<p>LA Times article-</p>
<p><a href=“http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/03/local/me-grinnell3[/url]”>http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/03/local/me-grinnell3</a></p>
<p>The current student body president at Grinnell is a Posse student, so I’d have to disagree with the LA Times assessment that the Posse students tend to hang together and not identify with other students.</p>
<p>When I was in high school, I was nominated for posse and made it to the semi finalist rounds.</p>
<p>From what I remember then, one is nominated, everyone who is nominated attends a large group meeting. At this group meeting it is announced which schools will be the schools participating with the particular posse. For my location(los angeles) the schools included wis-madison, grinnel, dickinson, claremont mckenna, and one other school i can’t remember(i believe it might have been u mich). After the first meeting, they narrow down the selection of students to semi-finalists. Each semi finalist interviews one on one with the posse foundation, and tells them their first and second choice and why. from there on i dont know what happens because i wasn’t selected as a finalist. but i think once you’re selected as a finalist, you’re pretty much guaranteed admissions to either your first or second choice(without having to apply to ed yet). I think your choice ends once you accept to be considered a finalist and enter their program, not necessarily once you 're considered a finalist if that makes sense? one of my close friends ended up doing this and attends dickinson.</p>
<p>That other Midwest school for LA Posse was Kalamazoo. Their first Posse is in the class of '13.</p>
<p>I was told that the college is presented with some Posse students and picks the ones it wants. That is, my understanding is there’s no guaranteed admission. I’d love to be corrected about this if I’m wrong.</p>
<p>Our tour guide at Brandeis this morning was a Posse student. He was personable and outgoing and clearly involved in any number of activities at Brandeis. He was a NYC boy and quite frank about what he did and did not like about Brandeis. I was very impressed with him. I don’t know exactly the logistics, but he ended up choosing between Brandeis, Vanderbilt and at least one other school, and chose Brandeis because they made the best offer.</p>
<p>I do not believe the list of 33 above is current. CMC dropped participation with POSSE LA several years ago.</p>
<p>They also are not continuing their participation with Questbridge.</p>
<p>“my understanding is there’s no guaranteed admission”</p>
<p>That was also my sense - - students apply and if admitted POSSE covers tuition, room and board.</p>
<p>As I recall from our brief Posse interaction (no schools appealing to my d), the ultimate decision rests between Posse and the ad coms from the schools. In-fact, the ad coms come to the local area to interview the kids. Posse covers tuition (not sure if anything else) but many of the kids get additional aid as well.</p>
<p>My son has been invited to an informational meeting on Posse at a community organization that he has been heavily involved with for years. None of the Boston Posse schools were on his short list, but several of them were on the long list and could potentially be good fits. </p>
<p>Here’s a question: One of the schools in question is my alma mater. Do you think this would work against him if he makes that school his first choice? I don’t know why it should, because whatever his qualifications for the program, they aren’t any different because of where his dad happened to go to school. On the other hand, being a legacy candidate seems like an odd fit with what Posse appears to be aiming at.</p>
<p>^^I kind of agree. From my experience at the LA Posse and from the candidates who I’ve met that later go on to get the scholarship, those who are chosen tend to be students who are first generation college students who would most likely would have never had the chance to attend college if it wasn’t for the Posse Scholarship. Those who have “good” chances wouldn’t benefit the most from the Posse Scholarship.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about it at this point. I think Posse casts a wide net. If your son is interested he should begin the process and take it from there.</p>
<p>Has anyone recently completed the semifinalist interview? If so, can you tell me what your experience was? How long was your interview?</p>