<p>@dreampoet – We also picked up an air of elitism at Northwestern, but mainly from the Admissions department and not from the students or professors. Even Admissions has been very warm post-acceptance. Last time I checked, 97% of all admitted students graduate from NU so I assume it’s very supportive once kids are enrolled. </p>
<p>NU is NOT the place to go for merit/talent aid, at least as a freshman. They are extremely well endowed, though, so if you have financial need they apparently meet 100%, plus we hear that they are very generous with research grants.</p>
<p>@GregDashaway - Since your D is a Junior, I’d also urge her to apply to YoungArts!</p>
<p>@bazaarshopper – Agree that Ann Arbor is an awesome college town! Quick mass transit access to a big-city cultural center (per OP) is tougher from there than from some other college towns though.</p>
<p>@JackUK – YoungArts is part of the US National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA). In their words “We are the signature national organization that recognizes and supports America’s most talented 17-18 year olds in the visual, literary and performing arts.” They provide scholarships to Finalists as well as a week of Masterclasses in Miami and for Gold and Silver winners a second week in NYC, plus they are the nominating agent for the Presidential Scholar of the Arts. They have a great Website, and in D’s experience it’s a fantastic (the kids say “life changing”) experience for artistic Juniors.</p>
<p>Masterclasses have been with folks like Edward Albee, Placido Domingo, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Liv Ullmann and Frank Gehry.</p>
<p>I am not MomCares but would be happy to respond. My daughter also participated in it.</p>
<p>It is the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts (NFAA) YoungARTS Awards, a national “competition” in various categories of the arts…instrumental music, dance, visual art, film, theater, musical theater, writing, etc. for seniors in high school. It is sort of a “recognition” thing or an “achievement”. You aren’t so much “competing” against others, but are “scored” on your own merits and if you attain a certain score, you achieve recognition, an award. The scores/evaluation are from 1-10. If you get a 10, you are a finalist. A 9 earns you Honorable Mention and an 8 is a Merit Award. The top 10% who enter achieve a Merit Award, the top 5% Honorable Mention, and the top 1% are a Finalist. Actually, Finalists get to go on to Young Arts Week in Miami in January of senior year that includes workshops, and they perform in a gala concert type event and receive scholarships. Then I think one finalist is chosen in each category (such as Theater, Musical Theater, Dance, Visual Arts, Writing), to be a Presidential Scholar in the Arts and these students get honored at a performance they do at the Kennedy Center in DC. You enter NFAA YoungArts on an individual basis and not through your school. It is a nationally recognized award program in the arts. </p>
<p>I cross posted with MomCares and austinmtmom. :D</p>
<p>Also, if you use the Search function on College Confidential, you can find discussion threads on this topic. In fact, when my daughter was in HS, we learned of NFAA YoungArts right here on CC and my D submitted and won an award. Thanks, CC. :)</p>