Merit

Colleges and Universities A-Z Ohio State University
1

One of our daughters friends who is a HS Sr told us that a 3.5 overall HS GPA will automatically get a $10 (or $11K?) off at OSU regardless of ACT/SAT scores. Does anyone know if this is true? I haven’t searched the OSU site yet because it sounds too good to be true. Our D who is a Jr wants to go to school OOS (we live in NJ) and is looking at schools that offer OOS waivers which is usually tied to GPA and ACT/SAT scores.

Also, we are visiting OSU in June, can anyone suggests good things to see and do while we are there besides the formal campus tour?

2

My friend just commited to OSU. We have a bit of a weird scale at my school, but on a regular 4.0 scale she definitely has a 3.7+ with decent/good test scores. She received no scholarship as OOS. So as far as I know, it is definitely NOT guaranteed just for having a GPA 3.5+. But of course others may have some other info, I’m not 100% positive.

3

You should look at this discussion:: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ohio-state-university-columbus/1841920-national-buckeye.html I do not think the information you were given is accurate. Ohio State gives FANTASTIC scholarships to OOS students with high class ranks and high ACT/SAT scores. Last year, 96% of freshmen were in the top 25% of their high school class (65% in the top 10%) and OSU is seeking to raise that number.

4

Bloke123 - merit is competitive and not automatic unfortunately. And you have to apply by Novemebr 1 to be considered. Here is a string about the same issue from applicants this year:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/ohio-state-university-columbus/1853451-ohio-state-university-scholarships.html

When we visited, we went to an OSU hockey game. I think it helps if you can see the students out of class. Dinner and shopping on High street is a must too. Also my D loved the vibe at Hang Over Easy where we went for breakfast before our tour. I believe that was the moment she saw herself at OSU. I hope your daughter has a similar experience. Good luck with the college visits!

5

Thank you both, very helpful.

6

Here is the link to OSU Scholarship page…Hope this helps…

http://undergrad.osu.edu/money-matters/scholarships.html

7

Definitely not true @Bloke123 .

My son had a 5.0/5.0 gpa and a 28 on ACT and was in top 18% of his class of almost 700.

He “technically” qualified for Buckeye and Trustee but received nothing at all from OSU. We thought he would get a little something from all the posts/info we read online, but I don’t think he was even close to getting merit scholarships. Give it a shot but don’t hang hopes too high on getting merit if you are right at the benchmarks.

8

Wow Bridge4, that is very discouraging. What do you think the reason was for that? It sounds very competitive. We scheduled a visit for early June but are now rethinking it.

9

@Bloke123 It’s not unusual at all. OSU has a reputation in higher ed circles for not offering a lot of merit aid. For me personally, I got a ton more merit aid from other schools but very little from OSU. I went to OSU anyway for other reasons, but it’s a bummer.

10

Bloke123- when we took our two college aged kids on their college visits, unless we could drive back and forth in one day, (we are from Maryland) we waited to see what merit they got before we booked any travel or incurred any costs. They figured out what schools offered what they were looking for academically, applied by the early action deadline (Nov 1) and then waited to see if they were awarded merit. If receiving merit is a deal breaker, I would wait until after she hears about acceptance and merit. Then the fun begins-

11

My daughter just committed to OSU from out of state. She had a 32 ACT/3.9 GPA from a pretty rigorous high school. She received the National Buckeye Scholarship and the Maximus Scholarship. She has a friend that is going from the same high school with a 28 ACT/3.7 GPA and she didn’t receive anything. It definitely appears that the competition was much tighter this year than in previous years.

12

I disagree 100% with @MarcusOSU. I researched merit aid at every National University ranked in the top 70 or so, and Ohio State gives more than ANY other public university to OOS students with a high ACT/SAT and class rank . Clemson and University of Minnesota are 2 other good options. But at my D’s school, a 3.5 GPA isn’t even in the top 25%. To get a significant amount of merit aid from any highly ranked public university with a class rank below the top 25% would be tough (unless he/she has a stellar ACT/SAT score or another hook).

13

@Bloke123 There are other scholarships that don’t solely rely on merit - the Morrill Scholarship is for students committed to diversity (and that isn’t code for minorities - there are plenty of non-minority recipients). It requires one additional essay, and there are ~300 awarded each year. At the least, it pays tuition, and if selected for and successful at an interview, you can receive full COA. If you are going for merit, apply by November 1 as new2osu said. The scholarships are competitive and not guaranteed, and you will definitely have a much better chance going early action (non-binding).

14

Well, yeah @momfactfinder, of course OSU gives aid to OOS students–because they still pay a lot more money than in-state students, even with the scholarships. It’s a win-win for them. I was an in-state student, of course. No way would I have gone to OSU OOS–it wouldn’t have been worth it to me. Way too expensive, even with the “national buckeye” scholarship.

15

I get tired of the negative impression MarcusOSU is trying to create of Ohio State.

I do not know about history (or humanities in general), but the truth is that plenty are flocking to Ohio State with OOS + National Buckeye (and some even just OOS full pay). And the reasons are easy to see. First, Pennsylvania and Illinois residents pay less this way than what they will pay for their in-state Engineering or Business at Penn State and UIUC, respectively (both of these colleges charge addition 3-4K for professional colleges). Second, Ohio State is so much academically stronger than the best in-state option for many states, like Kentucky, West Virginia, or even New York and New Jersey. I talk to many of these students and they are happy with the choice they have made (they are in engineering).

Undeniably, it is a good situation for OSU also, because these students are still paying for than the in-state tuition (which has been frozen for 3 years). And those with National Buckeye are improving the overall profile of the student body. And it is slowing making OSU a national brand.

16

I, too, am tired of the negative impression that @MarcusOSU puts out.

@Bloke123 The National Buckeye Scholarship makes the cost of attendance nearly comparable to instate tuition, so not “way too expensive”. Per the website, the requirements are top 40% class rank, ACT 28 or higher or SAT reading/math 1260 or higher. If the student is in the top 20% of their class, they could also receive the trustees scholarship. This year, that would have been $11,400 NBS plus $1900 Trustees for a total of $13,300 toward $27,365 OOS tuition. In state tuition is $10,037. If your daughter has higher scores and ranking, she would be eligible for more. And as @mom1girl said, there are other scholarships - Morrill is full tuition (in state or OOS). The biggest thing is to apply before November 1 - after that time, it is much less likely you will get much or any.

Do visit Columbus - go to the Short North and have some Jeni’s ice cream, check out Huntington Park for a Clippers game (minor league baseball), and get pastry at La Chatelaine on Lane Avenue.

17

@16ohio the stats you quote are minimums to be eligible for NBS. Merit is not guaranteed as others have mentioned. Just to be clear.

18

D is OOS (NJ) Competitive Morris County HS that doesn’t rank. 4.0 GPA 2130 SAT no ACT. Applied early action received National Buckeye and Maximus. Committed to OSU as soon as she could. Thrilled with the offer and opportunity. Accepted to PSU (no PSU shots please son is very happy Junior) and Michigan - both schools offered no merit money. Very happy with interaction with OSU thus far and excited for her.
You must apply early action to be considered for these merit scholarships.

19

@Bloke123 - If your D has a 3.5 GPA and desire to go OOS, you might want to consider the following universities. Warning - some of these scholarships are NOT automatic and tuition costs will increase but this gives you some idea - just a starting place:

ALABAMA (OOS tuition = $25,950)
29 ACT and 3.5GPA - $12,975 scholarship (OOS tuition= $12,975)
30 ACT and 3.5GPA - $17,300 scholarship (OOS tuition=$8,650)
32 ACT and 3.5GPA = $25,950 scholarship (OOS tuition=$0)

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY (OOS tuition = $25,122)
29 ACT and 3.4GPA - $14,000 scholarship (OOS tuition=$11,122)
31 ACT and 3.6GPA - $18,000 scholarship (OOS tuition=$7,122) plus one $4,000 scholarship for study abroad/research

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA (OOS tuition=$29,440)
30 ACT and 4.28 weighted GPA on 5.0 scale = in-state tuition

LSU (OOS tuition = $26,820)
33 ACT and 3.0GPA - $22,000 scholarship (OOS tuition = $4,820)
30 ACT and 3.0GPA - $17,000 scholarship (OOS tuition = $9,820)

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY (OOS tuition=$24,268)
30 ACT and 3.5GPA - $10,000 scholarship (OOS tuition=$14,268)

MISSISSIPPI (OOS tuition=$20,674)
30 ACT and 3.0GPA = $10,500 scholarship (OOS tuition=$10,174)

MISSISSIPPI STATE (OOS tuition=$20,142)
33 ACT and 3.5GPA - $16,500 scholarship (OOS tuition=$3,642)
30 ACT and 3.5GPA - $13,500 scholarship (OOS tuition=$6,642)
26 ACT and 3.5GPA - $12,500 scholarship (OOS tuition=$7,642)

20

Thank you all very much for all the great info, this site is amazing. Our D REALLY wants to go to school OOS but the only way she can is if it costs about what it would cost for us to send her to Rutgers which is about $28K COA. We have been looking a lot at the southern schools because they are known for being generous with merit scholarships as momfactfinder has posted above and because we have strong ties there, my mother is from Mobile and my father is from a small town in LA (Lower Alabama). I was born in Mobile, along with my two older brothers, just before my father was transferred to NYC by International Paper and we still have a lot of family in lower Alabama. We visited Ole Miss this past Fall where my father went on a basketball scholarship and are scheduled to visit Univ. of Alabama, and Florida State this August while on vacation down in Gulf Shores. My parents have owned a place in Gulf Shores since 1979 and our D has been down there almost every year of her life and loves it but is not sure that she wants to go to school in the south mostly (I think) because of stereotypes which she seams to be slowly getting over. Regardless, we would love for her to have some other options besides the south and we (including her) are excited about what we have learned so far about OSU. We are going to keep our scheduled visit for early June based on what I’ve read here. With a 3.8 average so far, it sounds like she might have a shot at it.

chesterfoxes, our daughters may go to the same HS, do you by chance live in Chester, NJ?