<p>^^^Agree completely with coth’s strategy. Did it with D1 and had great results. D2s stats are a little lower, so the list will be adjusted accordingly. The hard part is convincing kids to apply to schools that while not quite perfect, are more than adequate and which are affordable and will give them choices in the spring.</p>
<p>ArielTemp,
In order to be eligible for consideration for the Full Tuition Trustees scholarship at USC, you son needs to submit his application by Nov 30. Make SURE he doesn’t miss that deadline!! With his stats, he would be a strong candidate. As a NMF, he is assured of receiving a 1/2 tuition scholarship if accepted[ which is likely] FYI, USC has the second highest # of NMF’s in the country. There are loads of really smart students happily engaged in a challenging, full academic life at USC.
signed
a USC Trustee Scholarship mom.</p>
<p>Mom2collegekids: You are so right about the importance of allowing a kid a reasonable choice. We need several financial safeties–or at least several schools that are likely to offer some merit aid.</p>
<p>You have all given me the start of a possible list and some new schools we hadn’t thought about. Thanks, menloparkmom, for the tip about USC. That deadline will be upon us quickly! And I think USC would be a fabulous option.</p>
<p>Keep an eye on all deadline. Many of the competitive scholarships have very early deadlines for admission and completion of the application as some also will subsequently have interviews.</p>
<p>Ariel, You have received some great advice on approaching the “financial safety” portion of you child’s application list. I have one suggestion that is not a financial safety but might expand your list of possibilities. There are a number of schools that offer large merit (typically at least full tuition) for outstanding students. I am thinking of the awards that the applicants are chosen by the high school for consideration by the college. This is still VERY competitive but narrows the field a bit since each participating high school can nominate only one student for consideration. For example: Boston University Trustee (Full tuition 4 years), UNC Chapel Hill (Morehead/McCain Scholar - full ride I believe) Emory University (varying amounts full tuition top award). I am sure there are more. Perhaps you could speak with your child’s GC and see if they would nominate him/her if your child is interested. These are merit only (do not consider need). Good luck!</p>
<p>^^^
NewEngland has given some good suggestions for competitive merit. :)</p>
<p>Those awards do fall under some of the selective scholarships. Do look at the list of merit awards that are compiled here. Also, Curmudgeon’s old thread about what he and his daughter did to get some good merit possibilities is highly informative. It also gives you a good idea of how competitive those full rides and large awards are at “name” schools since his daughter was a top drawer student. For some true safety possibilites that are full rides, Momfromtexas has a thread that cannot be beat.</p>
<p>WUSTL has some great scholarships, but they are very competitive. There’s an application to fill out, then interviews for the prospective candidates. However, there are full scholarship awards as well as half. It’s worth giving a look.</p>
<p>Maybe others can provide more info…</p>
<p>But, I’ve found that WUSTL uses their scholarships to get students who are highly desirable because of where they’re from or their URM status. I remember reading who got their big awards in the past and the students were either URMs or from unusual states. A top student from the Northeast seemed to have little chance since so many top students from the NE use WUSTL as a back up for the ivies. </p>
<p>however, maybe things have changed?</p>
<p>UVA has the Jefferson Scholar program, also. It is one of the ones that the student is nominated by the high school.</p>
<p>I would also add that I read most of the brochures that came flooding in in the fall of D’s senior year. She had no time at all for anything other than a quick glance. Some colleges send out great information. I remember thinking that if NYU would just give us its publication budget for the year, we could probably pay for both kids’ educations.</p>
<p>Anyway, one of those publications that came through our house talked about great scholarships and accomplishments of grads, and I asked my daughter to apply, which she did. Accepted, full tuition, just finished freshman year. It has been a great match and she is back there now for an intensive summer language program. </p>
<p>If the very best students can look at schools that are consistantly in the top fifty (in whatever category they are exploring), there are many options.</p>
<p>^^^
Your D is at Pitt…glad to hear that she likes it. </p>
<p>Does anyone know about how many kids apply to the UVa Jefferson scholars program and how many get selected?</p>
<p>It is a highly selective program. The Pitt Chancellor’s Scholarship used to be an automatic at certain SAT and gpa levels. No more. It’s become more competitive. It’s not automatic to get into the Honors College there either. The SAT break point has also risen a good 60 points a least, as well, just for consideration.</p>
<p>Thanks, mom2collegekids. Chancellor’s at Pitt is a full ride and I think there are about ten awarded each year. However, a good number of very good students just take the full tuition and run because it is wonderful for the those who would be full pay to just pay room and board. The scholarship application for Chancellor’s is quite involved AND it has a two-week turnaround when the kids are crazy busy.</p>
<p>Here are some Jefferson Scholars (UVA) numbers: 3000 schools across the country in 53 regions may nominate scholars. International students can be nominated as well. In 2008/09, more than 1000 applications were submitted. 105 students were invited to interview. I could not find a number for 2009, but in 2008, 34 students won, and in 2010, 24 students were selected. The competition is run separately from admissions, but nominees account for nine percent of the incoming class. This is from the Jeff Scholars Web page.</p>
<p>Just form those numbers, you can see that it is more difficult to get one of those types of awards than getting into Harvard. Even when you get a school nomination.</p>
<p>I did not know the Chancellors was so competitive. I know a bunch of kids that got a generous award; I thought full tuition, from Pitt. Maybe another college scholarship myth.</p>
<p>Just looked at my son’s Pitt stuff from our visit last month. The Chancellor’s Scholarship is only given to 10-12 students, and is close to a full ride, covering tuition, fees , room and board. Does not cover books, supplies, transportation, sundries. Pretty dang close to a full ride in my opinion, in fact I would call it that. However, those nominated for the Chancellor’s Scholarship get a Chancellor’s Nominee Award which range from $2000 to full tuition, which can be pretty nice. Doesn’t say how many are given each yeat, but there are quite a few nominees.</p>