<p>Okay, D is going down to the wire. She chose her rolling schools today, her high school's deadline. Now, on to the reaches. With her GPA of 91.95 UW and her SAT of 800CR 680M 740W, she is interested in Vassar, Northwestern and Brandeis. All three have the program she wants. She can apply to only two of them, because her high school limits the number of applications each kid can file (seven). I am thinking that schools that participate in the National Merit Scholarship program (Northwestern and Brandeis) would be more receptive to a kid that is NMSF than a school that doesn't participate (Vassar). Am I on target with this? Or should D just apply to the two that float her boat the most? Again, she's borderline with all three in terms of getting in. Any advice is much appreciated! (She is also applying to William and Mary, which is a reach for a New York girl with her stats.)</p>
<p>I think she should apply to the two that float her boat. For example in this list because I value quick access to large cities, I'd probably decide that Vassar was too far from NY. But if you like small towns better than suburbs you might choose Vassar. I'm sure the personalities of the three schools in question are also quite different.</p>
<p>why ddoes the schol have the right to limit how many they appply too? i think over applying is not smart, but why do they decide on seven?</p>
<p>having sent out paperwork for a hs- trascripts,etc, I know it is work, but sending out 7 or 10 really isn't that different</p>
<p>Understaffed and don't wanna work too hard. There is the answer. Belief that students aren't competitive? No care for their stat pool for it must never get published. Schools whose stats drive admission.......open and support applicants. I hate reading posts that reference kids who have a limit, especially when it is a National Merit kid.</p>
<p>You do not have to be a NMF to get into Vassar. I believe that her scores/grades are competitive to be admitted to both Vassar and Brandeis - can't comment on Northwestern.<br>
Vassar specifically looks for an 'A-' average and her scores are in the ballpark of last year's admitted students. Does she have ECs that she participates in?
I'd suggest that she apply to the two schools that she likes the most. Has she visited?</p>
<p>Another vote for float her boat. I wouldn't decribe her as borderline for getting into any of them -- more like a match (assuming a reasonably challenging curriculum). NMSF status doesn't mean a whole lot more than the other scores she has, and I can't believe the bragging rights to the marginal NMSF makes a big difference at any of those schools.</p>
<p>Sorry, just reread this and realized that she <em>has</em> NMSF status. I think that would only help her get into Vassar ... I highly doubt that they would hold that against her.</p>
<p>Raising hand for "whatever floats her boat." NMSF status would be more important if any of the schools awarded $$ for designating the school as her first choice on the NMSF form. Don't think that applies to these schools.</p>
<p>Another vote for "whatever floats her boat."</p>
<p>But one more thing she might want to consider is the application itself. Northwestern has sometimes very annoying essay topics written by pretentious HS seniors from the previous year. I know some kids that decided against applying there just because of that...</p>
<p>Actually, many schools that DO NOT participate in national merit really, really love NMSF's. USC is one example. They give 50% off tuition for NMSF's. They don't participate because if they did they'd be limited to giving a measly $1000-$2000. Many schools with bucks and dreams want to give NMSF's much more.</p>
<p>pp,
hate to disagree, but USC not only cares VERY MUCH about NMSF, they also participate. S has $1000 NM scholarship, as well as trustees scholarship.</p>
<p>Having two NMF over the past few years. I would say the market is hot for NM kids. In the couple years of seperation the offer pool has grown significantly. Even the schools that don't outright have full rides for NMF often will put together a full ride by combining scholarships. </p>
<p>As far as number of schools to apply, check the common app and see if any of those schools you are interested in are there. Kill many birds with one stone. I know that if you ask nicely (bring cookies) the office will do more. If not, ... well there is a superintendent isn't there? and a newspaper..? I'm sure they would love to explain to the public why they aren't helping a NMF get to the best college she can. :) Just cause they say they won't doesn't mean they will. Friendly presistance first. </p>
<p>Cookies and thank you's usually go very far, at least they did for us.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great advice! I will have D check the Northwestern application. She's having trouble even coming up with the Common App essay (nothing is "good enough"), so I doubt she will want to take on extra writing. Gosh, will I be happy when this is all over!</p>
<p>The thing to remind her is 99% of the rest of the kids just wishes they had her problems. Really how can she lose? </p>
<p>There is a ton of paperwork but consider it a job. My D picked up around 160k for college so for the 120 hours (ball park higher or lower) she made around $1333 an hour. </p>
<p>It is a great experience enjoy it.</p>
<p>The schools giving NM scholarships will have a lot of applicants for that reason, don't use that as a criterion. Schools that don't offer scholarships (and some that do) do not need to offer them to get NMF students. Go with the best fits if you are limited in numbers. There are plenty of NMFs who don't get into these schools.</p>
<p>FWIW, Northwestern went to the Common App this year. You have the choice of using their own app (and requisite essays) or the Common App plus the NU supplement. Yes, the supplement has some quirky essays, but they are primarily of the VERY short answer variety...50-75 words. So, once your D gets the Common App essays done, NU might not look quite as daunting.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who replied! On our recent visit to Vassar, I asked an admissions rep about National Merit. She said that even though they don't give a scholarship for it (which I knew), they still see it as a national award. And D attended a class there in her field of interest and loved it. So it looks as if Vassar will get one of the remaining apps. I'm hoping to get her up to Brandeis for a visit before she has to apply.</p>
<p>So my original assumption was wrong, at least in the case of Vassar (at least as far as I can tell).</p>