<p>Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like IU's policy on automatic merit scholarships is outrageously unfair?</p>
<p>Exactly what is unfair about the policy? After months of researching merit aid for my D, I can state that IU has one of the more transparent merit programs around. </p>
<p>The GPA and SAT scores needed are very clearly stated on the website. They are updated in June giving applicants time to retake tests if needed. IU will take updated scores even after one applies. The priority deadline is clear. How is that unfair?</p>
<p>My only quip is that IU doesn’t take into account course rigor when looking at GPA, it is totally superficial. A student with a 3.6 taking all AP and Honors classes will miss out on the scholarship that a student with a 3.9 taking all fluff classes was able to receive.</p>
<p>This didn’t happen to me, but a lot of my friends. It just seems a little ridiculous.</p>
<p>I think it’s pretty fair. Sure, GPA’s are different at every school, but the standards are posted far before the application is up, so if you feel you need that money, you have ample time to boost your GPA.</p>
<p>I think they do take course rigor into account by looking at the weighted GPA if provided. Someone taking AP’s and honors should have a higher weighted GPA. </p>
<p>Someone taking all fluff classes still needs to have the SAT scores to get the scholarship.</p>
<p>I’m .05 away from 4000 more a year. Can you get considered for further merit awards by the end of senior year or is it already set?</p>
<p>I would hope so, but I’m not sure.</p>
<p>i disagree with you, flatteredpeacock
my GPA is below the required level but i’m sure that they considered the rigor of my coursework (IB) as they gave me a 9K scholarship
my SAT is 1460 if that makes a difference…
Besides, IU is a great school and considering the economic crisis, is giving great help to the students with its many scholarships</p>
<p>bd–I recall reading somewhere that applicants could send in new information for scholarships until Feb. 1. I can’t find it now though.</p>
<p>If they did take into consideration the rigor of your coursework that’s fantastic, my only problem was that on their website it states very specifically that you MUST have that GPA/those scores, when a GPA is so relative to the school.</p>
<p>They definitely do because I’m nowhere near the required GPA but I have 4 AP classes a year</p>
<p>Flatteredpeacock,</p>
<p>Indiana University will take whatever GPA your school puts on the transcript. Thus, they will use the “weighted” GPA if that is what the high school gives, but they will also use the “unweighted” GPA if that is what the high school gives.</p>
<p>Obviously, that means it is very important for you to check with your school and see if–at least in your case–they can put the “weighted” GPA on the transcript. Doing so could make all the difference in whether you do–or do not–get the scholarship–and for the larger amounts that you would like. It also could determine whether you get direct admit status or not to the major you are interested in.</p>
<p>P.S. I think they try to determine if you were given the extra “weighted” points in the scholarship decisions–but I don’t think they do this for the direct admit decisions.</p>
<p>Calcruzer, do you know how IU handles students from schools that don’t provide GPA’s and do not weight grades at all? They have to have some kind of mechanism for these unusual cases.</p>
<p>This wasn’t a personal post. I was just stating that it seemed unfair to me. In a college meeting a student asked about the automatic merit scholarships because their GPA was too low for one (yet had several AP’s) and the representative told them that it was a flat number and they couldn’t look at each individuals complete history, perhaps that was just a really poorly informed school representative, though.</p>
<p>That is what they told my Son too. GPA and ACT are firm with scholarships even if you are .5 off.</p>
<p>Sorry, I don’t know how they handle those with unusual GPAs. My guess is they probably try to convert these as best as possible.</p>
<p>As far as the automatic scholarships, now that I think about it, I remember my son did get just the minimum one (since his school sent the “unweighted” GPA) and not the higher “weighted” one that would have been based upon adding in points from the IB honors courses–so it cost us something like $8,000 to $12,000 in additional money. That’s why I’m encouraging people like feathered peacock to have his school send in the higher weighted GPA–even if they have to do so in a separate letter from the high school counselor or high school principal.</p>
<p>Good idea except They will not accept separate letters from the school it has to be on the transcript.</p>