<p>Ok, I've got into UM already, but I already knew that I would get in(not to be cocky or anything). So, the only thing that would make UM even slightly attractive would be a giant merit scholarship. I do not qualify as needing finaid. I figure UM tuition is about $38000, so I would like around a $30000 scholarhip.<br>
Here are my quick stats:
GPA: 4.0
SAT: 1530/2290
SATII: 780, 780, 770, 760, 750, 740
ACT: 34
Rank: 1/420
APs: Taken 9 (8 5s and one 3), 8 more this year
National Merit Semi
good but not great ECs, volunteer, recs
has done original research</p>
<p>So, has anybody with similar stats recieved aid? How much? Is there a way that I can show UM I really want money? And finally, when exactly will I hear? I have conflicting sources that say anywhere from mid-Dec to Early April.</p>
<p>Congrats on your acceptance. In terms of scholarships, since U-M is a public school, they're not nearly as wealthy as their private peers, and have way more kids than many schools. Plus, their financial aid is structured more towards those who desperately need money (less than 30 grand per year total family income). A merit scholarship...well, if you're out of state, you might have a good chance at getting maybe $5000 - $10000, if you're fortunate. I'm not quite sure though, but I know that U-M wants to have greater geographic diversity. That might help you, especially since tuition is so expensive for out of staters. </p>
<p>I would call or email the scholarships office, which you can find on the U-M webpage under Admissions & Financial Aid. See what they can tell you. Good luck.</p>
<p>Congrats on your acceptance Maguo. No surprise here. Michigan was a practically a safety for you. </p>
<p>With regards to merit aid, you will probably get some, but I don't think you will get $30,000. As some have already suggested, your stats are not unusal for Michigan (I'd say the top 25% of the OOS students have stats similar to yours) and your financial situation does not warrant it. Michigan knows that its peers (other top 10-15 universities) will cost you over $40,000 because most top 10-15 universities (Cal, Duke, Northwestern, Rice and Wash U being the only notable exceptions) do not usually give merit aid. I'd say Micigan will give anywhere from $5,000-$15,000.</p>
<p>Well, I did my research, and I saw that for LSA, 80 kids will get scholarships of 10k. With a population of 9000, that means I will have to be in the top 1%. Does it look like I'm anywhere there?</p>
<p>Maguo - your chances of receiving aid would to my mind precipitously increase if you showed genuine interest in University of Michigan and one of its programs as opposed to merely showcasing your very good, but not extraordinary academic credentials as somehow automatically worthy of a considerable amount of aid. Top 25 universities are no different than top flight employers -they want the best and the brightest and those that truly show an interest, and an excitedness, about their institution. I might add that another strike against you is the generally poor quality and reputation of Florida public schools - not that you don't appear to have reached a level of educational competence - you have - but you don't have the experience of competing with, and interacting positively with, considerable numbers of people just as competent and bright as you are. Indeed, your posts demonstrate just that - you unfortunately evince an attitude of superiority - indeed your credentials are good, but hardly extraordinary for a top public school in a New York/DC/Chicago/Detroit/Philly (take your pick) surburban area - indeed the valedictorians in these places will have better credentials than yours, along with quite often All Region/All State type athletic accomplishments or EC achievements of that grade to go along with it. Sorry for the rough message - but it is one that is meant in the spirit of looking at things in a mature, steady-eyed way. Let me give you the benefit of my experience - the firm I work for could hire only those from the top 5 ranked graduate schools in the relevant professional arena - in fact, although I would like to, we don't go much lower than that (top 15) - but in all cases, we look at the whole person - including their sense of self, and their focus on what they want to do. The world is a very competitive place - we could shop for showcase resumes alone - we get lots of them - but in the end we look for a good fit and maturity to go along with the brains. Those that don't rest on their laurels and credentials, but truly strive to be truly competent at whatever they do - that's that counts. Bring that sense to whatever school you attend.</p>
<p>I truly don't mind people getting scholarships. I encourage it. (Heck, I got four scholarships from outside souces with one of which being renewable for four years, a small amount of need based aid from LSA, a Michigan competitive scholarship, and the MEAP merit award money. I'm all for free money.) However, like mam1959, I do get annoyed when people believe they DESERVE scholarships. Applicants for scholarships don't deserve anything. It is a luxury if scholarships are obtained so be grateful if that happens. Maguo1, you are not the top 1% here, and I know this because I'm a student at Michigan and meet people who are just as smart as you are all the time. As mam1959 said, don't think you're superior to everyone because you'll eventually come to the harsh realization that you're not. As the clich</p>
<p>Alexandre,
Is the merit aid at Northwestern that you referred to the 2k for NMS, or do they sometimes give other merit scholarships? Just wondering because I thought they only gave fin aid. Thanks.</p>
<p>Alexandre, you shouldn't be so sure maugo will get any aid. My stats were practically identical upon applying and I didn't get a cent of aid. It's still well-worth coming to this school though.</p>
<p>My pretentiousness and whatever is all in good fun; I get very bored during computer programming and we're no longer allowed to play games. I understand--more than before-- that UM is a topnotch school and that there will be some very strong students there. At first, I didn't think that UM was that strong of a school from my expereinces with UF. UM and UF are both very good state schools, but I've seen many kids with average SATs (1100-1200) get in to UF. That has given me this image of state schools being filled with similar kids. However, visiting this site and doing some research has changed my views on UM. Nevertheless, would I be correct in saying that I'm in the top 10% at UM.
I just want you to understand why money is such a big factor. UM costs roughly 38k a year. UF costs 12k for in state students. With my guaranteed state Bright Future scholarship and National Merit, UF tuition will be like 3k. Without finaid at UM, it would be tough to choose UM, even though I know that it is a very good school.<br>
Merit aid would also make UM attractive against a school like Wash U, Duke, Cornell or Johns Hopkins, which I think I have a decent chance of getting into at least one of.
I very much understand the academic competitiveness of those northeastern big cities. I lived in DC suburbs for four years, and I have first hand experience.</p>
<p>Maguo, as long as you approach Michigan as you would Cornell, Johns Hopkins or Duke (i.e. as an academic equal), then you are fine. I personally picked Michigan over Cornell and Duke back in the day. </p>
<p>As for whether or not it is worth paying $35,000+ to attend Michigan or Duke or Cornell as opposed to paying $3,000 to attend UF, it really depends what you value. </p>
<p>And yes, it is safe to say that you are in the top 10% of Michigan's student body.</p>
<p>Maguo - money is a big factor to almost everyone except the very wealthiest. But my point about getting money is that it will far more likely be obtained if there is something particular you like about a school and that you show a sincere and dedicated interest in pursuing it. If you approach schooling and the possibility of aid from that perspective, as opposed to evaluating how good your credentials are and whether you are in some sort of metaphysical 1% based on standardized tests and class rank in backwater Florida, then financial aid might obtain for you. </p>
<p>By the way, your opinion of universities is startling and pretentious. God forbid you would have to suffer with the heathens who receive 1150 on their SAT's - why - you might be condemned to mediocrity for life (!) The reality is that at a major university like Florida there will be some very, very bright people, and in a challenging major, you would find all the competition you want and then some - including research challenges if you get your act together and impress a professor. Michigan will have more numbers of very really bright students than Florida (in fact, because of its size, the raw numbers of super capable people is higher than most anywhere), but be honest - if diligent about your academic focus, the challenge will be there anywhere you go. You ought to be asking yourself what it is you want to do and what school can accomodate that interest. Generally trolling for a credential to satisfy an internal ego demand is not, by the way, seeking an academic interest. In other words, bright you are, but it is safe to say Stephen Hawking you are not, so even the University of Florida would not have to suffer your attitude for long - you would get challenged quickly.</p>