<p>Last year a close friend from a prep school choose UNCs Moreahead scholar program over Harvard. His parents are well off. He did not receive much in financial aid from Harvard. He did it as this scholarship is very prestigious and he can go to a good GRAD school. One close friend this year is having similar dilemma. He is already EA in one of the HY School. However unlike the previous kid, this kid is in prep school on full financial aid. This kid probably will choose politics as a career sometime in future. Do you think going to UNC will hurt this kid in future, as he may miss political exposure and future supporters? Why?</p>
<p>No I dont think UNC will hurt him at all. It is an excellent school and will likely give him a very good scholarship. Are you concerned that it doesn't have the NAME that a school like Harvard does? Or that he will not meet the people that he would at Harvard to network with. Or that he won't get as good an education?</p>
<p>Having 3 in high school in NC, I know why first student mentioned chose Morehead over Harvard. It is a very presitigious award as you have mentioned. The full tuition, room, board, books, fees, computer and other perks are all covered for 4 years. In addition each summer numerous and varied programs/projects are completely funded by the Morehead. Previous Moreheads from years past provide a very large and far-reaching network. Most of this information is posted at the UNC website under Morehead scholars. I know at my kiddos high school, one student (likely val) made it to the semi-finals. She was not chosen as a finalist. She had very high stats, 7-8 APs, editor-in-chief, student body prez, 4 year varsity athlete... She was just happy she made it to the semi-finals.</p>
<p>The second student you mentioned, is he in the running for the Morehead or has already been selected as a finalist? That would play a large deciding factor in whether to go HY or Carolina.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>See this discussion from last year's archives on someone who turned down Yale for the Morehead. Morehead is a wonderful opportunity, and patterns itself on the Rhodes scholarship. In fact, many Morehead scholars become Rhodes scholars.</p>
<p>There is more, I'll try to find the archives.</p>
<p>I think education will not be much different, as he will get personal attention at UNC more than Harvard. I think the Morehead Scholar maybe very close to Harvard reputation. However his biggest concern as you said people to network with.</p>
<p>The Morehead Scholar program is a great deal, and I can't imagine how going to UNC will hurt him in the future, particularly (but certainly not exclusively) if he ends up staying in the VA-NC-SC area.</p>
<p>Well, if your friend is in prep school on full financial aid, he may very likely receive $$ from HYP. In fact, if he has received EA acceptance from HYP, should he not have heard already about need-based aid from them. Did your friend submit FAFSA and CSS or whatever the required financial forms were?
Anyway, Chapel Hill is a fabulous school, great academics, and the only thing a politician-wanna-be may not like is the fact that it is 80% one-state kids.</p>
<p>Here is another archive:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=28635&highlight=Morehead%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=28635&highlight=Morehead</a></p>
<p>His financial status has changed as his parents are in much better financially as compare to when he applied to prep school. They immigrated to USA 8 years ago. No he has not received any fin aid papers from the EA School. And the GC is telling him that he may be close to be receiving Morehead Award.</p>
<p>The Morehead is a fantastic opportunity - it is not JUST a matter of receiving a "free" education and honestly, I think the financial side is more of the "icing on the cake" than the reason to choose the Morehead. </p>
<p>The Morehead provides all sorts of opportunities that most undergraduate students - even at Harvard - do not and can not receive. The travel, internships, and networking that are built into the Morehead Scholars program are absolutely superb. </p>
<p>As a Morehead scholar, the program gives you opportunities for introductions that you simply will not receive through any other undergrad program - if you're interested in working with a nobel prize scientist, they will see that you get the chance. Want to work on capital hill? Done. Interested in journalism? They'll set you up at a top newspaper.</p>
<p>Networking should not be an issue - if your friend talks to the Morehouse people about the program, he will quickly see how this can open doors he will never get opened at Harvard --- he will travel, do internships, meet and interact with leaders of all sorts --- all part of the program. The list of accomplishments of Morehead scholar alumni are incredible, and from what I understand alumni look out for each other and new Morehouse scholars in a very personal way. </p>
<p>I would have NO hesitation about a child of mine choosing the Morehead over Harvard, Yale, or virtually ANY other school in the U.S. and would, in fact, be severely disappointed if my child turned down the Morehead for another school.</p>
<p>"The Morehead Scholarship pays all expenses for four years of undergraduate study, including the costs of a laptop computer and four summer enrichment experiences. The scholarship is valued at approximately $80,000.</p>
<p>The semifinalists were chosen from among 1,362 students nominated by their high schools in October. The students were nominated for excellence in academic achievement, leadership, moral force of character and physical vigor. Recipients are chosen by merit and achievement, not financial need.</p>
<p>Regional selection committees will interview the semifinalists and select approximately 60 finalists. The Morehead central selection committee will interview the finalists in Chapel Hill on March 7 and 8. The 60 N.C. finalists will compete with approximately 55 finalists from other U.S. states and Great Britain. Morehead recipients will be announced March 11."</p>
<p>This info is what was posted on my kiddos school district's website last month.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>I don't know about UNC in general but the Morehead is a wonderful opportunity. It carries itself into summer where opportunities are provided for research/exploration/internships automatically because of being a Morehead Scholar. This starts from the summer BEFORE starting as a freshman. </p>
<p>I think a Morehead is comparable to being in HYPS and because of the attention showered on Moreheads (airconditioned dorms, recognition), it is a better deal than going to HYPS....but it depends on the individual student, of course.</p>
<p>Ha, what Carolyn said, she beat me to it!</p>
<p>
[quote]
His financial status has changed as his parents are in much better financially as compare to when he applied to prep school. They immigrated to USA 8 years ago. No he has not received any fin aid papers from the EA School. And the GC is telling him that he may be close to be receiving Morehead Award.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Mathmajor, you should ask your friend to start telling a story that is a bit more believable. While I am wondering why your friend has not received his financial aid package, the GC story is highly suspect. Do yourself a favor, check the links provided in this thread, and check the Morehead's website. I doubt that, after reading the material, you'd still believe that the GC has any way to know that your friend is close to "receiving Morehead award". The biggest surprise is not that the GC could be misguided or misleading, it is that your friend who is intelligent enough to be accepted EA at a prestigious school does not know the simplest facts about the selection process and value of the scholarship he applied to.</p>
<p>FWIW, there is a huge difference between the selection process in NC and the rest of the world. Until candidates reach the final rounds, the local selection is not as competitive as the US and international one is. The true selection starts at the finalist level.</p>
<p>Your friend probably won't go wrong either way.....there's a student at my son's private school who was offered the Morehead but chose to pay full freight at Princeton for this year.....word is that he's glad he did.....</p>
<p>The most brilliant person I know was a Morehead scholar. The thing is, the HYP mystique is such that many kids just can't pass on an admit to one of these schools. Don't try to make sense of it, it's just lore, culture and other intangibles.</p>
<p>Xiggi:</p>
<p>Since I am still only a 10th grader, so I am not aware with all the facts in the case. However, I am saying what I know. </p>
<p>GC observation might be based on some facts, which I do not know GC is telling him that he may be close to be receiving Morehead Award. </p>
<p>Our school is asking the seniors to name their top choice for college. Thus, this kids seems to have a dilemma and asking for help.</p>
<p>Mathmajor, you are obviously trying to be a good friend. Your friend should ask your GC to elaborate on his position. The selection process for the Morehead is well established, and your friend should know his precise status, and if he made it as a Finalist. However, since the selection weekend won't take place for another month, I am not sure what the GC might know that the committee does not know yet. As far as naming his top choice, didn't he apply EA to have the luxury to declare at a later date? </p>
<p>Outside NC October
Approximately 50-60 nominees selected as Morehead finalists.</p>
<p>Outside NC October 29
Deadline for Morehead Foundation to notify nominees as to whether or not they have been selected as finalists</p>
<p>NC Only January
Regional interviews held across North Carolina. Each of the 11 regional committees interviews approximately 21 of the 240 semifinalists. Approximately 60-70 students are selected as Morehead finalists.</p>
<p>All March 5 through March 8, 2005
Morehead Final Selection Weekend held in Chapel Hill. The North Carolina finalists are joined by approximately 50-60 out-of-state finalists and three British finalists for interviews before the Central Selection Committee. Approximately 40 students are offered The Morehead each year.</p>
<p>All March 9
Foundation notifies finalists regarding interview results.</p>
<p>All April 15th, 2005
Deadline for recipients to accept The Morehead.</p>
<p>The last two students who were nominated from my son's school (Not in North Carolina) were offered the Morehead. His school is very well respected by the Morehead Foundation. Both students who were offered the award were URM's. They both declined the offer. One went to Harvard, the other to Stanford (he was from CA).</p>
<p>My son was nominated last year from his school (out of his class of 330), but did not make the finals. His GC said that he was the strongest candidate that she had seen for the award in quite some time. She nominated him and his application was voted on by the entire college staff, the Dean of Students, and the Principal. The fact that the last two from his school declined the offer probably hindered his nomination. In addition, he is not an URM. The sad thing is that he would have gladly accepted the Morehead. (and it would have saved us a lot of money - oh, well)</p>
<p>"Do you think going to UNC will hurt this kid in future, as he may miss political exposure and future supporters? "</p>
<p>A person can get political exposure and future supporters as a result of going to virtually any college in the country.</p>