<p>I see that Vanderbilt has one of the highest sticker prices in the country. How generous are they with merit aid? What, if anything, might they give to a kid with 3.9+ uw (all AP and honors), 32 ACT (36 math, 35 science), great ec's and recs, etc.? No hook, no urm, just a good student and person.</p>
<p>Anyone? bump…</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is generous with financial aid, but you’re deluding yourself if you think you’ll get merit aid.</p>
<p>you never know re merit aid but odds of the signature scholarships are less than 1%. Vanderbilt has a very generous financial aid program. Make sure your CSS Profile is accurate and reflects all aspects of your family situation.</p>
<p>write all the essays and apply. If you have a 32 ACT, take a look at the stats and gulp. a quarter of admitted students this year had near perfect test scores. if you are a junior, you can make a try again in the fall sittings of the ACT. We all recognize that your ACT is outstanding just as it is, but merit aid requires more. For that matter, admission may require more. </p>
<p>I believe that essays and recommendations do count as part of the process so make sure that you are “not a stranger” in your application. Show who you are as clearly as you can and envision yourself at Vanderbilt…state how you will contribute to your class.</p>
<p>does anyone know if Vandy matches for merit based aid offered from another college? VU offered us nothing for need based, but we might be getting swayed by merit based from another school.</p>
<p>Chardo…my son is exactly what you described, but he had 35 ACT/800s SATIIs…he was not chosen for a merit scholarship. Of course I can’t say for sure, but I suspect the kids that get those scholarships are the same kids that are accepted to HYPS for their hooks. (S was accepted to Duke and CMU SCS, but not H, P, or M.) </p>
<p>Educate2013…if you read the Investment of a Lifetime brochure that came in the acceptance packet, it says that offers from other colleges will not be considered in a request for reconsideration. There is a list of things they will and will not consider. It might be worth a shot, but it’s kind of late in the game!</p>
<p>MommyDear </p>
<p>Not all who get the merit awards also get HYPS acceptance or have hooks. My son, a standard issue middle class WASP, was given the Cornelius Vanderbilt but was shut out by HYS. </p>
<p>The reality is that to get into the sub 7% admission schools without a hook, you need some unique achievement or talent that makes you stand out from all the other kids with great grades and scores.</p>
<p>By hook I meant superstar achievement or talent, so totally agreed. Your son isn’t exceptional in one of his ECs? If not, what do you think made him stand out?</p>
<p>His ECs are very strong, but hes not first chair violinist in the local symphony or doing cancer research on weekends like some of these HYPS kids seem to be. I dont know what made him stand out for the Cornelius Vanderbilt. His academic stats are excellent (R-800, M-730, W-800; 800s on SATIIs; 5s on A/Ps; 4.0; Nat. Merit Scholar), but looking at Vanderbilts admitted student statistics so are many others.</p>
<p>The admissions process is hard to understand. He was denied by Duke but accepted at Chicago, Rice and Georgetown then denied by Tufts. The great thing is it’s over and he had some excellent options.</p>
<p>I am not trying to rain on your parade, but pretty much everyone who goes to Vandy has at least your stats and less than 1% get merit aid. I would focus more on getting into Vandy (not saying you won’t get in). That being said, I encourage you to apply for the big scholarships (Ingram, Cornelius, and Chancellor’s)–it can’t hurt. Also, Vandy is very generous on financial aid even for higher income students. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Since this thread is from 2011 and Chardo is probably already in college I’ll address the person who necro’d it, educate2013: No, I don’t think Vanderbilt will match an offer of merit aid. Very few students at Vandy receive merit-based aid, and if they didn’t offer it with your acceptance letter I don’t think they will change their mind based on what another school is giving you. While Vanderbilt is extremely generous with need-based aid, a significant portion of Vanderbilt students come from families without any financial need and pay full tuition.</p>
<p>I’m changing the question a little here -
Does Vandy give a National Merit scholarship automatically if you list it as your first choice school or are there other requirements? The website makes it seem like it will happen automatically but I don’t want to count on it if there’s a selection process that has to happen.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>frzz, the National Merit Scholarship is automatically given once you indicate Vanderbilt as your first choice school. I’m a rising sophomore (just finished my freshman year two days ago) and have the NM scholarship. Please feel free to pm me if you have other questions.</p>
<p>While their FA office is very friendly, confirming Vandy does not match merit-based from other schools. As unrelated general observation on need-based distribution at highly selective schools - for the first kid going to college, the magic number for need-based from anywhere seems to be earning less than $200K in prior yrs income. If income is $200K+ in prior yr, and you have decent savings, and strong house equity potential or other liquid investments, and no extenuating circumstances, not much chance of any help. Playing with Harvard calculator very telling.</p>
<p>Apoc314: posting, 'cause I don’t have 15 posts yet. If you get the National Merit Scholarship, will they reduce your need-based aid? My need-based aid with the added five thousand from National Merit would allow me to go for free, if they didn’t reduce it.</p>
<p>Same question here as shmalo …wondering if they consider NM as part of their need-based package or if it’s “in addition to”?</p>
<p>I contacted them after D’s acceptance because we hadn’t chosen them as first choice school so the NMF scholarship was not in financial package. For us they would have added in $5,000, but then eliminated the $2500 work-study and reduced need based grant by $1250. So we would have come out ahead, but not $5,000 ahead. This probably varies with your particular circumstances. Call or e-mail them to ask.</p>
<p>Does anyone understand why they reduce aid if you get scholarships? It seems strange that they wouldn’t encourage students to win outside scholarships to have a reduced cost.</p>
<p>Would recognition in Intel STS or Siemens be considered something that can turn into Merit scholarship at Vandy?</p>
<p>Wow, I started this thread?</p>
<p>Yes, S1 just finished his freshman year at a different school. Did not apply to Vandy, wasn’t a good fit for him. S2 is rising junior, so here we go again.</p>