Hi everyone,
I am interested in attending Emory (for either a neuroscience or biology major). I am an out of state student with an UW GPA of 3.96 and an act of 31. I am involved in 6 clubs and hold some sort of leadership role in them, and I have a great hook. The thing that is making me hesitant on attending if I get in is the tuition price. Overall, it is near 70,000 dollars per year. Can I expect to get some merit aid, or will I have to pay the full price?
Your stats won’t qualify for merit. Emory likely awards its merit to some students with ACT 35-36.
However, if you get accepted, and you have demonstrated financial need, then you’ll get some financial aid.
Are you an int’l? If so, then I don’t think Emory gives aid to int’ls.
If you’re a domestic student, have your parents run the NPC on the website and see what the results are.
Emory is a private school…so,your state of residence doesn’t matter for tuition purposes.
If you really have a genuine hook…that might help you with admissions…but probably not with aid…unless there is some specific merit award related to your hook.
It would REALLY need to be a hook. Some students think any special,thing is a hook…and that isn’t the case.
Although your GPA and ACT score are good, they are not good enough for merit… And many with those stats don’t get in at all ( there are a lot of variables to consider of course). Also- most who get merit have other “stuff” along with top grades/scores- more than “just” leadership in clubs. I would look at Emory as a slight reach and find some other schools where merit might be easier.
What kind of hook?
I was chosen to be part of a committee for an addition to our high school. It was made up of the superintendent, the school board, select staff and community members, and two students including me. I consider this a hook because I was chosen out of the entire district and had the superintendent write a letter about my involvement and how I had brought a good perspective of what the students needed.
@anku99 Emory does offer pretty good financial aid even for upper middle class students. I will say that since you don’t have hooks Emory is a reach-high reach for you. Your best chance to get in is ED1, but they probably won’t give the best financial aid for ED1 students.
@VANDEMORY1342 is my involvement in that committee not a strong enough hook?
@anku99 No I’m afraid not. TBH I thought you might of been Native American because of your screen name lol. I would advise you to raise your ACT to at least 32( preferably 33) if you want to apply RD. You’re GPA is GREAT but you don’t mention the rigor of your classes. Your EC’s are amazing too. If you raise your scores you would be a match- low reach.
@VANDEMORY1342 haha I am an indian. Most of my classes are honors/college classes but I will work on raising my ACT. Thanks!
What is your intended major and career goal?
Your leadership position is nice, but it’s not a hook.
Your leadership position is not a hook. Is there a different hook?
@anku99 - here are some things that are normally referred to as “hooks”.
Sometimes, college want students with specific skills / experiences. In those cases, applicants with those skills become “hooked”, but no way for anyone to know what a college might need in which year.
In your case, the committee should help you get good recommendation(s) (and remember that all recommendations must be submitted by the recommender directly to the college via common app or otherwise) and help you write a good essay.
Improve your ACT, continue your work in those clubs / organizations, write great essays, and get great recommendations. Make sure to apply to a few matches / reaches / safeties - not just to Emory.
Apply to external scholarships. And follow your passion.
@twogirls there is not. I am relying on my heavy extracurricular involvement and many leadership opportunities to make up for the 31 ACT score.
@mom2collegekids I am intending to go Biology or Neuroscience.
Hmmm… Can you explain your heavy extracurricular involvement and leadership? Unfortunately I doubt you will get merit to Emory… and getting in is not a sure thing. Have you considered Oxford at Emory? What area of the country are you from?
Did you run the NPC to see if you might be eligible for any need-based aid?
Your ECs, while quite good, probably won’t move the needle as far as merit. I don’t mean to be unkind, but merit is generally for kids who are tops academically. The ECs might help you get accepted in the first place, though, which is great if you can afford approx. whatever figure the NPC kicks out.
I think that getting merit to Emory is based on other things in addition to academics. My D graduated #1 with high test scores ( into the 99th%) and very strong leadership, letters of rec etc and got accepted… but no merit. She loved Emory but got a better price at another school that she also loved and so she went there.
OP my advice to you is to cast a wide net if you are looking for merit aid, and be prepared to possibly step down a few notches.
I think it takes high scores AND leadership/ECs to get merit…unless you’re a URM.
Are you premed? If so, go where you will be within top 25%
undocumented undergraduate students at Emory will have “100% of demonstrated financial need!
http://www.studentaid.emory.edu/DACA/index.html