<p>I applied RD to American and like everyone else I was invited to apply for the Frederick Douglass distinguished scholars program. To everyone else who has applied or is applying, especially those who were accepted, could you tell me as much as you know about the scholarship? What are the most important aspects? How many are given out? How many are invited to interview. My GPA is 3.79 unweighted and my SAT is 2210 and act is 32. Do gpa and scores matter much? Or is it just essays and interviews? How much preference is given to
minorities?</p>
<p>You should definitely apply regardless because if accepted you will receive full tuition, room, board, books and support for summer research and/or internship experiences. The most important aspects according to the AU website: </p>
<p>“Preference will be given to first-generation students as well as those from diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Academically, the most competitive applicants should have a 3.8 GPA (unweighted) or 4.0 GPA (weighted) and a 1300 (out of 1600) SAT or 29 ACT. They must also demonstrate a lifelong commitment to working for the advancement of under-resourced and underserved communities around the globe.”</p>
<p>It is a highly selective scholarship program, as only 1500 students have been FDDS at AU in the past 40 years. All people who apply and are considered finalists are invited to interview, but based on your GPA and scores you’re right in the running. Interviews obviously play a part in the final decisions.</p>
<p>What are the odds of a non-minority student winning this award? 34ACT, 2200 combined SAT, 4.0 unweighted, yada, yada, yada… But white, female. Chance or not at all. Oh, and both parents attended college.</p>
<p>“Has anyone heard back from them yet? I haven’t, and I was told the short list would be made available on the first of February.”</p>
<p>I called the number on the web site, asked if/when finalists (short list) would be notified and was told that they would find out mid-March. I was surprised, I thought they had to interview to be chosen, and was told that the interview is a phone interview in mid to late March, right before (?) admissions decisions.</p>
<p>I thought that there was some kind of ‘in person’ interview of sorts, but I must have mistaken it for another program.</p>
<p>It did say there was an on campus interview in February for those students short listed. I think that this is the first year they are doing this, so perhaps the process is flexible. Just another answer to wait for!</p>
<p>They had planned for on-campus interviews, but due to the snowfall in DC they switched to being over the phone. I had my interview already, and was told that the final decision would come on the 12th.</p>
