Emergency Help with Merit Scholarships and Applications!

Paying for College
1

Hello Everyone,

By December I had a pretty good plan of my life- I was already accepted the Honors program of a small private college I LOVED paying less than I would have to go to my in state public u. This week I find out that the school is shutting down. Can anyone help me through this absolute nightmare? Are there are decent colleges accepting that also give good merit aid?

My stats are pretty good:
2200 SAT
800 Literature SAT 2 700 Biology SAT 2
3.9-something GPA
top 15%
Objectively fantastic extracurriculars and essays.

I know I’m asking for a miracle but I really do appreciate any help!

2

Are you talking about Sweet Briar? If so, contact them. There is scuttlebutt that some of the peer schools nearby will help you accepted atudents as well as current students.

Worth a call.

3

I am confident that other similar colleges in the neighborhood will make accomodations for candidates accepted to Sweet Briar.

Do as thumper1 suggested, and contact their admissions office.

And put together a shortlist of schools, along with a letter explaining your late submission.

Good luck

4

Thank you very much for your response. While I know that all the peer schools are very fine institutions I’m not quite sure they’re what I’m looking for. I know I’m absolutely in no position to be choosy I thought I’d ask here for other suggestions.

5

Did you have other schools to which you applied? If so, I would reach out to those schools. One of them might be understanding of your situation.

6

What are you looking for then? Is there a specific kind of college (in terms of size, location, etc.) or a specific major that you’re interested in?

7

I’m hoping to do pre-med, I’d like a really, really strong community and nice psychology and biology.
I’ve applied to a few wonderful colleges, but all of them are reach or lottery schools I could make work without aid, “dream schools”, if you would, because I was already so happy with the idea of going to the college I was accepted at; I didn’t think I needed a another match or a safety if I was already happy.

8

Agnes Scott
http://www.agnesscott.edu/admission/transfer-students/sweet-briar-college-students.html

Stephens
https://www.stephens.edu/

and Shenandoah
http://www.su.edu/admissions/

Have also announced that they are ready to help with the Sweet Briar students and this year’s Sweet Briar applicants. Check them out. I expect that more colleges and universities will be making similar statements throughout the next couple of weeks. If you are interested in any of the other women’s colleges (and you certainly have the profile for even Barnard, BMC, MHC, Smith, & Wellesley) drop the admissions offices an email, or give them a call.

Wishing you all the best at this difficult time.

9

Be sure to be in contact with Sweet Briar about this, they mah have funds reserved to help with the transition.

10

How much can you afford? My daughter had similar stats and received $20,000 scholarship from Duquesne. They should still have free online application and merit as far as I know.

11

Agnes Scott is an especially good option; I will look into that immediately. I was hoping that I might be able to get total cost down tto 25,000 or less, but can probably do 30,000. Duquesne might be a wee bit big for my tastes with 10,000 but I be sure to look into it too. Thanks to everyone who’s helped and anyone who can give me any new info; I truly appreciate it,

12

@VioletPie - Here is the link from the SBC website with information about places that are offering expedited transfer applications. Admissions is not guaranteed for SBC students, but application dates have been adjusted. You could check with them. The note for Smith College indicates that the deadline for students who had deposited with SBC has been extended to Mar. 9, so it looks like they are still taking freshman applications from those in your situation.

http://transition.sbc.edu/current-students/transfer-colleges-for-sweet-briar-students/

13

I think she should contact Rhodes College with this situation…it is very good for premeds, and it is generous with merit.

14

@violetpie – You have every reason to be choosy, and this is quite the upheaval for you. I’m sorry.

I would reach out by phone/email to admissions officers at schools that are of interest. Does your high school counselor have any colleges he/she would particularly recommend? If so, he/she would probably make some calls as well.

Really sending you the luck.

15

Call the admission’s offices…or better yet, write to the Enrollment Manager of various schools…tell them your situation and your stats and find out if merit offers could still be extended. Be very polite.

16

@VioletPie - Today there are live links for some of the teach-out colleges. Hollins and Randolph both have published details for students like you. http://transition.sbc.edu/current-students/teach-out-colleges

17

University of Mary Washington, CNU, VCU, JMU all have honors colleges that you would likely get into. Of course, with your stats, you have a very good shot at UVA or W&M! You could also choose community college and then transfer to a 4 year school.

18

OldUVA…are these schools accepting applications NOW, and are they offering merit aid NOW.

This student needs a school for the upcoming year.

I’m hoping many of the colleges in VA step up to help those who had anticipated attending Sweet Briar. It’s worth a contact to see.

19

I know that UVA, W&M, CNU and some others have extended the deadline for transfer applications for Sweet Briar. I’m not sure if the same offer extends to the incoming first years.

20

It looks like all of the “teach-out” institutions have extended their application dates for students who had committed to SBC, and several of the others on the non-teach-out list have as well. If the information isn’t immediately clear from the websites, a quick email or phone call should clarify things.