My son has been accepted to UMD, among several other schools - where he’s gotten merit scholarships for in state and out of state universities. Maryland also extended an opportunity for him to be a part of the scholars program. You would think a merit scholarship would be imminent. Even a small one. Not for us. 2000+ SAT, 30+ACT, unweighted 3.6, weighted 4.4 GPA and not even the tiniest amount offered. The offered me two loans though. I don’t get how four schools could offer a scholarship and UMD stays silent on the issue. What’s the deal?
Those scores are not in the top 25% at UMD. No reason to expect merit aid.
In 2003 (UMD was less competitive then) my son had 1330 CR/Math SAT scores…and a 3.7 GPA.
He was rejected by the school. It was the only school where he didn’t get accepted.
UMD is increasingly desirable throughout the northeast/Amtrak corridor. Kids in NJ, MA, NY who don’t want to stay instate (worried that college will be a repeat of HS, which I personally think is crazy, but what the heck) have UMD as a top choice. Many of these kids are high scorers.
I know kids in MD who did not get into UMD (who would have been a shoe-in even 5 years ago) and local kids who are being offered January admittance, not August.
It is very competitive right now- and to expect money from them- well, that’s never a guarantee.
I had the same reaction with other schools and universities. It is hard to tell which schools will recognize and reward your son’s hard work. Even acceptances and denials can seem arbitrary. Some students surpass the “requirements” at a college and aren’t admitted.
If merit is important to you, then I hope that you have explored your other options. It seems to me that this is an important feature of his acceptance for your family. The important thing is to be happy with the choices that are in your power to decide. Merit, and even acceptances aren’t a sure bet.
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You would think a merit scholarship would be imminent. Even a small one. Not for us. 2000+ SAT, 30+ACT, unweighted 3.6, weighted 4.4 GPA and not even the tiniest amount offered. The offered me two loans though. I don’t get how four schools could offer a scholarship and UMD stays silent on the issue. What’s the deal?
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Recently went to 5 different families’ homes for dinner. Dressed very nicely for each event. Four of the families offered lovely desserts after dinner. One of the families didn’t offer any dessert after dinner. Not even a small one.
I don’t get how four families could offer a nice dessert and another family offers nothing. What’s the deal?
Colleges and Universities are under various influences and pressures. Many scholarships are to attract a certain type of student to help the school school profile. Schools have to run based on their budget and their priorities.
Once you have all the college acceptances and financial outlook to each, you can determine what is the best opportunity. However if there is a money difference, and a school could perhaps match what another is offering for your student to attend there…sometimes can negotiate in the right situation. But do not negotiate, get a concession, and then back out from student attending there - just makes it bad for anyone else who would follow through.
What’s the deal? Maybe they had a large gathering the night before and offered a small piece of dessert to just a few people and then ran out.
Or their policy is to only offer dessert to people who they really, really, really want to come back again and again.
Or the only dessert they give out comes from bakeries who donate it to the dinner party hosts but specify the type of people who are entitled to eat it.