Morrill Scholars Program Class of 2020

So if we don’t hear by this week we are for sure not getting Morrrill? I got accepted pretty late (8th) so is it possible that I might get my Morrill notification late?

@VaishS i think this Friday is the last day to find out if you are going to recieve Distinction. However, i believe decisions are still coming out for Prominence and Excellence

@VaishS, I don’t think that’s the case. Others in this thread and in the last admission’s cycle thread wrote that notifications of offers for Morrill went out after January. As I understand it, the Jan. 29 deadline is in reference to those applicants who have received Prominence/Excellence to date and are being considered for the Distinction. There maybe additional rounds for Distinction consideration; however, I don’t think you should necessarily conclude that you won’t get Morrill if OSU does not send you notification by the end of the week. Good luck.

@fatherof2boys I hope we both hear good news!!

@freezycool, if the timing of the initial Morrill notifications is a measure of how competitive an applicant is, then I think you have a better chance at Distinction than my son. I believe you received your notification weeks ahead of him.

I’m just happy that OSU gave us a definitive date to get word of Distinction consideration this early. Even if my son is not invited for an interview, he can go ahead and register for an admitted student visit. I’ve been holding off booking his flight to Columbus as airline prices have risen. My son needs to visit campus to help him make a decision if OSU is the right fit.

I saw on another thread that you are applying for Honors/Scholars. I think that’s a smart choice. Given the size at OSU having priority registration benefits of any kind, along with being a member of a more tight knit academic community would be beneficial. According to OSU’s website, about 60% of Morrill Scholars participate in the Honors and Scholars program. Have you decided which of the programs you prefer, Honors or Scholars?

I’m nervous as well. On last year’s thread there were some students who were considered for distinction and select for an interview and their original email of receiving Prominence/Excellence did not say they were being considered.

Just speculating here; however, I imagine that ODI has a certain number of Morrill Distinction and Prominence/Excellence scholarships to disburse. Because some recipients of the awards end of enrolling elsewhere it likely frees up the scholarships that were previously awarded to be disbursed to other applicants. This is pure speculation on my part, but I think it may be a reasonable assumption.

I think it is very good speculation, @fatherof2boys. My son has also applied for the Morrill, but he has not heard anything yet. I still have hope because he has a friend who is currently a junior at OSU who got his Prominence award in March that year. He was not up for Distinction at all, just offered Prominance. Also, I read on here somewhere that ODI will inform applicants either way, and my son has heard nothing. I take that as a positive since he has not been eliminated (has anyone been officially notified that they have been eliminated?). My son has already been offered the National Buckeye Scholarship as well as the Maximus ($17,100 per year), and he’s also been accepted to the Scholars program, so that is his worst case scenario. Good luck to your son.

@Winky1 if the speculation is correct, then its likely that ODI reviews all of the applications for Morrill and ranks them somehow. Those kids who received Morrill notification during the first wave of notifications likely were at the top of the rankings. Some of these kids may have ended up withdrawing their admission to OSU because they received early decision (ED) admission to some private colleges, which freed up additional Morrill awards to be disbursed. My son received his notification on Morrill back in early January, which may have been the result of some ED candidates to private colleges withdrawing their admission to OSU. If this is correct, then we might see further disbursements between now and March as other Morrill recipients decide to drop out and decline admission to go to OSU because they were admitted to other schools that were their first choice colleges, or they receive financial aid packages in the spring which makes their first choice colleges more feasible.

@Winky1 What is Prominence award? Is it Eminence Scholarship? My son just got an invitation to apply this scholarship. I am wondering if it is like every one gets invitation.

I hope your ranked application is true… I’ve got my fingers, yours toes, and split ends crossed for good news on Friday.
(P.S. - open invitation to anyone reading, I need someone to look over my honors/scholars essay!)

@Maple2020 Morrill Scholars Program (not to be confused with the OSU Scholars program) is a part of ODI. The Prominence scholarship is a full ride based on an essay pertaining to diversity.

Eminence is completely different. Eminence (correct me if I’m wrong) is a part of the Honors program and requires a high ACT/SAT in order to even get the application.

@Chopinspiano Thanks for the clarification. My son did not apply Morrill Scholar Program. That is why I did not what it was

@freezycool me too! I heard during the first round but I was not originally considered for distinction so I’m hoping the rankings are true.

@Chopinspiano when you state that you were not originally considered for Distinction, do I understand you are stating that your Morrill Prominence email notification did not have this language: “… you are being considered for the Morrill Scholarship Program’s premier award, the Distinction Scholarship. This scholarship is equal to the value of the full-cost of attendance. You will be notified by January 29 if you are recommended for an on-campus interview. These interviews will take place March 4 – 5, 2016.”

@fatherof2boys Yes that’s correct.

I think that would mean my ranking theory is totally off base and there’s an element of randomness in the notifications. Still it’s hard to reconcile that w/how or why my son’s email, and others, included the language about notification of Distinction invitation by Jan. 29.

@fatherof2boys I think you’re correct with your theory. Maybe my essay was just borderline between the two haha.

So nervous! (not contributing to this at all. just nervous.)

72 more hours @freezycool and we should have some additional clarity. To be honest, I was surprised that DS made it this far, the idea of Distinction seems unattainable…happy that OSU gave a date certain communication and I hope that they are indeed able to provide some type of notification by Friday, one way or the other.