<p>I missed the deadline for the Koplik application, but my MCAS, grades, SAT I, and SAT II ae all stellar for UMass. Would they still give me full financial aid? And could I use that to bargain with more selective private schools?</p>
<p>When my S applied to UMASS we were told that the only aid offered was need-based…</p>
<p>I’m not sure what merit scholarships are offered to MA residents but I’ve never heard of any UMASS students getting a full ride. Could be wrong.</p>
<p>Also, getting the Koplik certificate only provides the tuition waiver which is all of $1700/year. I’m not complaining about my S having it but it’s not a big award…the rest of the fees plus room and board is going to be just over $10K for the first semester.</p>
<p>Does this mean they give full rides to National Merit finalists? I got a 235 on my PSAT so I have a good shot at it. [UMass</a> Amherst: Undergraduate Admissions - National Merit & Achievement Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.umass.edu/admissions/financial_aid/National_Merit_Scholarships/]UMass”>http://www.umass.edu/admissions/financial_aid/National_Merit_Scholarships/)</p>
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It means they might:</p>
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<p>It is possible to get a few thousand in merit aid as a resident, especially if you apply EA.</p>
<p>P.S. I’m not sure how you missed the deadline, you can apply for the Koplik up until May 1 of your senior year in HS.</p>
<p>Did you qualify for the Adams scholarship? You don’t need to do anything, you will get a letter in the mail. It also only pays the tuition ($1714/year) at UMass, but it is better than nothing.</p>
<p>Could I possibly get anything from applying and receiving an aid package if I have no interest in attending? I go to a competitive public high school in state, and I have a 3.8 unweighted GPA with a rigorous course load, 2250 SAT (retaking in October), solid ECs, and two 790s and a 780 on SAT IIs. Other schools I am planning to apply to mostly pledge to meet 100% of demonstrated need, but withdrawals from retirement accounts may skew that.</p>
<p>Yes I qualified, but I looked up the application on my school website and it said the deadline was May 27.</p>
<p>Ahhhhhh just double-checked, it was for the class that graduated this year.</p>
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Yes - you could gain admittance to a very fine school that is relatively affordable, and in a year you may change your mind or your circumstances may change.</p>
<p>My S had similar stats to yours at a competitive public high school west of Boston, and applied to UMass mostly because we made him. Unfortunately, the top 20 schools he got into offered close to zero in aid/grants/scholarships, and had to be turned down as unaffordable. Of the other schools he got into (I think the lowest ranked one besides UMass was around 70), they offered sufficient merit money to make attendance possible, but he actually liked UMass the best. Shocking, I know.</p>
<p>And for his major they have an excellent program with an excellent reputation.</p>
<p>Outside of MA, UMass actually has a very good reputation. The London Times ranked UMass #19 <em>in the world</em>, and #4 of all US public universities:</p>
<p>[Top</a> Universities by Reputation 2011](<a href=“http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/reputation-rankings.html]Top”>http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/reputation-rankings.html)</p>
<p>In their “World University Rankings”, UMass came in at #56 in the world, and #14 among public universites:</p>
<p>[Top</a> 200 - The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2010-2011](<a href=“http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/top-200.html]Top”>World University Rankings 2010-11 | Times Higher Education (THE))</p>
<p>So I would submit that the school is better than you think, and deserves a serious look. Even if it is just as a backup plan, it is a pretty darn good one.</p>
<p>BTW, he loves it there and is happy he made to choice to go there. My bank account likes it too.</p>
<p>What do you want to major in?</p>
<p>I’m not set on any one major, I want to explore my options. My interests right now are philosophy, international relations, poli sci/gov, linguistics, and film. I don’t knock UMass, but it just doesn’t seem like a good fit. I never visited, and maybe I haven’t given it a fair chance, but it is bigger and more rural than I’d like. I know they have a strong engineering program, but I hate math and science classes. Also, I have no interest in business or sports management, the other top programs. I picked schools largely based on academic programs, I don’t automatically turn my nose up at state schools.</p>