Well, November 1 came and went without any early action applications happening! My D had so much homework this last week I don’t even think I spoke more than a few words to her each day and she looked like a zombie by Wednesday (and she’s only in three honors and one AP!). She was still finishing up stuff for the first quarter (which ended Friday) on Sunday night because teachers aren’t finalizing grades until tomorrow! It was a miserable week but she’s off today and tomorrow. I’m not saying a word about colleges today but I feel like I need to start bugging her soon. She seems like she may be having some second thoughts about all of the far away schools on her list, but she can’t find much that she likes closer to home either.
I think there was only one school on the list where the Nov. 1 deadline really mattered for potential merit aid, but now I’m afraid we’ll be stuck waiting until March for a decision at some schools. Oh well.
My D does have an essay written that will work for some schools. I didn’t see it, but it was submitted for English so I assume it’s OK for the types of schools she’s applying to.
Busy day in our mailbox today. Acceptance #4 to Baldwin Wallace University (Berea, OH) and acceptance #5 to the direct admit BS Biology/Doctor of Physical Therapy program at University of the Sciences (Philadelphia). Both with merit awards.
Thanks ya’ll! Can’t wait to hear some more results from everyone.
D’16 got acceptance #6 this afternoon! Her 2nd to a direct admit BS Biology/Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Seton Hall University (South Orange, NJ)
Beginning to wonder if we played it too safe with D’16? So far she has gotten in to 6 of her 12 schools including her 2 “reaches”. Seton Hall was what I would have thought was a “match” she was in the 75% for general admissions (but around 50% for the BS/DPT program). For the reaches she was in the solid 25%.
She applied to 12 schools, which we thought didn’t seem like a lot given that she is in this murky 3.4uw GPA area with average test scores.There is absolutely nothing outstanding about her profile she is just like millions of other HS students. She chose 2 or three reaches, 5 BS/DPT programs and 5 non BS/DPT programs each with 1 or2 safeties. She picked 12 schools she would be happy to attend and that we could afford. We had hoped that some of the decision making would be made for her by denials.
I am sure the denials coming (Like Case Western, College of Wooster and Marquette) But I am wondering if we did the preliminary research correct when compiling the list of schools to apply to? Perhaps we didn’t place as much emphasis on the overall acceptance rate of the schools vs. where she feel in the data set?
I have a D’18 who has very similar stats to D’16 although a slightly higher GPA and class rank. I mean very slight like D’16 was 105/588 with a 3.4 and D’18 is 100/6/11 with a 3.6. We don’t know D’18’s SAT/ACT scores yet, but I am sure they will be about the same as her sister’s. I am not sure what the plan of action should be for D’18 other than to apply to fewer schools.
Just found out DS16 is one of three students at his school that has been nominated and being considered for $20,000 renewable scholarship from a well known LAC which awards this scholarship to one student at every public HS in our county( 26 I think) . If he should qualify for a higher dollar award, he can decline this award and take the higher one. Very honored and humbled to be nominated.
It is on his list. Not his top contender though. Very humbled to be nominated . Congrats to your daughter. She will be challenged in PT school , believe me. My son only applied to 5 schools because he didn’t want to go OOS and lose sizable lottery funded scholarships. They’re all academic safeties or matches , his reaches will be the Honors programs at 3 of the schools. I wish we would hear soon. He does have one provisional acceptance from Clemson last year , but he still had to complete the application. He will be applying to Calhoun Honors which is very competitive . Hope those acceptances continue to roll in for your daughter.
Get it done ASAP because housing priority is given according to application date. Applications opened Aug 1. If he’s applying to Calhoun Honors , Dec 1 deadline, especially for merit opportunities .
D finally received her official letters of acceptance to Southern Illinois U and Ball State.
The Ball State letter was actually a big package and the word YES! on the outside, lol. D was very happy, she’s really taken a liking to this particular school, over the others.
So far, she’s only applied to three schools - admitted to all -
Ohio University - no merit award yet
SIU-Carbondale - elegible for Honors College, and has to fill out a separate app for merit
Ball State, Indiana - Midwest Student Exchange tuition rate (1/2 off OOS tuition with 3.0) makes her ineligible for any other smaller merit award… Since their Presidential Scholarship for OOS students - given to students with higher GPA than hers - is also half off, I’m not complaining!
We were supposed to visit SIU this Saturday, but she is having her senior photos taken instead.
We may reschedule the visit there to the 14th or 21st.
She says she may apply to a couple of small school,s after all, and maybe Southeast Missouri State.
Speaking of the latter, does anyone know anything about this school? It’s an hour west of Carbondale IL so we may drive by at least for an informal visit after seeing SIU.
D qualifies for a very nice merit package there, but it’s one of those that requires a 3.5 to continue… Even so, their tuition through Midwest Exchange is still only 8k a year.
My initial hunch is that the three she’s applied to may have more to offer, but - SEMO may be worth a look, never know…
@labegg, I just read your latest post. Congrats to your D on all of her acceptances!!
I wish she would send some of her zeal for filling out applications my D’s way! lol D has applied to 3 schools, been accepted to all three, but she keeps saying she wants to apply to 5 or 6… Her top choice is in the three accepted, so not sure why, but…
She is interested in another regional public, Southeast Missouri State, and I want her to take another visit - during the school year, this time, and not summer - to Eastern IL. I just get a good vibe about EIU, I can’t explain it. I think it could be place where D could thrive…
D apparently hasn’t gotten the vibe yet, lol… But it’s the perfect size, and the common data set of incoming freshmen indicate aligns with hers, except her test scores make her eligible for a merit scholarship.
But if she doesn’t apply to any more schools, she still has three very good choices…
There was certainly not a lot of zeal when I was nagging her about getting those apps done!
I just was my D’16 if she wanted to withdrawal an application or two and she looked at me like I had asked her to clean her room. So far she is not adding any more, although I think she is waffling on UT-Austin. She had started the app but never finished it after she was accepted at Pitt. D’16 is stressing now because she doesn’t know which to pick.
I think the urge to keep applying/looking is because they are afraid that they are going to miss out on choosing “the right” school or scholarship money.
Ah, I wanted my D to look into UPitt. Someone I know, her parents taught there and she grew up on campus, she’s said it’s a very under-appreciated school and town.
Otoh, the schools D picked will be much cheaper than Pitt, so I can’t complain too much. I’ve heard and read good things about Pitt, though.
Not familiar with UT-Austin, but hear Austin is a great town.
My D feels like she should apply to more because everyone else is. smh. Since she’s already been admitted to her top two choices, a big part of me doesn’t see the point in her continuing with apps… Otoh, she may just find someplace else she likes even more… so I don’t want her to miss out on some great fit, if that’s the case…
She got a bunch of free apps and I told her to look through those first!
Pitt is really an interesting university. It’s more of a college city than a college campus. Both of our D visited Pitt but neither chose to apply, however, I think it could be a great fit for someone looking for an urban campus in a great city, in a great part of town and that appreciates the arts. While sports are a big part of Pitt you have to take a bus to downtown Pittsburgh to watch the games at the same stadium the Steelers play at.
According to their scholarship FAQ page Ohio U should be sending merit awards starting in December.
soooo. could someone please explain these merit awards? Are they really “merit” or do the kids actually have to indicate they need aid to have a chance at any?
@drmom123 merit awards are just that. You do not have to indicate need to be eligible for merit scholarships in most cases (check their web sight to be sure). Some are guaranteed such as U do Alabama others are competitive but they are not in any way need based. Some universities give need based awards based on academic standing, however, those awards are usually part of the financial aid package. Usually merit awards are given before the financial aid packages come out in March. Some of the more selective universities do not have merit based awards as everyone is highly qualified.
Sorry about that!