<p>TCNJ sent me an e-mail with the link: <a href="http://www.tcnj.edu/%7Eadmiss/apply/scholarships.html%5B/url%5D">www.tcnj.edu/~admiss/apply/scholarships.html</a></p>
<p>Too many essays lol. I want the chart back!</p>
<p>I just noticed that! Very different, this:
[quote]
In-state students receiving TCNJ merit awards typically fall within the top 15% of their high school graduating class, have a combined critical reading and math SAT score of 1300 or better, or have an ACT score of 30 or better. The College of New Jersey does recognize the varying academic rigor of our state's high schools; therefore, these numbers act as a guide and should not be considered minimums.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Under the old matrix, the numbers were in fact minimums. I specifically asked an admissions staffer at Rutgers if the matrix was hard and fast, and the answer was unfortunately, YES. (TCNJ used the same matrix as Rutgers) In other words, if the student was not ranked in the top 15% of the class, NO scholarship, period. My son has good SAT scores and good grades (1450 and 3.8 weighted) and his hs does not rank, but it is so competitive that if forced to divulge decile information he would only be in the 4th decile!</p>
<p>NJRes-
Our son experienced same two years ago.
The numbers were hard and fast and he received no scholarship at TCNJ.</p>
<p>I dont wanna write essays!!!!!!!!!!
I'm so lazy. But I will <em>sigh</em></p>
<p>So under the new systen I'm still not exactly how they are going to give out money. the quality of our essays? that could get weird</p>
<p>Cesky, I can only hope! First of all, they will need money to give out. But my guess is that everyone that would have received a scholarship under the old matrix will still get a scholarship based on SAT score and class rank. This new system gives them more flexibility to attract very good students (by awarding scholarships) from very good high schools that may not be in the top 15% of their class. I am zeroing in on their own comment on the website:
[quote]
The College of New Jersey does recognize the varying academic rigor of our state's high schools
[/quote]
</p>
<p>yea lol, i sent them an email last year stating that the chart they used based on SAT and GPA was unfair because of how hard my high school was</p>
<p>they replied stating unfortunately they can do nothing about it
but i guess they did; good news for me</p>
<p>Under last yr's system my son would have received a full ride. This yr he has been told that nothing is guaranteed and even if he gets a scholarship for next yr, it's NOT guaranteed for all 4 yrs - that was the old system. THis goes yr by yr. It's not TCNJ's fault. They got stuck when the funding got taken away. Tough for kids to make a decision now based on the unknown. Most kids we know that go there are there because they received lots of $. Not sure if they would be there if they had to pay. It's still a good school but they had other options. Hard to turn down a sure thing for one that could change from one yr to the next.... BTW, I was told the same thing by a Rutgers rep at Gov School this summer. No guarantees anymore...</p>
<p>I can't take these essays. The topics are atrocious</p>
<p>Yeah... I wrote them this weekend. There's not much you can write in 200 words and the 500 word essay topics were insanely tough.</p>
<p>I totally agree that matrixes and essays suck. I know this is a TCNJ forum, but I found something interesting on the Rutgers website. It says: "Admitted students with ranks in the top 5% of their class and 1500 or better on the critical reading and math sections of the SAT (or 34 ACT composite score) are considered [for the Presidential Scholarship]." Do you think these numbers are minimums or flexible guidelines? I got a 1480 on the SATs. Do you think it is too late to take them over? Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>For Rutgers, I believe they are minimums... they're going to be even stricter with the guidelines than they used to be inclined to since the budget is tight. I don't know if its too late to try for the 1500.. I'd try contacting the admissions office to ask.</p>
<p>jrzgrlmom, for reference on Rutgers' scholarships: <a href="http://admissions.rutgers.edu/080101.asp%5B/url%5D">http://admissions.rutgers.edu/080101.asp</a></p>
<p>Anyone know when notification of scholarships begins?</p>
<p>it is rolling. so i think it began awhile ago. however, i don't know if you find out about scholarships at the same time you find out about your admissions decision or afterwards. does anyone else know?</p>
<p>yea I hate this regimented matrix system</p>
<p>for rutgers, but I got only 5k a year, instead of full tuition because I had a 1490 SAT and not "at least a 1500"...the same thing will most likely happen to me at TCNJ, I feel really stupid for not getting those 10 extra points, and for me it almost eliminates the desire to stay in-state and keep costs down, because I will probably get a decent amount of merit aid from the colleges I applied to that it might be more of a value to go to a top-tier private school than even TCNJ</p>
<p>our state is so stupid since, all the 1500s that apply to rutgers and tcnj (as safeties) will never go there, since they could easily get full rides at schools like BU, Miami, Nova etc...anyways thats my 2 cents</p>
<p>It's been like this forever, you needed a 1500 for the past decade or so to get a full ride; this wasn't a change because of the budget cuts. Sorry if you knew that, I was just adding some info.</p>
<p>And people with 1500's do go at least to Rutgers... I know quite a few including myself.</p>
<p>What's the deal for Out of State scholarships? I noticed that there is no essay requirement, but not sure if that's good or bad. Anyone have any experience with how that works (amounts, notification, etc.)? My D has done her job and got accepted yesterday, so now it's my turn to start working the $$.</p>
<p>"It's been like this forever, you needed a 1500 for the past decade or so to get a full ride; this wasn't a change because of the budget cuts."</p>
<p>This is not true. I am a current TCNJ student and when I started in 2003 you only needed a 1450 and a rank in the top 5% of your class for the full ride. The cuts to what they call the Outstanding Scholars Recruitment program are definitely a direct result of state budget cuts to higher education. Some of our funding was restored this year compared to last year, and they are hopeful they will continue to get increased funding, but I don't think anyone knows for sure at this point.</p>
<p>As for the question about out of state students, I can only say that I was out-of-state and I received the full ride, without writing any essays (but again this was in '03). </p>
<p>For people who wondered about when you hear, I was notified when I got my acceptance, but I would not be at all suprised if they are being more cautious this year because they have to be much more careful with funding as a result of the drastic budget cuts.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, lissa22. That was very informative. =)</p>
<p>congratulations Lisa on the full-ride</p>
<p>I was just really annoyed since I could potentially recieve full rides on merit from 2 2nd tier private schools...and I am only recieving 5,000 merit aid from Rutgers :(</p>
<p>stats - 1490 SAT, 1 in class, tons of extracurriculars/activities...It would be kinda funny if I go to a highly recognized private university over rutgers solely based on merit aid</p>