My chances next year

Colleges and Universities A-Z Emory University
1

<p>Hello, I am a Junior in Alabama right now. Here are some stats on me:</p>

<p>SAT: 2150/2400 1st try will take again
ACT: Don't have them back yet but I got a 36 on the PLAN
National Merit Semifinalist (Don't know about Finalist yet but I made cutoff for semi)
GPA UW: ~3.7
GPA W: 4.35
Top 10% of class
Russian/Jewish Male
1st Gen
Competitive School
EC: Published Physics Research (Presented at Photonics West), Math Team (Mu Alpha Theta), AIME qualifier, BBYO officer, some volunteering, I work on cars/autocross
Good recs, good essays</p>

<p>What are my chances on getting accepted to Emory? Better yet, what are my chances at getting some merit scholarship money?</p>

<p>I will probably apply ED because Emory is one of my top choices but I may not because I hear you can get less financial aid because of applying ED.</p>

2

<p>I'd say a good chance to get into Emory. A reach at geting a 5000+ scholarship unless you need financial aid</p>

3

<p>
[quote]

I will probably apply ED because Emory is one of my top choices but I may not because I hear you can get less financial aid because of applying ED.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Well, I think the main reason applying ED can hurt one's financial aid package is that, if accepted, one is pretty much stuck with the package that is given. Whereas, if accepted in RD, one can compare Emory's financial aid package with that of all the colleges to which one was accepted. </p>

<p>Emory is need-blind, and I think that the assumption that applying ED will hurt your financial aid package because Emory knows that they don't have to compete for you is a dubious one. I'm not sure though; maybe someone else can share their knowledge on this matter.</p>

<p>By the way, I think your chances are good, especially if you get a 36 on the ACT.</p>

4

<p>Do I have a chance at getting Emory Scholars? I'm pretty sure that that is pushing it...</p>

5

<p>Yeah ESP is a little out of your range unless you raise your scores and GPA somewhat. Just try and write some impressive essays</p>

6

<p>I don't have any idea, but I would think that your physics research would more than make up for the minor score differences. Good luck.</p>

7

<p>hey just to let you know, you don't find out if you are a nmsemifinalist until around the beginning of your senior year (and finalist in feb of your senior year)
as of now, you just know that you are at least commended if your score report indicated that you qualified to proceed in the nmcompetition
also, you can't assume you made semifinalist status if you made the semifinalist cutoff score of last year's nmcompetition b/c this cutoff may change (for example, the semifinalist cutoff in my state went up about three points from the year before when i took the psat)
haha sorry this is not really important, but i'm telling you just in case</p>

8

<p>Yes I know about the cutoff thing but I can safely assume that I made it because I am more than 15 points above last years cutoff.</p>

<p>My SAT's as of now aren't where I want them to be. I expect/hope for ~2300 on the SAT's the second time I take them, some really god SAT II's when I take them in spring and then I'm also waiting for my ACT results.</p>

9

<p>I think you're in. There is really no need to apply ED (I don't think the slight boost it would give you is worth it). As for ESP, your physics research is impressive, but the semifinalist cut is based pretty heavily on SAT and ACT scores. You need to bring up your SAT and GPA/Class Rank if you want to be competitive for ESP.</p>

10

<p>Just for clarification my school doesn't do unweighted GPA. A person taking a regular course with an A gets a 4.0 while a person getting an A in an AP/Advanced course gets a 5.0 where I go.</p>

<p>Basically I take the hardest workload with all AP's/Honors. It reflects negatively on my self-calculated unweighted GPA but my real GPA is higher since I take all AP/Advanced.</p>

<p>I'm very confused though on how this will be taken into account by the schools I apply to. I've confirmed with my school guidance office that only the weighted GPA is sent to schools since my school doesn't even have an unweighted number to send.</p>

11

<p>They will probably recalculate using your transcript to get the unweighted GPA, but at the same time, they will see that you took the more challenging classes - it all works out.</p>

12

<p>Schools will recalculate your GPA on an unweighed scale so they can compare it to other students whose highschools do GPA differently (for example my school is on a 6.0 weighed scale with 7s for AP/Honors.) GPA is only one aspect of the admission process though. The rigor of the classes you take in high school is looked at separately. I know at Emory they say that taking the hardest classes counts significantly more than GPA. I think a 3.7 doesn't lessen your chances for admission at all. But ESP is very competitive so I don't know. It doesn't hurt trying though so def apply. Also, if your decision depends on financial aid I wouldn't apply early unless Emory is your top choice not just one of. It's better to keep your options open.</p>

13

<p>Are there any other scholarship opportunities at Emory--maybe for less money that I could also apply for?</p>

14

<p>Not really--just a few random ones like debate and music.</p>

15

<p>Also, can someone explain the financial aid process to me? Is there a income cutoff for financial aid? What are the factors that play a role in how much money a student receives? What (if anything) can I do to get more aid money?</p>

16

<p>There usually is a cutoff, around 50,000. The main factors are how much need and academic credentials. Ask for it.</p>

17

<p>Um that is totally bogus. First of all, there is no cutoff at elite schools like Emory. Second, the financial aid office doesn't even consider your academic record.</p>

18

<p>There's not an income cutoff because they look at other things like assets and if there are other children in colleges, etc. Also, pretty much all of Emory scolarships go through Emory Scholars. Even if you don't get Scholars, other Semifinalist get Liberal Arts Scholarships worth 10k, 12k or 14k, I know, I got 10k. Don't be discouraged from applying, your research looks good and if you have really strong essays, etc, don't count yourself out. Also apply for lots of outside scholarships too. Fill out the FAFSA and Profile early.</p>

19

<p>Lonewolf64,</p>

<p>Regarding your chances for admission, I think you stand a very good chance for admission at Emory, and I would also encourage you to gain your school’s nomination for the Emory Scholars Program next Fall (September timeframe), when you are a Senior. </p>

<p>About your application options, I think that if you have any considerations regarding being able to afford the cost of attending Emory, do not apply ED. With your academic stats, you should be fine applying RD and also keeping your options open to other possible financial aid offers from other schools. I also believe that, however slightly, you have better leverage for the Emory Scholars Program if they know that you have not already made a binding commitment to Emory via an ED application.</p>

<p>At Emory, as with most schools, there are two types of financial assistance: Merit-based scholarship awards and Need-based financial aid. Merit scholarships at Emory are largely administered through the Emory Scholars Program, which requires nomination by your secondary school during the early Fall of your Senior year. Some scholarships do not require school nomination, such as the the Barkley Debate Scholarships or various Music Scholarships. All of these merit scholarships are awarded based only on academic merit without consideration for financial need. See the following link to find out more about the Emory Scholars Program: <a href="http://www.college.emory.edu/current/achievement/scholars/prospective.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.college.emory.edu/current/achievement/scholars/prospective.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The other type of financial assistance is financial aid based on a student’s demonstrated need. There is no income “cut-off” as such. The process of applying for need-based financial aid begins with the process of applying for admission. Emory requires both the CSS Profile and the FAFSA financial aid forms to be completed and later updated (online), in addition to copies of your and your parents’ Federal tax forms. Financial aid comes from both federal sources (i.e., federal grant/loan and work/study programs) and institutional (Emory) sources (e.g., grants, which like scholarships do not have to be paid back). </p>

<p>Your best sources for more complete information would be Emory’s Office of Financial Aid (404-727-6039) and also their website. If you plan a visit to Emory’s campus, it would be helpful to also drop in on the Office of Financial Aid (same building as the Admission Office) to discuss your situation with a Financial Advisor. As a caveat, do not base your situation on somebody else’s experiences. There are many variables (e.g., income, financial assets, age of parents, number of siblings in college, etc.) that go into determining a specific student’s financial offer, and therefore, do not fall victim to generalizations that may not apply to your circumstances.</p>

<p>Here is the link to the Emory Office of Financial Aid: <a href="http://www.emory.edu/FINANCIAL_AID/undergraduates/emory-college/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.emory.edu/FINANCIAL_AID/undergraduates/emory-college/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Also, here is a link to the new Emory Advantage program that commences next Fall:
<a href="http://www.emory.edu/FINANCIAL_AID/emory_advantage/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.emory.edu/FINANCIAL_AID/emory_advantage/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Incidentally, it is entirely possible to receive both a Merit scholarship (i.e., Emory Scholars Program) as well as additional financial aid in the form of Need-based funding in the form of grants, loans and work-study options.</p>