financial aid/scholarships

Colleges and Universities A-Z George Mason University
1

<p>Here's the deal: I really love GMU, I've been here for speech camp in the summer for two years and I just really like the school in general. However, I'm from North Carolina and I need money. Basically, since we have UNC Chapel Hill, my parents won't let me go to Mason unless I get scholarships of some sort.
Pretty much what are my chances of getting scholarships? And how is the need based financial aid? Is it crappy? Thanks guys.</p>

<p>Academics:
SAT: Verbal 680 Math 700 Writing 690
Subject Tests: Literature 740 class rank: 13/429
GPA: uw 3.7 (our unweighted system is kind of weird, but i've never gotten below a 92 in anything) w. 4.746
APs: English Lang 5
Statistics 4
Psychology 4
US History 3
Environmental Science 3
Government 3</p>

<p>Senior schedule:
AP English 4
IB 20th Century History
IB Psychology 2
IB Math Studies 2
AP Biology
Honors Spanish 3</p>

<p>recommendations: really good. I read one from my AP English teacher junior year. She's awesome, and the other is from my math teacher who's taught me the past 3 years and loves me.
extracurriculars:
Speech and Debate- President this year, secretary last year. Honestly this is what I've focused the most on in high school. I spend about 14 hours a week on it between practices and tournaments. I've been a state finalist, won districts and been successful in Humorous Interpretation and Original Oratory. I absolutely love speech and it shows. I've participated all 4 years.
NHS- project manager
Interact- member, service projects
student government- class representative 9th and 10th grade
Violin- suzuki level 7, I've been playing since middle school
I do Yoga and I carriage drive my miniature horse
Church- I'm the prayer leader of my youth group and I volunteer there a lot.</p>

<p>community service:
I have a lot of community service.
Church- multiple things with my youth group
Volunteer at the Coalition for Human Care
Volunteer at ARC (association of retarded citizens)
paper drives at my school and regularly work recycling drive at my town
I also have been an AP/Honors teaching assistant for the past 2 years (grade papers etc)</p>

<p>awards and other stuff:
All of my speech stuff plus:
AP Scholar with Distinction
National Forensic League Academic All-American
Junior Marshal for Graduation
NC Governor’s School Nominee – English
Excellence in Speech Award at my school junior and sophomore year
Barnes-Travis Arts Scholarship (arts award in my community)
School winner of the Rotary Club Alcohol and Drug Awareness Speech Competition
Best Newcomer to Speech Award at my school
County Winner of the Optimist Oratorical Competition (2006)
-Invited Presenter at the North Carolina Poetry Society Statewide Annual Meeting, recited my poem, Math, published in North Carolina Poetry Society’s book Bay Leave</p>

<p>anything else that could help me:
My dad is Puerto Rican, so I can put hispanic down on my forms. But I'm not bilingual and it's not like I have dual citizenship anywhere so I'm not sure if this matters.</p>

2

<p>anyone? pleassseee</p>

3

<p>As a Virginia state school, GMU’s primary role is to provide a good, affordable education for Virginia residents. As such, it does not give out much merit-based or need-based aid to out-of-state students. Only 60% of its students receive any aid whatsoever, and it is primarily in the form of loans.</p>

<p>Here’s the financial aid section of GMU’s common data set so you can see for yourself.</p>

<p>[George</a> Mason IRR- Common Data Set](<a href=“http://irr.gmu.edu/cds/cds_new/sec_action.cfm?year=2008-09&sec_id=H]George”>http://irr.gmu.edu/cds/cds_new/sec_action.cfm?year=2008-09&sec_id=H)</p>

4

<p>You should really consider applying for private scholarships not directly affiliated with the school. They are less likely to care if you’re in-state or not and they can be used anywhere. The FAFSA will also make Stafford loans available that you can take.</p>

5

<p>actually I was offered a half tuition scholarship today. one of the most welcome pieces of mail to be sitting in my mailbox!
thanks for your feedback anyway guys</p>

6

<p>Don’t stop at just there. Like a previous member stated, try to find outside scholarships whether they be large sum or small $500 ones. Every dollar helps! Good luck.</p>

7

<p>Congrats on your scholarship!! How long ago did you receive your acceptance? I have been accepted but as of yet no scholarship info. I am just wondering how long it might take before any possible offer may come. Is there a way to check online as welll or just by mail. I received my acceptance by mail. Thanks!!!</p>

8

<p>HulkHogan- Thank you, oh I definitely will be applying for other scholarships. :slight_smile:
HobT10- Thanks! I got my acceptance in November I think? I applied early action but they let me know very quickly, I also received my honors college acceptance at the beginning of December.
I don’t believe there is a way to check online, but when I called admissions, they told me scholarships were being sent out within this next month (Feb). Not all the scholarships were sent out at once, one of my friends received one about a week and a half ago and I got mine yesterday. So I guess just sit tight for a while, although you could call admissions, they’re really nice and helpful.</p>

9

<p>lazydaisy, Thanks! I did in the meantime get an email from Mason admissions which stated “Students awarded merit scholarships will receive those notifications by the end of February.” So I guess I just have to wait until the end of the month to see if I receive any. I applied at the end of November but some of my documentation got sent later from my school.</p>