<p>It appears that almost all of the various merit scholarships (Presidential, Dean’s, etc) that Brandeis used to offer have been eliminated. Any idea if there is any merit aid available at this point? Brandeis is probably my son’s top choice, but we are not likely to qualify for any need based aid, and while he has received some very generous offers from other comparably schools, but would really prefer Brandeis!</p>
<p>My family, too, was very disappointed to learn about the drop in merit aid at Brandeis. We are not eligible for financial aid, but cannot afford to spend approx. 60k in tuition etc for any school, let alone my D’s top choice, Brandeis.</p>
<p>Virtually none, unless you qualify for need-based aid as well. They might have an award or two left for very special cases, such as graduates of Waltham High School, but for all practical purposes, the answer is that Brandeis offers no merit aid to students who do not qualify for need-based aid.</p>
<p>We did not expect any scholarship money because no scholarships are listed on the website except for a few for unique circumstances. My daughter was vey pleasantly surprised, therefore, to recive a letter in snail mail this evening informing her that she was awarded a Presidential Scholarship of $15,000 per year. Thrilled! We will definitely be at Accepted Students Day. The letter stated that there would be a reception for Presidential Scholars.</p>
<p>Yesterday, my daughter also received a letter saying she was selected as a “Dean’s Scholar” (no more than 3% of the class, it said), $10k a year, renewable, with a requirement to maintain a 3.0 average. We didn’t expect merit aid. This changes the complexion of things, of course. Very nice.</p>
<p>Danne0507 and BraveOne,</p>
<p>Congratulations on your daughters’ merit awards! Do either of you qualify for fin aid also? If so, that may be the reason your daughters were considered for merit scholarship. I had the impression that is a prereq to receiving merit aid.</p>
<p>Like Braveone, my son was awarded the 10K Dean’s Scholarship and we did not apply for FA. We didn’t expect anything based on this thread and others so I guess that disputes the notion that there is no merit aid w/o a FA application.</p>
<p>Wow. </p>
<p>We were disappointed two years ago when Brandeis moved to a policy of offering merit aid only to students with need. At the time I doubted it was a good move for Brandeis, but have they really backed away from it already?</p>
<p>Sent from my DROIDX using CC</p>
<p>Congrats!! For those of you who have received merit aid – did you hear by email or snail mail?</p>
<p>My son got his by snail mail yesterday (Thur) though I don’t know if he also got an email…The return address was Scholarship Office Brandeis University in bolded letters to avoid being lumped in with the junk mail…</p>
<p>I take it that these letters came separately from the admissions packet?</p>
<p>may I ask what the students stats were that received Merit Aid. It appears that this merit aid is rather generous.</p>
<p>Just curious, as we also did not apply for FA and presumed that Merit aid was not in the cards
as a result.</p>
<p>however, as a soon to be impoverished parent, we are now hopeful??!!</p>
<p>We also didn’t apply for FA, but would welcome the merit aid. Unfortunately, no such letter has arrived here. I am also curious about the stats of students who got the letters. Or is there some other “hook” that might have played a factor?
Thanks for sharing this info!</p>
<p>I too am wondering if the scholarship letter came separate from the admissions packet (we have not received the admissions packet yet).</p>
<p>you know, it’s funny…</p>
<p>The students are all on pins and needles (parents as well), awaiting decision announcements.</p>
<p>then, they breathe a collective sigh of relief if they are accepted to their dream school</p>
<p>and we parents are all still on pins and needles awaiting FA, merit aid as we try and figure out
how did college get to be so expensive?</p>
<p>My D is still waiting for some announcement of merit aid at Muhlenberg (small LAC in PA).
I am hopeful that there is some Merit Aid to also come from Brandeis so that the decision of which school to pick will be able to be made on non financial issues.</p>
<p>Darthdad, my S is also waiting for the Muhlenberg merit aid letter. It feels like a very long time waiting, doesn’t it?</p>
<p>@shulamit</p>
<p>yes, a long time to wait for these merit letters but in comparison, it seams like only yesterday I was changing her diapers.</p>
<p>now, everyone who reads these posts will realize what an OLD, sentimental & nostalgic father I have become. guess you can figure out which of her parents will be the one to cry when dropping off at whichever school is in her future. (and this is only the first of 3 daughters who will go to college within the next 5 years).</p>
<p>guess they better elope one day!</p>
<p>I cried when he went on the kindergarten bus, so I think I will cry for this too. :)</p>
<p>My D received notification yesterday of merit aid (Dean’s scholarship). We did not apply for FA, did not submit FAFSA, submitted CSS. Since Brandeis is one of her top choices for Neuroscience, this money is good bonus plus she got admitted to the honors program, thus the bounce in her steps since yesterday.</p>
<p>Do you guys live somewhat close to brandeis that you got the merit letters, haven’t gotten anything here yet</p>