Financial Aid

<p>I heard that SCU was generous with aid, but I got my package today and it was not what I was hoping for. Do you receive more once the FASFA is completed?</p>

<p>I’m interested in this as well. I also thought that I would receive some kind of merit scholarship, but received none :/</p>

<p>Yeah I heard they were generous too! I really hope they are because even though I got 10,000 a year as a merit scholarship I REALLY need more in financial aid. I know my FAFSA will say that I need more but I wonder if it will be enough? It’s not a 100% “meet your need” school like Chapman or Occidental so I’m a bit worried because SCU is by far my favorite :)</p>

<p>They weren’t that generous for me. No merit scholarship, said “need based”, was around $10K in grants. I’m not sure if I just didn’t make it for the merit scholarships or if I didn’t check a box in the CommonApp or something. I was in the top 5% of my high school class but perhaps that wasn’t enough.</p>

<p>Did you all receive your merit scholarship awards in the same envelope as your acceptance letter & brochure? I’m wondering if no mention of a scholarship with acceptance means no award given :(. Also, no mention of aid status at all even though CSSProfile was submitted by deadline. Is this normal? Thanks for your help, and Happy New Year to all!</p>

<p>I actually heard that SCU was really stingy about money, but maybe I’m wrong because I got a lot of money. I go to a jesuit high school so that probably was a big help too. My merit scholarships came with my accpetance letter.</p>

<p>My S also received a very generous offer from Santa Clara. I think a lot of it has to do with what your intended major is; if there are a lot more kids vying for business, for example, then that school has to divide the pile more.</p>

<p>If you did receive merit award money, would you mind sharing your stats (GPA, Sat, ACT etc.) and what the amount of your award was? Thanks.</p>

<p>did you receive your award package via mail or did you see it online?</p>

<p>I got full tuition
Stats:
a jesuit high school - top 2/3 %
lots of extracurriculars such as water polo, lacrosse, service, service trips,etc,
ap classes(two 4’s and two 5’s plus taking 4 more this year)</p>

<p>From what I know to get a Merit Scholarship you have to be either a National Merit Finalist as well as in the very top of your High School Class or have shown strong academics and leadership or have gone to a Jesuit High School. You have to have very strong academics (GPA above 4.4 weighted) or (SAT above 2250) to truly get a Merit Scholarship from Santa Clara as it is quite competitive. Most accepted students get Need-based or Incentive Grants/Scholarships. In order to get a good Scholarship one needs at least a weighted GPA of 4.1 or higher or unweighted around 4.0 or else it is likely an Incentive Scholarship in which case the amount varies alot based on need, talents, ethnic background, athletics, high school(Example: jesuit vs. non. jesuit), extracurriculars, leadership, and many other factors.</p>

<p>I go to an out-of-state Jesuit high school that frequently sends students to Santa Clara. </p>

<p>I’m highly involved in extracurriculars (community service organizations, National Honors Society, Track, Campus Ministry events like retreats, Senior Class Council and student government, etc.). My unweighted GPA is 3.931 with ten total AP classes and the rest Honors (with the exception of various core requirements). My essays, I believe, exhibited my passions for the outdoors, community service, and academics. My recommendations were glowing and well-written, from an AP Biology teacher and an AP English teacher who each know me quite well. </p>

<p>I applied for FACHEX, because my mom works at Gonzaga. I didn’t get FACHEX, but I got $36,800 in total Merit Aid. Enough to allow me to attend. I was expecting little, so this came as a very, very pleasant surprise.</p>