Merit Scholarships at SMU?

<p>So I'm looking into applying to SMU this year (for Fall 2014) and I figure that based on my stats I can probably get in. Unfortunately, just getting in wouldn't be enough thanks to the cost. Based on my stats, how much could I potentially receive through merit scholarships?</p>

<p>Rank: 2/350
Weighted GPA: 101.47 (not sure what this on a 4 point scale as my school doesn't do that)
ACT: 34 (C) 10 (W) with highest scores by subject being 34 (M) 35 (E) 36 (S) 36 (R)
Possible National Merit Semi-Finalist, but at the very least commended
National Spanish Exam Level 2, 99th Percentile, Gold Level</p>

<p>AP Classes Taken/Will Be Taken:
AP English Language and Composition
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Calculus AB
AP Physics
AP Chemistry
AP Biology
AP US History
AP World History
AP Government/Macroeconomics</p>

<p>I've also taken Spanish 1-4.</p>

<p>Clubs/Activities:
Symphonic Band (4 years)
-1st Chair Clarinet (3 years)
Marching Band (4 years)
-Clarinet Section Leader (2 years)
Spanish Club
-President (2 years)
-Treasurer (1 year)
Jazz Band on Tenor Saxophone (1 year)
Key Club (2 years)
National Honor Society (2 years)
Beta Club (2 years)
Health Occupations Students of America (1 year and I'm debating putting this down because I only did it my sophomore year and did not continue with it)
Gulf Coast Youth Orchestra (2 years)
-Principal Chair
Gulf Coast Band Director's Association Honor Band-Gold(4 years)
University of Southern Mississippi All-South Honor Band-Wind Ensemble (1 year)
Possible All-State Band Member this year</p>

<p>I've also done miscellaneous volunteer work amounting to about ~135 hours. I've given free clarinet lessons to other members of my band before on a weekly basis (not sure if this is something I would include on an application).</p>

<p>I'm also looking into the possibility of starting a Spanish National Honor Society this year so that would make me a founder of it and in all likelihood, president.</p>

<p>Essay Quality-Excellent
If it's a leadership or extracurricular one, it'll be about band (what I've learned from it, how it helped me grow as a person, and how I realized just how difficult being a true leader can be). If it's a more personal one, I'm planning on writing about my junior year when my parents got divorced and then two and half months later, my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. </p>

<p>Recommendations-Excellent</p>

<p>I know that it might not look like I've done a lot, but everything I've done I've put a lot of time and energy into. Everything that I've done in high school is something I'm passionate about. I'm not in many clubs because I don't want to sign up for clubs just to sign up for clubs and if I were in any more, that's what it would have been. I took every AP class that my school offers except for three and by taking those classes (which were in subjects that I have little to no interest in) I would have had to have dropped Spanish 3 and 4 (a subject I am very passionate about). </p>

<p>Major: Biology with Pre-Med Coursework and possible minor in Spanish or Music
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: White</p>

<p>You should at least receive the Second Century of $20,000 per year. Talk to your advisor about department scholarships. With the statistics you have you may likely get the opportunity to interview for the Presidential Scholarship which is a full ride. Good Luck.
The Hunt Leadership scholarship is an option. Do you have any volunteer hours, these will be of value for the scholarships as well.</p>