Hi I am just trying to find out my chances of getting a merit scholarship.
1500 SAT
4.22 weighted gpa
10 APs
Great recommendation
Visited and interview
Good ECs
We heard that Lehigh was pretty generous with merit awards but my daughter with similar stats did not get any merit $. She was however invited to apply for two arts scholarships but thought the performance requirements were very high and was afraid with an engineering course load that it would be unmanageable.
Probably low chances. I had similar stats and did all the same stuff and I didn’t even think about merit aid I was so sure I wouldn’t get any.
@tesla123 My impression is that very few get merit based aid (~1%) at Lehigh. Unlike other private schools where you would probably receive around $25K/yr or more with those stats, that is not the case at Lehigh. Also, be aware that in terms of determining “need” based aid, Lehigh will count equity in your house as part of your ability to pay. I would caution against applying ED unless you are prepared to mortgage the house for Lehigh. ED acceptance is binding, and I don’t believe you would be able to back out for financial reasons solely because you don’t want to borrow against the house.
FInancial reasons are the reasons people back out of ED. It is your decision what your family can afford. Lehigh would much rather you back out of ED, than not show up in August because you couldn’t pay the bill. I think Lehigh limits the equity in your home to a percentage of your income. I think its 150 percent. I don’t have the document handy to be sure of that number any more.
Merit is tough at Lehigh. My S received no merit with a 36 ACT, NMF, 3.9/4.3 GPA, 12 APs, AP Scholar of Distinction (ultimately National AP Scholar), 800 and 790 SAT Subject tests, All-State athlete, excellent science extracurriculars. He also showed interest by visiting and interviewing, and could have walked-on to athletic team. There was nothing more he could have done.
S really liked Lehigh, but without merit it was a no-go.