected to work approx. 10-15 hours a week. So I haven't had the need to provide (much) additional spending $ to my d as she gets a paycheck from Cornell. Tradition kids sort of get the same status as work study kids in obtaining campus employment. If you look at the campus job listings, certain positions must go to work study/Tradition kids and are not supposed to be open to the general school population. But I do not really know if they adhere to that policy.</p>
<p>CPRS (presidential research scholars), Tradition Fellows, Meining National Scholars, etc etc are awarded at the time of admission and they do give you merit aid. They bypass the Ivy rule of "no merit aid" because the amount they give you is based on need. My roommate was a Dean's Scholar in Arts and I was a Dean's Scholar in Engr and they do give you a generous amount of money.</p>
<p>i am a presidential research scholar, and I want to drop out of it. I really can't see doing all of this research...wat u guys think?</p>
<p>are you nuts. I'm sure it may be a lot of work, but that is money in the bank for both now and for grad schools options. I would trade Tradition for that....</p>
<p>i have no idea how i even got it to be honest w. u.....the fact that I am one of 40 research scholars out of 3000 freshman is just insane. All I had was a 1450, some research experience, no big award..but yet..there are intel semifinalists, a bunch, siemens finalists, that aren't???</p>
<p>aren't you transferring out of here anyways? ;)</p>
<p>jerew, what is ur aim dude?</p>
<p>um yeah spanks...i am transfering out like 95 percent sure if my grades can come through...yeah</p>
<p>spanks, its really weird talking to you since I have seen you before....its a lil weird</p>
<p>lol, yeah, talking to people you've seen before is uber-weird??</p>
<p>I think it's really creepy that you looked me up on facebook, have seen me and I have absolutely no idea who you are, but that's okay...</p>
<p>jerew: I think you are being very modest. I am sure the college has experience in selecting the right candidate based on the number of applications they go through year after year.</p>
<p>Anyway, my son has applied to B.Arch program and we received a brochure from the school a couple of weeks back. I called the finaid office and got some more details. I was told that this brochure was mailed out to candidates that were nominated by the schools they applied to.</p>
<p>Did you apply ED or RD? If you applied ED, then did you find out of your selection in early december or did you have to wait until April?</p>
<p>marrny: how do you look up job postings - how can tell which ones are for work/study kids?</p>
<p>and yes preference goes to the people with the work study deals because the employer is responsible for 50% of the wage, the other half is payed by the scholarships or FA or w/e</p>
<p>Thanks Sparty, I never would have figured out how to link it. It's a great resource- that is how my d found her on campus job. As you can see, there are plenty of jobs available even if you are not in FWS or Tradition. Now back to the relatives. Happy Thanksgiving!</p>