<p>I'm happy your non-URM son received a merit scholarship of $5,000, but I still think that the big scholarships mainly go to females and URMs. With tuition alone costing $36,950, a $5,000 scholarship is not close to being equivalent to a 1/2 tuition or full tuition scholarship.</p>
<p>It would be interesting to know the demographics of merit scholarship winners. I wonder if that information is available anywhere? I wish we had sought out or requested this info when we were looking, because I would not have let son fall in love with CMU and think that his academic and artistic talent would help him. Maybe families considering CMU, or any college, for next year should find this information rather than assuming that everything is fair. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I know two white males in CS with significant scholarships- one half tuition and the other full tuition. One of them had significant research experience in high school; I'm not sure about the other.</p>
<p>My son has a 4.65 gpa; 2330 sat; 800 on math IIc, 800 on sat II chemistry, and 780 on sat II molecular biology; 20 semester hours of advanced math at a major university; minor research experience; state awards in science olympiad, debate, and math academic bowl; national qualifier in debate; will have taken 11 ap tests before graduation (so far he has scored 5's on the 4 he took last year); and has worked 20 hours per week for the past 5 years running his own computer programming business. We do not qualify for any financial aid. His merit award - $0.00! Just wondering what it takes to get one! Thanks!</p>
<p>Ditto momofchris' situation. Top 1% of large competitive hs class (4.6something gpa), top test scores, relevant work experience since 15, many extracurricular academic classes, 4 year letterman, extensive awards up to state level in academics and music, tons of AP's with top scores, excellent essays and recommendations, accepted to all schools within CMU (how many people can say that?), generous merit awards from every other university...merit award from CMU=$500. Well, whatever it takes at CMU, I guess he didn't have "it".</p>
<p>You know, I used to feel bad about it, but now I feel like there is absolutely nothing else son could have done to make himself a better candidate. The only thing that might have helped him would have been being able to change those things about himself that were unchangable.</p>
<p>It does make you wonder with some of these amazing stats. I don't have an answer, just that common sense says the awards go to >whatever they don't have enough of but want more of<; whatever that may be...which may change from year to year.</p>
<p>Along these lines, go through the Harvard or Yale or any super-competitive school admissions threads and you'll see a number of "2400 and valedictorian and everything over-the-top" people rejected, yet 2150s accepted. The 2150 has something the 2400 doesn't or fills some niche. Same I guess with these merit awards.</p>
<p>The one thing (other than good test scores and all that jazz) that the two non-URMs I know who have major scholarships have in common is that they're both from Pennsylvania. Perhaps there is some money earmarked for students in state? CMU isn't a state school, but that doesn't mean that some alum didn't create a scholarship fund for in state students.</p>
<p>We just returned from admitted student's weekend at school choice #2. It was disappointing. The town is great, the area as well, the campus even. But the program just isn't the same and the facilities it's housed in shabby. We were not impressed with it compared to CMU's program (Design). BUT........it's half the cost. I love CMU but my parents just can't stomach $50,000 a year (didn't qualify for need or merit). This week is going to be hell.......</p>
<p>ksmcb, I feel sorry for you because I know what kind of week you are going to be having. If all else fails, you can recrunch numbers and make the pros&cons list. Just know that you will be fine no matter what you decide.</p>
<p>To lkf725, what school did your son end up going to?</p>
<p>Pitt, and it turned out to be a great decision for him on many levels. (Feel free to pm me if you want details.)</p>
<p>you have to look at it this way, coming out of cmu you are going to make so much STARTING salary, you can pay off your debts. Like I am going to CMu for sure and considering that four years from now CMU will be more selective, better known, and held to par with stanford and mit for what I am studying (ECE and Comp Sci), I can expect to make upwards of 75,000 starting...which is ridiculously high if you think about it.</p>
<p>are international students eligible for merit-based scholarships?
there's no separate app, right?</p>