<p>A few of my friends received letters a few months ago saying that they have been named Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars, and then received letters from NJ Schools congratulating them. its basically for students in the high school's top 10% and with at least a 1260 on the sat. well i dont remember if i got a letter or not, i could have and just thrown away. But i have been receiving a lot of mail from NJ colleges lately and today i actually opened one before throwing it away and it says "Congratulations on being nominated for an Edward J. Bloustein Scholarship by the State of NEw JErsey". is being nominated for the scholarship the same thing as being named a Distinguished Scholar? does it still require me to be in the top 10%? i just wanna find out if i am b/c my school doesn't do class rank so im pretty unaware of my standing until graduation comes.</p>
<p>It's the same thing cuz i got the same letter. And after that, NJ schools started sending me tons of mail about how much I would be given having been selected as a Bloustein scholar. Congrats on getting it too.</p>
<p>You should be able to find out from your guidance counselor, the school is also notified. Also, I believe in order to accept the nomination, you have to send back a form that states you will apply to a state school. You have to attend a state school to actually get the scholarship but you can be named a Bloustein Scholar so long as you apply to a state school. It's a little confusing.</p>
<p>I am not sure that being nominated as a Bloustein Scholar is the same as being officially named as one. In any case, even schools that do not officially rank do have a specific top 10 percent who become Bloustein Scholars (given that the SAT score is at the sufficient level). Once you are named a Bloustein Scholar you are one whether you go to school in state or not; you just don't get any money if you go to school out of state.</p>
<p>I got the same mails too and I sent in the acceptance form immediately, as was requested. My GC informed us that we were named Edward J. Bloustein scholars. Ask your GC. </p>
<p>You do not have to maintain the 10% rank because it was based on your rank and SAT score at the end of Junior year.</p>
<p>ok...but do u know if students are required to be in the top 10% before they are nominated? b/c i was nominated for the scholarship but not actually NAMED a distinguished scholar (i think...i could be wrong)...and im just trying to figure out if im in the top 10%. my school doesnt do class rank for college apps, however, the top 10% is recognized at graduation and my parents would be really proud of me if i were in it.</p>
<p>There is an overall scholar category in NJ that goes beyond the top 10 percent, and students get a letter in the fall of senior year notifying them that they have been nominated for it (I think it is the Garden State Scholar Program, but to my knowledge there are no more official Garden State Scholars, asthere were in the late 1990s). To be a Bloustein you do need to be in the top 10 percent as of the end of junior year, but it is possible that another 5 percent or so of the class got a nominiation letter. They are eligible for slightly smaller tuition reductions at the state schools (Rutgers, TNJ, etc) but they get no public recognition for it the way Bloustein scholars do, and when their college apps go in their are probably listed as being in the second decile (all schools do this, even the ones that do not rank). Check withyour GC if you need clarification.</p>
<p>My son.s letter last year said nothing about being "nominated". It contained very specific info. Here are exerpts. And yes, the 2 references to the 2004-2005 academic year is confusing. Shouldn't the first be 2003-2004?</p>
<p>Dear Scholar:</p>
<p>Congratualtions! You have been selected as an Edward J Bloustein Distinguished Scholar for the 2004-2005 academic year. This award recognizes your secondary school academic achievment.</p>
<p>The Distinguished Scholars Program provided a $950 annual scholarship, without regard to financial need. This scholarship may be available for up to four years of undergraduate study at a NJ college or university.....You must enroll full time during the 2004-2005 academic year at a NJ college or university to receive payment of this award. You will permanently lose your eligibility ...if you do not receive payment of the scholarship in 2004-2005.</p>
<p>This award is renewable, dependent upon future appropriations. In addition you must continue to enroll full time and maintain satisfactory academic progress........</p>
<p>Please indicate your acceptance of this award on the enclosed form. As a part of this notification process, your name and address may be provided to NJ colleges and universities to assist them in their recruitment efforts.....</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Elizabeth Wong
Executive Director</p>
<p>Even if your school does not rank they should tell you what decile (top 10%, top 20%) etc you fall into. This is basic information you need to target which colleges to apply to. I can't believe there is a GC who would not answer a "what decile am I in?" question. To my knowledge many schools don't rank but they do know deciles.</p>
<p>can you still keep this title if you do not apply to NJ schools? I realize you won’t get the award, but you’d still be a Distinguished Scholar regardless, right?</p>
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<p>My D was a Bloustein scholar in 2002. She had no plans to apply to any NJ colleges. She could still say she received that distinction and used it to negotiate merit money. Of course, she did not receive the Bloustein scholarship money because she went out of state, but she was still considered a Bloustein scholar.</p>
<p>S1 attended a public NJ University, and he got the Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars award too. But be advised, it was considered part of, and not added to, the schools merit scholarship schedule. All public NJ colleges incorporate the Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars award as part of their own advertised merit awards package. Sneaky of them.</p>
<p>To qualify you need a 1260/1600? Seems like a lot of people, especially in New Jersey, would easily reach that standard.</p>
<p>I believe you need a 1350 (CR+M) and be in the top 10% of your class.</p>
<p>D received a letter dated 12/10/09 that she has been selected as a Bloustein scholar. You must accept or decline the award by 1/29/10. My question is - What happens if you don’t know if you will be attending a NJ college that early? My D was accepted into Rutgers but is hoping to go out of state but won’t know until April.</p>
<p>So the notification letters have already gone out? I’m not sure if my D has received anything or not. Would the HS know?</p>
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<p>When my D received it, the requirements were min. 1260 and either a ranking of 1,2, or 3 in the class, or top 10%. And yet not everyone who had those stats received the award. So I don’t know if the high school has some input in the process. Only about 13 at D’s high school received it and at least 20 were qualified.</p>
<p>NJ Mom of 2</p>
<p>According to the blue fact sent in the mailing:</p>
<p>“Acceptance of the award: At this time you may be considering several institutions. If you meet the eligibility requirements and are applying for admission to a New Jersey college or university, you should indicate your acceptance of the award on the enclosed form and return the completed form immediately. This will confirm to HESAA that you are considering enrollment at a NJ college or university and allow us to reserve your reward.”</p>
<p>As long as your daughter applied to Rutgers (or any other NJ school), she should send in the form accepting the scholarship. There will be another form to fill out later in 2010 informing them of where she intends to enroll. If that is a NJ school, she gets to keep the scholarship. If it is not, she doesn’t.</p>
<p>Thank you lastone for clarifying! You saved us a phone call!</p>
<p>NEMom2 - She had also received notification earlier this year that she was a candidate for a Bloustein scholarship, so this did not come as a surprise.</p>
<p>The 1260 was for M+CR last time I checked. The writing score was not used.</p>
<p>I am panicking. My son got the letter last week and husband reminded him that he has to send back the form and now we can’t find the letter and form. I am going to tear apart the house later today looking for it.</p>