I will not apply for any need based scholarships, but I want to know if I would be able to get the $30k or $25k merit scholarships that are offered.
I will be apply EA, will this hurt my chances of getting more merit money?
Stats:
GPA(Weighted): 4.7 (Weighted on an unusual scale, with an A+ being a 4.5 for a non-honors or AP class, and 1.0 is added for an honors or AP class)
SAT: 2150 (CR: 680, M: 750, W: 720 11 Essay)
SAT II: U.S. History: 760, Chemistry: 750, Math 2: 720 (Don’t know if i should report it)
AP: Stat and Comp Sci were 5s, and Euro, USH, Chemistry, Physics 1 were 4s
Senior Year Course load: AP Physics C, AP Calc BC, AP Macro/Micro, AP US Gov, AP Lit
Extracurriculars:
Cross Country Captain- All-Conference 10th, 11th Grade
Varsity Winter Track
Varsity Spring Track- All-Division 11th Grade
Quizbowl Club Treasurer
Key Club Member
Volunteer at local hospital ~100 hours
Taught kids with special needs how to ride a bike
U13-U19 Soccer Referee
Lifeguard at pool over summer
I think you should report your SAT subject tests. While some applicants have an 800 on some subject exams, you took three exams, thats more than most students. Also you have a 750 on SAT Math which is a strong score. Also since you are premed, math scores may not really be as important as organic chemistry for your future. I think you have a good chance, write a compelling essay about your service work, perhaps. I think the volunteer work you did with special needs is interesting and I bet college admissions officers may agree. . Also, CIT alumni offer an additional scholarship for juniors and seniors at Case that you apply for after you are a student. That will cover the modest tuition increases year to year.
You should apply EA, as that indicates strong interest in Case. Fly there if you can, to visit, or go to a local info session if that is available and sign up so they know you attended. Also, read all your Case email and write to your admissions officer at Case once. Just to say hi, and ask one question. Be sure its not a really obvious question that you can peck off the website in two seconds, but maybe something about Think Box, or Cleveland etc.
I agree with Bopper and Coloradomama. I think you have a great chance, but showing you are interested is important. You might also think about contacting the track coach, if that is something you might consider continuing at CWRU.
@Wizard2 I actually have contacted the cross country and track and field coach, and she said I am fast enough and can definitely run there, but I would just have to try out in the fall with the rest of the team. Is there anything else that I should do regarding cross county that would get me more merit money? I have contacted numerous D3 coaches, can this make it easier for me to get in if they say they want me to run at their school?
D3 schools can not give anyone more money for being an athlete. There are NCAA rules that prevent that. Scholarships will have to be entirely based on academic merit, but as I understand it, being an athlete can help in being accepted. Selective schools, like CWRU, want to bring in the best academic class they can, but they also want to make sure they have diversity… not just by race and ethnicity, but also by student interests and involvement. They want to make sure they will have strong athletic teams, wonderful theater and music programs and a great campus newspaper, and a large array of other students interests. So, I do think if the coach knows you are really interested in the running for CWRU, it might help some. I also think following the advice provided previously by others, like dropping your admissions counselor a note is a good idea. The list provided by Bopper previously is a great resource for how to let them know you are really interested.
See this link: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/case-western-reserve-university/1686674-how-to-show-interest-in-cwru-p1.html
@row566 Try to connect with CWRU students on the cross country and track teams and see if you can learn about what sort of merit awards they won from CWRU. I have heard that some of the top scholar/athletes on the swim team have very good scholarships at CWRU. But officially no athletic scholarships are given, you must have the academic stats to win them. And its going to be competitive with whoever else is applying this year, thus hard to predict. Good luck.