Just checked my award at SCU… I’m very disappointed. 32 ACT, 4.53 weighted/4.0 weighted GPA, full IB program, tons of ECs, including being a varsity track captain, pretty sure recs and essays were good… and $6000 in merit aid. Is there any possibly of the award amount being raised at a later point? Also, I am very confused about financial aid at SCU, it said something about having the CSS in by Nov. 15, which I did not do, as I was not even thinking about financial aid in November. How can they award financial aid before the FAFSA is released???
Anyways, I also curious about what other students received with their profile!
Thanks.
The CSS profile was listed as required by 11/15. This was listed in multiple places and emails were sent as well. The CSS profile takes into account MORE financial information than FAFSA does.
Kinda similar stats to yours
4.51 weighted GPA, 3.86 unweighted
2170 SAT
Finance major
Good ECs, VP of FBLA, NHS, CSF, sports
Thought my essays were good
Got dean’s scholarship for $6k a semester so $18k a year
International student from China
Full IB predicted 34
2050 SAT
Computer science and engineering
Good Essays, engineering related ECs.
Got 6000 per year. Honestly, I’m surprised that they even offer incentive grants to international students.
I am so confused. My stats are similar to yours above. 3.9 UW GPA, 32 ACT score, strong EC and essay. I was awarded an Incentive scholarship of $2,100. I was hoping to qualify for the Johnson Scholarship. Is there any chance that I can still become a semifinalist for it? On the website it says applicants will be notified mid February, but do they also get notified they qualified on the original Financial Award sent out today? Thanks for the help guys!
If I submit CSS now, can I still get financial aid? I looked back at the ONE email I got about this deadline and it said “priority deadline.” Does this just mean it is the deadline for if you want to know in December?
(also thanks for the profiles… informative but frustrating!)
Hi 2sk8like…I think we are going through the same thing right now. I did not complete the CSS either. I looked online though and it said that merit scholarships do not require you to fill out the CSS. I believe the CSS is more important when looking for need based aid.
Nice to know I’m not the only one. I think I would have received some need-based aid, so I am annoyed at myself for not paying closer attention. In my defense however, I find it extremely odd to do anything related to financial aid before January.
CSS is not needed for merit scholarships.
I got a total of about $25k per year through the Dean’s scholarship and some other stuff. 35 ACT, 4.74 weighted GPA, lots of legacy, great extracurriculars and work experience
Johnson is done by application. The one candidate I knew applied RD, and was notified of candidacy and started the process, essay writing. etc., after that. SCU may have a pile of “potential Johnson awards” sitting somewhere from the EA pool. I expect they don’t notify potential EA candidates until after the potential RD candidates are chosen too, so everyone’s on the same timeline then. All just speculation, though. I only know how it worked for an RD applicant.
But Johnson is full ride scholarship. If they just gave out Dean’s, the same person cannot have both Dean’s and Johnson. Unless they will upgrade Dean’s to Johnson.
@Alamalaki - I’d assume they upgrade. The SCU website has information about the Johnson program - it’s quite useful. Key dates:
Johnson Scholars Selection Process
Early-Mid February Semifinalists notified
February 25 Semifinalists to submit essay by 5 p.m. (PST)
Mid-Late March Finalists notified
April 8 & 9 Finalists attend Scholarship Weekend (arrival on campus Thursday, April 7)
http://www.scu.edu/provost/research/johnsonscholars/selection/
Just incase something changes I always like to begin with… the past it has worked this way…EA/ED applicants are notified with their acceptance in December if they are Johnson Scholarship semifinalist. RD are notified in Feb. If you are chosen as a candidate for the Johnson scholarship, you would be notified in the original award letter. Not sure if any EA/ED are notified later in Feb. You cannot just apply, you are chosen as a semi-finalist, write an essay among other things to compete for Johnson scholarship, they give out 10 a year.
So I think the Dean’s is all they will offer. They probably not interested to increase their ranking. Oh well. Move on.
Has anyone called about their award to “negotiate”? When I called before I found out, the person on the phone told me that we “could talk about it” once I received my award. I’m in the same boat as everyone else…$6k/year Dean’s, but I was expecting more based on stats and ECs.
So… everyone who got merit aid already knows? My portal just says “Award access not available”. Does that mean i didn’t get any ?
@JFFP97 Did you submit the CSS profile? I would call and check. We got the award and a postcard saying it was available and how to access it.
@CAMidwestMom I did not fill the CSS but I am an international student, therefore my package is not here either. Not even another’s school package from back in November is here yet. I emailed SCU and they said that a week from decisions everything would be in the portal but it hasn’t changed.