I am a high school student that is wanting to go to Virginia. I have a 4.5 weighted GPA (4.0 unweighted) and a 34 on the ACT and I’m set to take the SAT in March. Even though I’m from Florida, it has been my dream to go to UVa, but this dream cannot be accomplished without a full ride scholarship. I am not minority, and I am not going into Arts & Sciences, which takes me out of consideration for the Echols scholarship. I know of the Jefferson Scholar Foundation, and it is my goal to become a Jefferson Scholar. But considering that only about 40 incoming students get the Jefferson Scholarship each year, I know I need to explore other options. Does anyone know of any other full ride scholarships that UVa would offer for an incoming aerospace/aeronautical engineering student (and I know of the DoD scholarhip, but it is a pretty major commitment)? The only two schools I’ve ever paid attention to are UVa and Alabama, and I know that Alabama gives you a full ride with a 3.5 and a 32 on ACT, but I was unable to find anything like this on UVa website. I could just be foolishly overlooking something, but if anyone knows about anything else, please let me know.
Time to start paying attention to other schools. Very few colleges offer the sort of automatic scholarships that UA does, but there is a link to a list, pinned at the top of the forum.
I am interested in many other schools but there are very few that have good aerospace engineering programs. Which link were you talking about in particular
Found the link. Was very helpful, thanks
Have you looked at ROTC scholarships? I know they’ve become harder to get but I know someone who went to UVA in the past with one. I have no idea how much the scholarship covered.
I have not solely because my school does not offer ROTC and I don’t really know the criteria of the scholarship
I don’t think you need high school JROTC. I was just trying to brain storm money sources for you. An aerospace engineering major makes me think you should check into it. I know UVA has Air Force ROTC. VA Tech has Aerospace Engineering too.
UVA is very competitive for admission, and the Jefferson Scholars program is even more competitive.
I think you need to add to you list, and include affordable schools as well.
UVA does not offer any guaranteed merit awards like Alabama. The vast majority of financial aid at UVA is in the form of need based aid. Does you family invoke put you in a position to qualify for need based aid? UVA meets full need for all accepted students, and if you are low income, you would not have loans either.
^ That should say does your family income put you in a position to qualify for need based aid.
OP, be aware that aerospace companies hire many more engineers than just aerospace, particularly mechanical and electrical. Be open to those majors which will open up the number of schools for you.
Thanks Erin’s Dad…love what the auto correct does!!
Will this poster qualify for need based aid…at all?
And do understand…full rides are not plentiful…and are highly competitive.
I can understand loving UVA, as I did too, and I hope you get what you are looking for. However, don’t put all your eggs in that very fragile basket. Don’t rule out the good aerospace engineering schools in Florida like Embry Riddle, Florida Tech, UCF and UF. There are a lot of scholarships to be had instate. Florida Tech has one full scholarship to a Florida high school grad each year, which is obviously very competitive.
Make sure you understand the difference between full-ride and full-tuition. UA does not give full-ride. They give full-tuition.
You do not to participate in jrotc in HS. I received an rotc scholarship my sophomore year of college. Great opportunity! I’ve noticed more graduates lately getting the Reserves rather than Active Duty, so if you have other career aspirations that may be a viable path.
As a rule, UVA is similar to other top schools in that they generally do not award merit scholarships. (The Jefferson Scholars are selected by an independent foundation, not by the university; they are harder to win than admission to HYS, only about 1% of each incoming class are Jefferson Scholars.) Check with your school’s college guidance counselor now to see whether you are in the running for your school’s nomination for one, but remember that you would be going against extremely tough competition from schools all over the nation.
I believe need-based aid is only provided by the school for IS students.
In other words, if you cannot do it at the list price, it probably won’t happen.
Sorry my computer has been down but it just came back up. And on the topic of considering other schools, that is a definite, but if I were to not get a full tuition or ride to UVA, then I would most assuredly go to Bama on their guaranteed scholarship or put in for their full ride scholarship. And on the topic of ROTC, that has never been of any interest to me, I don’t know why but it just hasn’t. And in reply to mom2aphysicsgeek they do offer a full ride (minus meal plan if my memory serves me correctly) but the Jefferson Scholars is a very difficult group to get in, which is why I am running for President of the student body, Mu Alpha Theta, and National Honors Society to boost my resume. I also would like to start a French club on campus, but that is unlikely. Basically my mindset is to achieve these things in high school to put me in position for the Jefferson Scholars, and if I don’t get it, these things are attractive for other scholarships. And on the topic of financial aid, I am not minority, and not low income, so no chances on that one. And I’m not taking student loans period. No questions asked on that one. And I have considered mechanical engineering, but my #2 choice is actually chemical. Aerospace is my goal, but things could change from now to then. And back to the topic of Bama, their aerospace engineering program leaves a bit to be desired, which is why I would strongly consider mechanical or chemical if I were to go there.
I know I made it sound like I wasn’t looking at ANY other colleges, but that was just a miscommunication. I only meant that Bama and UVa were the only ones I had put hours of research into, with scholarships, curriculum, and whatnot. Sorry for the slip up.
You misread my post. I stated UA does not offer automatic full rides, only full tuition. That is correct info for what you posted (the presidential scholarship for a 3.5 and 32.). UA Huntsville (which is not Bama. UA is in Tuscaloosa) would offer full tuition and room for your stats. http://www.uah.edu/admissions/undergraduate/financial-aid/scholarships
I thought UVA DID meet full need for OOS students.
@tigerrocks13 Are you a junior? If so, did you take the PSAT this past October? Take a look at the “Florida Incentive Scholarship” for NMFs.
And UAH should be respected for aerospace, I believe?