My dd18 is sure she wants to go to Boulder and we are financially ok with sending her. She just got back her most recent ACTs and got a 31 composite. She will have a 4.0 weighted GPA when she applies in the fall. I know her stats should make it very likely she gets admitted but am trying to figure out how likely it is she will be admitted to the Honors program and to get merit (their lower level one with $25k over the four years). Thanks.
she has made a great choice! SKO BUFFS! CU Boulder is set to move up in prestige, as we will be receiving our biggest and most qualified freshman class ever. The honors program should be a lock for her. The program offers really small classes and access to world class faculty. Some of my favorite classes have been honors courses.
I can’t speak knowledgeably about OOS merit. I would suspect you will get some money. Nevertheless, CU Boulder is a worthwhile investment. I couldn’t have imagined 3 years ago that I would be recruited by elite east coast and west coast investment banks this summer. I owe CU Boulder a lot.
Does the net price calculator ask for grades and test scores? Sometimes you can put a higher test score in the NPC and see if another point or two on the ACT would give you a better scholarship and retake the test with that goal.
Other than that, check the financial aid website for scholarship application information.
According to website below, It seems she needs an ACT of 29 or higher and a GPA of 3.85 or higher to win the $25K Chancellors OOS merit award.
There are some additional major dependent awards listed here. I might unweight her GPA to be sure she has
the 3.85.
Engineering Honors is a living group and may be more difficult for admission than
the Arts and Sciences Honors program. (there is limited space in the Engineering Honors Dorm).
http://www.colorado.edu/scholarships/chancellors-achievement-scholarship
Thanks @Coloradomama - thought they used weighted GPA? She is a non stem kid - no interest in engineering:) also looks like there is a humanities scholarship that can be an auto merit with certain scores but then she has to declare a major when she applies and she has no idea what she wants to major in. I am pretty sure all the humanities type areas that she is likely to be interested in all have the same prerequisites early on so am thinking I need to persuade her to pick a major for merit purposes. Thoughts
@AroundHere she went from a 29 to a 31. We are happy with that and don’t think the amount of time she would need to put in to improve it is worth the stress! Her reading and English scores are as high as they are going to go (35 and 34). She might be able to improve her math and science (28 and 26) but think the pro con balance comes out again trying! Am happy to be done with testing for her.
@spike22 glad you love it so much! Got to ask - what does SKO Buffs stand for? I know Buffs are the Buffolos. I know - such a mom question
SKO buffs is just short for GO BUFFS! 
I would encourage her to register for history classes. The history department has a great faculty, especially a Pulitzer prize winner from last year. Her high English + Reading scores are like me. I wasn’t a fit for the business school or engineering but really grew as a liberal arts major.
@Clementine7624. I don’t know if CU cares about specific majors in Arts and Sciences, for merit. I believe merit is by school, so I know Engineering gives additional merit, Music does and Arts and Sciences does. I would look at the Norlin Scholarship as well. http://www.colorado.edu/suep/norlin-scholars/norlin-scholar-faqs
I believe she can try for Norlin twice, once as a high school senior and then again after she gets to CU Boulder. Its very hard to win, but its a great way to meet other high achieving students. I don’t know the exact requirements to win.
Second to @spike22’s comment. I know Lil Fenn,(the Pulizer Prize winner) she is my neighbor in Longmont, and a true scholar and leading CU Boulder history department. She came from Yale and Duke, and brings a lot of expertise in writing, and historic analysis of US history and Native American history, to our campus.
I am going to CU in the Fall from OOS and received the Presidential Scholarship, $55k over 4 years which was a HUGE help.
@2021NH do you mind sharing your stats?
@2021NH , you made the right decision! Welcome to the family. CU Boulder is going to launch you in a great direction. Get ready for success!
@Clementine7624
Sorry for the late reply
Top 5% in my class of 800+ plus straight As, 2 sport varsity captain (basketball & field hockey) plus DECA and other clubs and community service. No ACT, SAT was only 1280
my son is also OOS and will be going to CU in the Fall - He got the Chancellor’s Scholarship $25K, but not the Presidential for $50K. I did call to see if it was worth taking the SAT another time to up his chances for Presidential, but it sounded like he would have needed at perfect 1600 or very close so we decided not to take it again. His stats were 4.3 GPA and 1420 SAT