<p>I applied ER and was accepted to Mich LSA about a month ago.</p>
<p>A few days ago I received a letter in the mail informing me that I was a recipient of the Michigan Tradition Scholarship ($40,000 total- $5,000/semester).</p>
<p>I am out of state and live in a rural area. The UMich website states that the scholarhip is for, "Students from underrepresented high schools, geographic areas, and socioeconomic populations."</p>
<p>I guess I was just wondering if anyone knew anything else about this scholarship. I haven't been able to find much information. The letter and their website are both fairly vague and I'd really like to know more. Thanks!</p>
<p>The UMich website states that the scholarhip is for, "Students from underrepresented high schools, geographic areas, and socioeconomic populations."</p>
<p>This scholarship program was begun in 2007-08. It was instituted as a way to maintain diversity at the school while still staying within the bounds of a Michigan law that banned using race as an admissions factor. They did not ban the use of the factors noted on the website, so that is what they use.</p>
<p>Yes, just as others have said, it's designed to increase enrollment among students who come from the kinds of neighborhoods and schools that are traditionally under-represented at U-M. Rural areas are (probably) underrepresented.</p>
<p>I received this scholarship as well, but i believe my school is definitely not underrepresented despite being OOS. Perhaps my low-income status or where I live got me this scholarship. </p>
<p>Though I am grateful in receiving this scholarship, U-M wants me to pay my deposit by Feb 1st to actually get the money from this scholarship. But wouldn't that mean I am committed to attend U-M? I am applying to other schools and want to see their financial packages before I want to commit myself...but if I do, I'll lose out on this scholarship, right?</p>
<p>I suppose that's true, but UMich is my first choice so the scholarship was just sort of icing on the cake.
For those who are strongly considering other schools the deadline is probably a huge hassle. It is a lot of money.</p>
<p>You are absolutely not required to send a deposit before May 1, and if they make that a condition of receiving the award, then it ought to be refundable if you change your mind prior to May 1. Colleges do this ("require" deposits earlier)because it's a high priority for them to know what scholarships are going to be accepted, but they have to be flexible about it or they risk violating NACAC policies. Michigan is not out to make your life hard--it just wants to get commitments for these awards ASAP.</p>
<p>If you're low enough income, you might be able get your enrollment deposit waived, which might help the issue for you.</p>
<p>hoedown, my D is in the same boat. We are OOS and while $10k is nice, we are waiting on other RD schools as well. She has to accept the scholarship offer by 2/15; we'll have no idea if she's admitted to any other schools by then. I was under the impression it would be unethical to place a deposit at Michigan and not withdraw other applications. She is really excited about Michigan but I'm thinking about $$. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on the approach to take with Michigan?</p>
<p>In your shoes, I would contact U-M and ask for them to clarify their policy or make an exception in your case. I don't think it's unethical for you to want to review all of your daughter's options, and you can't do that if you deposit at Michigan and withdraw other applications. </p>
<p>NACAC's statement of good practice for postsecondary institutions state that they must (I've included the two relevant statements): </p>
<ol>
<li><p>permit first-year candidates for fall admission to choose among offers of admission,
financial aid and scholarships until May 1 and will state this deadline explicitly in
their offers of admission; </p></li>
<li><p>work with their institutions’ senior administrative officers to ensure that financial
aid and scholarship offers and housing options are not used to manipulate
commitments prior to May 1;</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks, that is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. We're headed up there for an accepted students day visit and that should help with the decision making process. The school has so much to offer but I'm more concerned about $$ than I was last year at this time.</p>
<p>I hope you have a great visit--if the U offered your daughter that scholarship, clearly they want her, and I hope it works out for you guys financially and fit-wise. U-M isn't trying to be mean; it's just that it's a really tough job managing scholarship offers and U-M, like other schools, push families as much as they can on deadlines to help them do that. But they are not out to make your life miserable, and I think if you ask nicely they will work with you.</p>
<p>I'll try to order up some good weather. No promises on that score though! :)</p>
<p>Yep, D is really excited- already seeing herself as a Wolverine. </p>
<p>Any tips for what we should do while we're in Ann Arbor? We have a late flight out on Saturday, thinking we'd do explore a bit while we're there. Reasonably priced restaurants that won't break the bank, preferably not a chain? Anything we absolutely should not miss?</p>
<p>Well, a real local institution is Zingerman's. It started out as a good deli and has since become a small empire including a bakery, a creamery, a cooking school, and a restaurant. It's known nationally for its mail-order catalog and some books on food written by the founders. A lunch at their Roadhouse (on the west side of town, at the intersection of Jackson and Maple) wouldn't break you entirely, and it's a fun place to go--the menu is interesting to read and the waitstaff have a lot to say about the food, should you ask. They've got macaroni and cheese that they serve for $15--and it's worth it!</p>
<p>Ann Arbor is fun to just poke around in. There are interesting shops in the Kerrytown complex (just north of downtown) like a huge paper store (Hollanders) and a farmer's market attached that would be open on Saturday. Downtown itself also has some interesting stores--I often take guests to Peaceable Kingdom and Acme Mercantile. Artsy stuff can be found at 16 Hands and Selo Shevel, and I love the old-fashioned home & garden stuff at Downtown Home & Garden (on Ashley). In the other direction (on 4th street) there's a newish tea shop, more bookstores, a dog biscuit bakery... walking and browsing is great if the weather isn't bad.</p>
<p>Both the U-M Art museum and the archeology museum are closed while they undergo expansion, but the Exhibit museum (think dinosaurs, natural history) would be open if you're into that kind of thing.</p>
<p>There's plenty of fun/weird stores near campus as you're walking around. Ann Arbor has an indoor mall down by the interstate, but that's largely chain stuff you could find anywhere.</p>
<p>Not a problem; happy to be helpful. And feel free to ask people you see on the street. People are friendly. If the weather is nice enough that you want to do the downtown/kerrytown thing,you can do both (they're close together, connected by a corridor of interesting places to check out). Park at one and make your way to the other.</p>
<p>Greetings, S and H.
S, my son is in the same boat - even more complex as he is a dual applicant LSA AND school of music, the latter of which does not decide until after Feb. 14 interview. So I called Fin Aid and explained the deadline issue.</p>
<p>Her advice to me was to secure the offer with the deposit if I felt there was a high probability of attendance or if I had a strong desire to hang onto the award. She said there was no penalty of which she was aware if after Feb. 14, my son withdraws his acceptance, and that he did not at this point need to withdraw other applications until he'd compared financial packages. To quicken the process of imminent withdrawal to other schools and to be fair, we submitted estimated FAFSA early and notified one of the portfolio based schools that we had accepted MI but preferred not to withdraw until firm news from SOM. That school appreciated the info and is still in the process of finalizing offers.</p>
<p>H's comments ring true; it is a sticky situation integrity-wise. But we've chosen to view the deposit as a conditional acceptance and as an "opportunity cost" of $200, whether he uses it or not. That said, MI is his first choice irrespective of financial consideration, so it may be easier for us than you.</p>
<p>Also, just a note about Ann Arbor visit...we visited last year and took in two musical theatre plays, checked out the Ark (folk music) and made a point of parking the car and getting everywhere by bus. The bus experience is good practice and gave a good feel of the student population (awesome humans, helpful and conscious). That and walking helped my son envision his experience. You miss a lot in Ann Arbor if you drive, because the streets make no sense and its frustrating to figure out the lay of the land. Make sure to check out the Michigan Learning Communities as well and their related residences as when it comes time for the housing form your d will want to apply.</p>