<p>I'm considering application to the CV scholarship, which of course is my primary goal. I know that on the website they say that there are additional merit opportunities available ranging from $8,000 to full tuition, and are mainly based on academic achievement. However, upon further inspection it seems like all of these opportunities have some special qualification (sports journalism career, underpriveleged, etc.), none of which I fall under. Does anyone know anything about/have experience with receiving merit aid outside of the primary listed ones on the site? In other words, if I didn't make the cut for the CV but still had pretty good academic stats, is there any chance that I could still be given some amount of merit aid?</p>
<p>Unless you had a perfect score on your SAT or have done some really hardcore community service or other achievement, you’re not likely to get aid. Only 1-2% of students admitted get merit aid, and getting admitted is hard enough.</p>
<p>My advice again, is to apply for merit aid if you are anywhere near the zone. A. All merit winners should be surprised! But you have to be in the game to win. B. All extra essays could help your admission decision.
The admission stats have gone up a couple of notches since my son got merit aid, and now his wonderful test score is not even top quartile at Vanderbilt. So, be realistic but also realize that one or two points in standardized testing is not the deal breaker. The admissions team is looking to build an interesting class full of ambitious, ethical, varied individuals who will contribute at Vanderbilt.<br>
When eldest son applied way back in 05 (11 thousandish applicants compared to last years over 25 thousand applicants)…there were many many “named” scholarships in a wide assortment of amounts that admissions handed out to newcomers annually. They did a consolidation of these scholarships under the umbrella of the CV and Chancellors and Ingram categories, but there is still some random merit money in envelopes on April first and a few of the original named scholarships are still awarded, so yes, it is possible to get less than the CV amount in merit and I have not seen many people posting about this in recent years, so I think this is less likely than seven years ago.</p>
<p>again, if you want to be viable for merit dollars, there is no reason to “rest on your laurels” as a rising senior. There are several more test dates ahead and a few weeks out of school where you can test prep. Many winners present a broad spectrum of good test scores.</p>
<p>I was randomly awarded a decent merit scholarship. No application or anything. I’m probably in the top half of applicant stat-wise but I don’t consider myself particularly special. Certainly don’t have any of the achievements Visions referenced.</p>
<p>Visions needs to stop ■■■■■■■■. I’d estimate that roughly 5% of incoming (attending) students come in with a full tuition scholarship. Obviously, the number expands as you go towards 3/4 and half tuition scholarships. Either way, I’d say always take the chance. I was pleasantly surprised. And although some of the merit scholarship people here are pretty hardcore, I’m definitely not one of them.</p>
<p>hmmm.</p>
<p>I think you might be a tad off with your numbers. according to their website:
[Merit</a> Scholarship Programs](<a href=“http://www.vanderbilt.edu/scholarships/]Merit”>Scholarships | Vanderbilt University)</p>
<p>“Each year Vanderbilt awards merit-based scholarships to applicants who demonstrate exceptional accomplishment and intellectual promise. These students represent the top 1 percent of all freshman applicants to Vanderbilt.”</p>
<p>And that 1% is just merit-based, not FULL merit based. I know Vandy gives a lot of partial scholarships too.</p>
<p>A word of advice: if you want merit money, don’t apply ED. They have no incentive to offer merit money to ED applicants because an acceptance is binding, whereas RD applicants may have offers from several schools to consider (and a big part of that is money).</p>
<p>@andhowitgoes: I’m sure your numbers are a lot more accurate. Thanks for the correction. Though, I was eyeballing how many CV, Chancellor, and Ingram scholars there were from personal experience.</p>
<p>As for actually continuing this post: as a CV scholar, I’d say that everyone brings their own talents. Some in community service, some in the arts, some in just being a jack of all trades. No one knows why we were chosen and not others… but there you go. Also, the CV scholar application automatically will be used for the other (not full tuition) scholarships if you don’t happen to make the cut.</p>
<p>I applied ED I this past year and received a Chancellor’s Scholarship! And I know several others in the Class of 2015 that were awarded merit scholarships even though they applied ED. Vanderbilt it very different from other top universities in that if they feel that you truly deserve the scholarship then you will receive it regardless of whether you apply ED or RD :)</p>
<p>they always said that they would distribute merit money to ED students with the same care in reading the applications as RD merit applicants, but it still feels great to see vandygirll’s post and to get recent affirmation that applicants are treated fairly in the ED round.</p>