<p>Do you think merit aid is based mostly on SAT and ACT scores?</p>
<p>In addition to SAT/ACT, the GPA and AP courses + ECs counts. The evaluation from the teachers, the BOX imagination for DHS. It all depend on what merit scholarship you are applying for.</p>
<p>Well, you only apply for the DHS, the others are automatic consideration. I am not counting the CSS which you also apply for. It is not a “merit” scholarship in the same sense of the word as the others, although obviously there is considerable meritorious work involved to get one. Anyway, for the automatic consideration scholarships it is most definitely a combination of GPA (with strength of schedule taken into account) and standardized test scores, with probably lesser weight on the EC’s and recs.</p>
<p>Nerve racking! I have the grades and rigor, but I don’t know how much an 1870 would get me for merit. Guess I will have to wait and find out?! I called the admissions office today to find out but they said you have to wait for your official letter to come in the mail.</p>
<p>Hey, I’m just wondering how long it took all those who got their decisions to hear the news? I’m submitting on Sunday and want to know how long I should be feeling nervous…</p>
<p>I submitted September 20th and heard back October 26th</p>
<p>afarmer - It all depends on the volume of apps they are getting now and how strong your app is. Now that it is closer to the EA deadline, it might take a bit longer than it would have a few weeks ago. On the other hand if they can see quickly that you deserve an offer of admission and what merit aid, if any, you should be offered then it might get turned around in a couple of weeks. There is no predicting, really. Way too many variables.</p>
<p>Similar to bj1313’s situation. The person in admissions could not possibly have given you an answer other than you have to wait and see. Each candidate is considered by each admissions counselor. Certainly, they have guidelines they use but there is latitude in each and every case. It just is not an exact science.</p>
<p>Since Bj1313 has already been admitted, I think he called the Admissions Office just so he would not have to wait the few days before the mail package came with the scholarship information.</p>
<p>Fallenchemist, you are a great resource on this forum. Thank you for all the time and effort you unselfishly put in here.</p>
<p>The admissions office does not typically release that information over the phone. Sometimes, though, it may be possible for your regional rep to kinda drop you a hint. Purely speculative on my part, but I seem to remember hearing that one student was able to get that “hint”. Anyone else remember that?</p>
<p>Can’t say I do remember that, but you are right they won’t do it over the phone. What I don’t quite get is why they don’t post it on the password protected web site where you see your admission decision. After all, that is probably more secure than the physical piece of mail they send.</p>
<p>dadinator - I see what you are saying and you are no doubt correct. As jym says, they won’t do it over the phone since they have no idea who is really calling. And thanks for your kind comment. It is always nice to be appreciated.</p>
<p>ACCEPTED!</p>
<p>Objective: </p>
<p>SAT: 2180(760CR 760M 660W)
SAT IIs: Chem 740, US History 710 Math II 660
GPA: 94.21/100
APs: English Language (4) Chemistry (4) US History (4)</p>
<p>Subjective:</p>
<p>EC: House Crew manager, News Paper Editor, NHS, Math Team, Hospital Volunteer, Veterans History Project, Equal Ed. Opportunities, Peer Tutoring.
Jobs: SAT tutor
Volunteering: Volunteer at Veterans hospital/ Play ground builds for students from disadvantaged backgrounds
Essay: TERRIBLE!</p>
<p>Other
Financial Aid: Yes
Major: Chemistry
State: NY
School Type: Competitive Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 100,000 - 150,000</p>
<p>Reflection:</p>
<p>Strengths: SAT/GPA, ECs
Weaknesses: Essay (Written in 20 minutes … not spell-checked)</p>
<p>Decision: Accepted
College of Science (Biological Chemistry)
Stats:</p>
<ul>
<li>SAT: 2040 (650M, 690CR, 700W)</li>
<li>SAT IIs: 710 Chemistry, 690 Biology M</li>
<li>GPA: 5.6W, 3.4UW</li>
<li>Rank: Top 10%</li>
<li>Other stats:</li>
</ul>
<p>Subjective:</p>
<ul>
<li>Essays: Very unique personal experience</li>
<li>Teacher Recs: Amazing</li>
<li>Counselor Rec: Amazing</li>
<li>Hook (if any): Many leadership roles, President of largest club in HS.</li>
</ul>
<p>Location/Person:</p>
<ul>
<li>State or Country: Pennsylvania</li>
<li>School Type: Public</li>
<li>Ethnicity: White</li>
<li>Gender: Male</li>
</ul>
<p>Decision: Accepted</p>
<p>Objective:
- SAT I (breakdown): 790M, 780CR, 740W
- SAT II: 750 Math II, 730 World
- Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.97
- Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):N/A
- AP (place score in parenthesis):World (5), APES (5), Calc AB (5), Lang (5)
- Senior Year Course Load: AP Econ, AP Stats, AP Lit, AP Chem</p>
<p>Other:
- Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
- State (if domestic applicant): Maryland
- School Type: Public
- Ethnicity: White
- Gender:Male</p>
<p>Reflection:
- Strengths: Grades, Test Scores
- Weaknesses: EC’s?</p>
<p>Presidential Scholarship ($27,000/year). Nice to have a good option so early on</p>
<p>rs4444 - Hope you are applying for the DHS!</p>
<p>Decision: Accepted</p>
<p>Objective:
- SAT I (breakdown): 760M, 780CR, 780W
- SAT II: 770 Chem, 790 USH, 660 Math II (did not send)
- Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.85
- Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 2nd decile (no rank)
- AP (place score in parenthesis): Euro (5), Psych (5), Chem (5), USH (5), English Lang (5), Human Geo, English Lit, Physics C, Comp Sci, Statistics, US Government</p>
<p>Other:
- Applied for Financial Aid?: No
- State (if domestic applicant): California
- School Type: Public
- Ethnicity: White
- Gender:Male</p>
<p>Reflection:
- Strengths: SATs, grades, extracurriculars
- Weaknesses: Unknown</p>
<p>I also received the Presidential Scholarship. It’s good to have an option-Tulane was a relative safety for me-and I hope to receive the Dean’s Honor Scholarship as well.</p>
<p>Congratulations, winners of Presidential Scholarship -$27,000 /year.<br>
It will be $108,000 in four years if the amount won’t change after the first year. </p>
<p>In 2011-2012, Presidential Scholarship =$25,000 /year, the DHS (tuition) =$39,850.</p>
<p>It’s 62.74% of total tuition cost. It’s amazing amount of money and award.</p>
<p>It is. I have yet to see a school in the top 50 as generous as Tulane in the area of merit based scholarships. Now to be sure I have not studied every school for this, but having been (non-professionally) involved in the college advice scene for a few years now, I haven’t seen one yet.</p>
<p>accepted</p>
<p>GPA Weighted 93
Rank top 15%
SAT 2010 (cr 590 m 750 w 670)
SAT 2 ( Us hist. 710 Math 1 670)
AP score 4 APUSH
Currently taking AP calc AB and AP enivro.
Essays Good
Extras: great
Recs: Great
White Jewish Male New York
Strengths: SAT, Junior year Avg: 97 weighted (compared to 89 sophomore) and lots of Community service.
Weaknesses: Rank, GPA</p>
<p>Anyone know when Aid packages will be released?</p>
<p>Need based aid? Not until March.</p>
<p>Decision: Accepted</p>
<p>Objective:
- SAT I (breakdown): 730 CR, 610 M, 720 W
- SAT II: 770 World History, 660 Literature
- Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.6
- Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 125 of 697
- AP (place score in parenthesis): US History (5)</p>
<p>Other:
- Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
- State (if domestic applicant): Jersey
- School Type: Public
- Ethnicity: White
- Gender:Male</p>
<p>Reflection:
- Strengths: great essay, extracurriculars
- Weaknesses: grades, rank</p>
<p>I think my essay helped a lot in getting me in. I doubt I got a scholarship but how would you know if you did?</p>