accepted with a presidential scholarship
SAT 1510, international student, full IB program (HLs: Math AA, English A, History of Asia, SLs: ESS, Self-taught, Biology) + 3 APs (Psychology, Micro and Macroeconomics), SAT subject tests Math II and world history
plan to major in sociology and environmental science
I’m really proud of my common app essay and richmond supplement - they were on my cultural background and family.
extracurriculars
regional director (representative of my country) of international conference discussing historical conflicts between countries in East Asia
-internship at menstrual cup company - led cup donations for frontliners at hospitals during COVID
-founder of lgbtq+ club at school
-chaired MUN for 3 years
-student government (president of volunteer committee - facilitated statewide cleanups)
-school representative and editor of international youth magazine
-track (ran marathons throughout high school)
-traditional flute player (volunteered to play mini concerts at hospitals and local community center)
-work as English essay tutor and desk assistant
honors
-WFUNA essay writing competition (on SDGs) secretary-general award
-awarded national scholarship for academic excellence worth $1500 (as a freshman and then as a sophomore)
-best delegate in international MUNs
-volunteer award (for over 300+ hours of community service)
-1st place history essay competition in high school
Unfortunately, I was deferred. My first semester grades were sent very late so I’m thinking that may have something to do with the decision. Hoping that I get in RD, but I know that the applicant pool is going to be very strong and my stats may not be as good as any one else’s.
Regarding the video, the woman seemed especially drawn to the social element of URichmond that she criticized. If her perspective failed to reveal the diverse, interesting and intellectually engaging aspects of UR, it might be because she had difficulty seeing beyond the activities and norms of her segregated sorority, which she obviously elected to join. It may not have occurred to her that, in her need for convention and popularity, she might have been as invisible to the academically motivated and progressively oriented students at UR as those students appear to have been to her.
Does anyone know if you have to have been selected as a Presidential Scholar in order to be considered for the Oliver Hill Scholars Program? The description implies this but it is not explicit. Thanks.
I have a student who has friends who aren’t in Greek life. That said, he likes to party (we are not particularly happy with his choices) and Greek life provides that as well as commraderie.
There are plenty of other things to do on campus and off, but I suppose if a kid - like the girl in the why I transferred from Richmond video - is concerned about appearing “cool,” and if there’s a sense that it’s “not cool” to go to school programming, speakers, etc., then Richmond may not be a good fit.
I will say that lots of kids in Greek life there do very well. A leader in our S’s frat, a good friend of his, is going to Penn Law next year. Kids in Greek life started a consulting group that lands those in it Wallstreet IB jobs. So, I don’t get the sense the frat scene is like animal house or anything.
I have a good amount of friends that go to Richmond now or have graduated within the past two years. I know that for at least girls, if you are not apart of greek life or a sport you don’t have many friends and are considered “weird”. I do not know if it is the same for guys but I’m sure it is similar. I have heard that the dinning hall is even seperated since there are 3 rooms. One is for greek life people, one for sports, and one for “others’”. Despite this, I know that Richmond is actively looking at this issue and certain sororites and frats at Richmond may be going under. I think it is important that your son talks to a current student there if he can
Oof, good info, thanks. We’ve toured a lot of schools (pre-Covid, of course) and the standard reply to the frat question is that they’re there for the kids who want them but they’re not that big a deal. I think they are a big deal at some schools, and Richmond sounds like one of them. Thanks again!
Shot in the dark here, but figured I might as well call on your collective wisdom. Does anyone know if Richmond ever gives merit aid to applicants whom they passed over in January for merit aid? D21 was admitted EA but did not receive any merit aid, and without merit, it is completely unaffordable for us (we do not qualify for need-based FA). Just wondering if it ever happens that Richmond doles out merit later on when they send out RD decisions in late March.
They don’t give that many kids merit and it seems they use it mostly for diversity purposes. I doubt you’ll get anywhere by asking but it can’t hurt. Do you have merit offers from very similar schools?
Thank you. Yes, she does. We have thought about making a push for merit at Richmond, but not sure it’s worth the effort if it would be a long shot anyway (and D21 already has other merit aid offers in hand). For the same reason we have not made an effort to visit in-person to do the self-guided tour since received acceptance - why get attached to a school that didn’t offer merit on the first go around?