Does my La. student have a good shot at a big award?

My daughter is 1st in her class at a respected public high school, 4.8 weighted GPA, 35 on ACT, and will be a NMF (224/228 on NM index). We really want her to go to Tulane, but we can’t afford to write the check. I have to hope she will be considered for one of the full ride scholarships. Apparently, Tulane is very competitive nationally, so that has me a bit worried. I hope being from LA helps her.

Is your daughter a junior?

@luckymama64

Being from Louisiana gives your D several advantages, but the one that stands out is that she will be eligible for the Hainkel, which is very similar to the Stamps award. It is full ride plus even a stipend to help with miscellaneous expenses I think. But for sure it is full tuition/fees, room, board and books. With those stats she should have a good chance. She applies by filling out the application for the DHS award. She would still be eligible for full tuition and fees for those national awards, as well as the Stamps. In other words, she isn’t eliminated from any scholarship, she is simply eligible for that additional scholarship. Other Louisiana based awards are TOPS (assuming the legislature continues them) and I think there is a valedictorian award.

Like @proudmom1106 I am assuming you are talking about next year, and not this year’s cycle. It is too late for all that if your D is a senior and did not apply for these awards, unless she took a gap year and applied next fall. But surely she is a junior now.

Yes, she is a junior. We heard that once the class of 2020 is in place (maybe April), she will start hearing from schools. Like I said, Tulane is a top pic for her and admissions has been sending a steady wave of emails (we sent her ACT score). We have done a week long visit through VA looking at schools in that region. Happy to say, when we got home and attended the LA Preview at Tulane in the fall, we were blown away. Tulane is an amazing place.

@luckymama64 When my DS went for his Tulane visit, he loved it!! We’re waiting on this year’s DHS awards … I’m literally on pins and needles … His other option is a long way from Louisiana and I would love him close to home! Is your daughter pretty set on Tulane?

It really is, and it thrills me to say it just keeps getting better. President Cowen was truly amazing, and it appears that President Fitts is not missing a beat. I couldn’t be prouder to be an alum and parent right now.

I should have posted a thread about it, but did everyone see the story about the Tulane team beating 450 (!!) other schools in an extremely prestigious accounting competition? http://freemanblog.freeman.tulane.edu/freemannews/2016/02/16/freeman-team-tops-in-national-accounting-competition/

Also Tulane very high up there with Peace Corp. participation. http://tulane.edu/news/releases/tulane-university-is-number-1-on-peace-corps-annual-rankings.cfm

And tons more that brings Tulane’s qualities to the front. It’s an exciting place to be.

@proudmom1106, being a junior, she isn’t really set on anything. Her other top schools are W&L and Univ. of Richmond, which also have good merit scholarship possibilities. Tulane is mama and daddy’s top choice b/c of proximity–not that we need to see her all the time at all, just b/c it is easier and less expensive to get to and from.

Sounds like you and I are in similar situations … My son’s other choice is in the Northeast and will be quite a distance from home.

@luckymama64