<p>Calclass - Here is what my daughter’s letter says:</p>
<p>"After reviewing your strong academic record, I am also pleased to announce that you have been selected to receive a merit scholarship. Exact details regarding your merit award will be mailed by December 3. "</p>
<p>This is not merit aid - which is usually merit money given to people who also qualify for finaid. I am pretty sure I read somewhere that this merit money will range for 8k-14k.</p>
<p>BTW, for those that are giving the school serious consideration, someone from CC on a previous year said that after the initial merit award was granted, they were sent another letter upping it. A friend of mine told me that his daughter’s finaid was also increased as they got close to the 5/1 decision deadline. I assume as they go on the process moneys become freed up and they reallocate it. I don’t know if this is common in other schools - I had never heard of it. There is a moral to this tale - don’t be so quick to send in the letter :-)</p>
<p>My child received the merit scholarship with her acceptance in mid December of last year. We were pleasantly surprised in Feb. to receive a letter announcing that they had upped the amount for four years. One theory was that when the school received the mid-year report with 1st semester grades, they increased the money to kids who hadn’t shown signs of senioritis yet.</p>
<p>I’m probably the poster you’re referring to. My son’s initial offer was increased after his mid-year school report came out. He received all A grades in AP and honors courses. We believe Willamette increased his merit scholarship on the basis of this report. </p>
<p>My daughter got her merit award today (ahead of their schedule.) It was very generous! I thought I read somewhere that these general merit scholarships range from 8-14K, but hers is higher, so maybe they raised it.</p>
<p>Hi everyone
My DD just got the news today on her priority app and she is in with a nice merit award. She is so thrilled as she visited last spring and really liked what she saw. I about had a heart attack because they sent 2 envelopes (which I didn’t notice) and one was small–I thought she got rejected and was going to hide it from her until after finals. Turns out the small one was just news about the debate team!</p>
<p>Willamette walks the fine line between big and little envelopes. I am not sure what you would call the envelope size, but it fits paper that is folded in half.</p>
<p>Congratulations to all of your kids who got accepted with merit scholarships!</p>
<p>I, too, applied through the Leadership Application, got my acceptance letter last week, and received a very good merit scholarship. But my question is, did anyone’s letters tell them that they were accepted into the Willamette Leaders Program? Because my letter didn’t seem to indicate whether I was or wasn’t accepted. Do you think that we would find out in the spring?</p>
<p>My son was admitted through the Leadership Application and is now a freshman. But this is not admission to an honors track, as exists in the UC system. There is no priority enrollment for students admitted this way, no special privileges, and no selective “leadership program” in which other Willamette students could not participate. In my opinion, this is a good thing. It’s probably the only aspect of Willamette that I find rather similar to the culture at MIT, where my son’s sister is enrolled. Everyone at Willamette is on the same level playing ground. </p>
<p>There are many leadership opportunities on campus. My son took a leadership position in the backpacking club within a month of being on campus, for instance. There have been several other opportunities that he has passed by, because he felt he didn’t have enough time.</p>
<p>I hope this helps. Maybe others will chime in as well and give you a fuller picture!</p>
<p>I will second CalAlum’s post. Daughter was admitted with the Leader’s Application last year. The only perk I see is that it is an abbreviated application. At Willamette I don’t think special honors or leadership programs are needed. According to my child, her classes are plenty challenging. Lots of leadership and community service projects are open to any and all. As an example, the Opening Days events (five days immediately prior to the start of fall semester for all freshman and their families) is entirely planned and executed by students. Last weekend, the freshman class had a weekend of de-stressing activities planned by the students. The sophomores had their own pre-final festivities also. Depending on where your interests lie, there is sure to be something for you to join.</p>
<p>If you received a very good merit scholarship, then Willamette really wants you to attend.</p>
<p>Thank you for clearing that up, CalAlum, your information was really helpful! And I think that Willamette has a good philosophy in not having such an honors program. I was just wondering, because my current college counselor/former English teacher seemed to suggest that there was such a program. But he sometimes gives his students outdated information, even though he is extremely helpful and diligent the majority of the time.</p>
<p>My oldest S is a junior at Willamette this year and my youngest S was just accepted there. He’s looking more towards California but the oldest absolutely loves the school. Amazing internship programs available (he’s pre-med) with professors who really take the time to work with students. Highly recommend it!</p>
<p>D3 also received admission confirmation with merit $ yesterday. Thus far, she has been admitted to 4 of her early action schools—which lessens the anxiety level for everyone! ;)</p>