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<p>I’m beyond the edit time limit. The 3.5 GPA I quoted here was what came to mind first as that’s what’s required at our state flagship. I’m sure this varies at each school and individual program. I shouldn’t have attached a specific number to it, simply stating ‘Honor’s colleges usually require these minimum GPA’s.’ Sorry.</p>
<p>My daughter is a National Merit Semi-finalist-- has done very well at her uber competitive private high school-- I just hope she will see some return in scholarships for her hard work-</p>
<p>I don’t think the term “full-ride” should apply to need-based aid. One never knows what FA will decide next year, based on ever-changing financials.</p>
<p>As to the OP’s question…they are still out there, but other than the automatic scholarships (like for NM at those schools attempting to attract NMF’s) , they have always been rare as hen’s teeth. </p>
<p>At many of the schools that offer full-ride scholarships the scholarships are NOT based solely on who has the highest SAT/ACT or GPA but a holistic, competitive review of the entire applicant file. And that’s something many folks don’t understand in the process. Good luck in the hunt.</p>
<p>Mom2424, make sure to check the National Merit forum. You’ll also want to go to the end of this thread
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html</a>
to see a listing of schools that offer especially notable NMF scholarships. There are other schools that offer NM money, so be sure to check the websites of any schools on your daughter’s list to see if they offer NM dollars.</p>
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<p>Through the years I’ve heard stories of wealthy kids who aren’t recruited athletes receiving “full rides” from extremely selective schools. It’s the kind of thing where I’m 99.9% sure it’s not true, but these stories go around every year.</p>
<p>blueiguana – I understand where you are coming from, and perhaps my postscript about the Ivies wasn’t entirely clear either. I just mentioned them as an example of a school where one could conceivably receive a “free ride” that would NOT need to be repaid. </p>
<p>Your post about the 3.5 GPA requirement reminded me of a situation involving my eldest daughter’s college search. She was offered a very generous merit scholarship – not quite full tuition – from one private LAC based on her intention to study a science. The catch? She had to maintain a 3.5 GPA. We were very concerned about this stipulation as we were unsure how well she had been prepared by her small rural/suburban high school for rigorous math and science courses (in retrospect she would have met the threshhold). As it turned out she opted for another college that she preferred so we didn’t have to agonize over this for long.</p>
<p>They’re not for most kids, but don’t forget the “full rides” available at service academies. </p>
<p>In many cases, ROTC pays all tuition, fees, and books. Then, some colleges charge $0 to cadets and mids for room and board. That often works out to be a full ride.</p>
<p>But these routes are hardly free. Some students pay with their lives.</p>
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<p>Perhaps they must sign a confidentiality agreement if they want it renewed for all four years! :)</p>
<p>Washington & Lee University’s Johnson Scholarship is a selective scholarship that is awarded to approx. the top 10% of the class based on merit and leadership qualities. It is a true ‘full-ride’ award. I believe this is due to an endowment that was given to the school specifically for this (ie the funds can not be used any other way). It is one I happen to know about, but I’m sure there are others.</p>
<p>The Chancellor’s Scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh is a full-ride, but not awarded automatically on the basis of grades and test scores. I believe that the only requirement to keep the scholarship is to maintain a 3.0. (Very generous, and meant to encourage students to take some risk in choosing classes. ) Look for more information on the honors college web page.</p>
<p>In Missouri, Missouri State (in Springfield) and Truman State (in Kirksville) and have them, but it is is a competitive processs. MSU offers 30 Presidential Scholarships; minimum is 30 on ACT and top 10% rank, then an interview. Truman offers 12 based on ACT/SAT and class rank and an interview. TSU includes a $4,000 stipend for a semester abroad. Southeast Missouri State (in Cape Girardeau) has an automatic free tuition/room/board/books for a top 3% class rank AND 31 or higher ACT. I have friends who have sent their children to all three schools and have paid $0 out of pocket for four years. </p>
<p>Sadly, only one of those free rides exists for the entire freshman class at our flagship University of Missouri. The regional campuses use them to lure bright students to (what I would consider) not-so-desireable locations.</p>
<p>Rutgers offers their Presidential Scholarship (tuition, room and board) to in state students based on class rank and SAT - they don’t even require recommendations or interviews. Last year 117 students accepted them -my son included (who was not a National Merit Semifinalist). </p>
<p>Luckily it worked out - he is very happy there (has not been home once and doesn’t plan on coming home until Thanksgiving), as is my pocketbook.</p>
<p>I would check the large Universities in your particular state for possible free rides and strongly recommend accepting one if you can get it.</p>
<p>UAHuntsville offers their Presidential Scholarship to all entering freshmen on a matrix of test scores vs. GPA. An ACT of 34+ or SAT of 1490+ and a minimum of 3.0 gives tuition (up to 15 hours per semester), housing, meal plan, book stipend, and $500 in course fees (essentially a full-ride). This same offer is given to NMF, National Achievement, and National Hispanic finalists. The Presidential is not guaranteed, but the adcom I spoke with said she had never heard of it being withheld due to budget constraints, etc.</p>
<p>^ This should not be confused with the Presidential Scholarship at UA Tuscaloosa, which covers tuition only.</p>
<p>the Robertson and Morehead-Cain at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are full ride merit scholarships.</p>
<p>The Shipman scholarship at the University of Michigan is a full ride merit scholarship. I also believe there are a few other similar scholarships at UM.</p>
<p>Sybbie</p>
<p>You’re correct in that this particular university does have qualifiers based on merit then you do have to maintain overall 3.0 GPA, 12 hrs. first sem. then 15 hrs. every semester thereafter, it is renewable every year up to COA as long as # of hrs. and GPA requirement are met. GPA requirement begins with fall term, end of first semester overall GPA must be 3.0. However, part of these scholarships and the stipend itself only applies for top recruits in the state for their university’s EIT (Engineering & Information Technology) dept. These recipients will have special honors apartments with a community atmosphere beginning their freshman year. They’re hosting a special recruitment weekend this fall for these seniors and if the senior’s paperwork is completed in advance, some will be offered scholarships at the weekend. The requirements for GPA I believe is 3.5 and the top ACT requirement is a “32” composite. They do want to know a little about EC’s and Service/community organizations and what senior plans to major in. I truly don’t know if the senior changed to a major outside of that dept. if they would keep the same housing and that particular scholarship. Personally, my senior knows regardless of where he goes, if scholarships OR substantial financial aid is lost, then he’s out of college. However, a GPA/# hours for keeping a scholarship to him and us is much more within his control than possible yearly changes in financial aid, etc. At this university, he wouldn’t have to work during school so he would have ample time to study as well as EC activities. Then, upon graduation, he also wouldn’t have any debt when starting a job. As I’ve preached to him the last 2 years, it’s all about keeping his priorities straight.</p>
<p>Reply to Post #19. <<it also=“” depends=“” on=“” how=“” big=“” a=“” star=“” the=“” athlete=“” is.=“” coaches=“” are=“” limited=“” by=“” ncaa=“” rules=“” in=“” many=“” scholarships=“” they=“” can=“” offer.=“” so=“” instead=“” of=“” giving=“” full=“” ride=“” to=“” one=“” athlete,=“” coach=“” may=“” choose=“” split=“” it=“” and=“” give=“” partial=“” two=“” or=“” three=“” athletes=“”>> </it></p>
<p>Certain sports are defined by NCAA as headcount sports and others are equivalency sports. Football and basketball are headcount sports. Those athletic scholarships are “all or nothing” and aren’t divided. You can Google headcount sports to get a full list. One more caveat, not all Div 1 schools fully fund their programs, and Ivies don’t provide athletic scholarships.</p>
<p>When my daughter and her classmates were applying to colleges four years ago, some top students at the University of Maryland at College Park got full rides through the Banneker-Key scholarship program. These were real full rides; absolutely everything was paid for.</p>
<p>But I understand that now, that scholarship program often offers half-rides, on the grounds that they can attract twice as many top students that way for the same amount of money. Half-price for a state university is still cheap for an in-state student.</p>
<p>There are full rides out there but yes, the term is thrown around loosely and erroneously. I know of scholarships available at Wash U—mainly tuition only but can be more-- and Vanderbilt. Davidson College’s Belk Scholarship is similar to Washington and Lee’s Johnson Scholarship and covers all expenses.</p>
<p>S1 got a full-ride Banneker-Key (everything except personal expenses) plus a Maryland Distinguished Scholar award ($3k/yr, automatic for Maryland NMSFs) which could be used for personal expenses, up to total COA. Could have gone for absolutely free.</p>
<p>UMCP was offering partial B-Ks back for the class of 2007 (earliest I know of from personal knowledge) – full tuition, fees, and book stipend. No R&B, but the dollars worked out to effectively a half-ride. We know a lot of folks who were engineering majors who got a half B-K and then got a half-ride from the engineering dept. on top of that (it is one of the few depts. that offered merit awards). That departmental money was significantly reduced last year. </p>
<p>UMD requires a 3.2 to maintain the B-K award.</p>