<p>Hi all…</p>
<p>Can anyone give me some insight as to why UA has a minimum SAT/ACT score requirement for NHS scholarship that does not extend to National Achievement and National Merit Finalists as well?</p>
<p>[Top</a> Scholars Program - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://scholarships.ua.edu/topscholars/nmpackage.html]Top”>http://scholarships.ua.edu/topscholars/nmpackage.html)</p>
<p>Any thoughts/inside info would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>I know why…</p>
<p>Those who make NMF usually already have the SAT/ACT requirement. And, the school wants tons of NMFs for bragging rights.</p>
<p>When Bama first offered the national scholarships, they didn’t have the SAT/ACT restriction for NH. They were overwhelmed with kids who qualified. So, by putting the SAT/ACT restriction in there, the number of qualified applicants became more realistic for what the school could afford. If the number of NA or NMF also became crazy high, they would probably put the restriction there, too.</p>
<p>What is your situation? I’m guessing that you’re a likely NH…what are your SAT or ACT scores (including SAT breakdown)?</p>
<p>Thanks… I didn’t realize there were that many more NH scholars than there were NA or NM finalists.</p>
<p>Got 201 on PSAT last October. I’ve taken the SAT once and I missed the 1400 cutoff. Haven’t taken the ACT yet. </p>
<p>R: 680
M: 670
W: 650</p>
<p>I’m going to take the ACT and the SAT as many times as I can to try to make that score before applying to schools (I’ve heard great things about UA and I really want it to be an option for me)… but it makes me wonder: if I’m struggling to make the grade to meet this cutoff, is it indicative of how much I would have to struggle to keep afloat in their Honors program? (I know I’m jumping the gun, but I’m a worrier)</p>
<p>I’m in TX, go to a non-ranking private school, take all AP and Honors classes and have a 3.6 UW gpa.</p>
<p>Thanks… I didn’t realize there were that many more NH scholars than there were NA or NM finalists.</p>
<p>No, I didn’t mean that. There are probably more NMF than there are NH, but Bama got too many NH applicants (more than what was affordable). </p>
<p>Bama can’t really afford to have 100 NH every year if their stats aren’t high, too. If their stats are high, then super!!! Bama doesn’t mind getting 100 NMFs, because their stats are typically 32+ anyway. Do you see what I mean?</p>
<p>Keep in mind…schools aren’t charities. They give away their money carefully to make themselves look good. The National scholarships are expensive (about $100k each). They don’t want to give hundreds of them away to a lot of students whose stats are not high enough to help the school look good.</p>
<p>Good luck on your test practice. you may like the ACT math better, since the ACT isn’t tricky in math (like the SAT).</p>
<p>But, do take the SAT again.</p>
<p>Do you have practice books?</p>
<p>^^^That’s a very good explanation. As a side note, I did retake the ACT expressly so I would get the presidential scholarship at UA (I wasn’t NMF). Best of luck retaking the SAT and ACT, even without studying, just understanding the wording of the test questions will help improve your test score.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the info… I’m registered for the ACT and will continue to take both tests as many times as I can to try to get my score up. I have books and will sign up for the online practice as well. </p>
<p>I definitely don’t think that schools function as charities, and my question was not meant to sound as if I felt there should be no minimum score requirement at all… I know that most schools that offer scholarships for these distinctions do have minimum requirements. I completely understand why a college would want to sponsor only students who make it look good/raise the stats. My question was meant more as a “why single out one minority to meet minimum requirements?”</p>
<p>If Student A= NMF, 3.5 gpa, 1390 combined R/M SAT score (i realize this scenario is unlikely but nevertheless, it is possible and if it were to occur this person would get a free ride)
and Student B= NAF, 3.5 gpa, 1390 combined R/M SAT score (free ride)
and Student C= NHS, 3.5 gpa, 1390 combined R/M SAT score (sorry, no dice…your stats just aren’t high enough)</p>
<p>As far as I’ve seen, Alabama is the only school that has made the SAT/ACT minimum score applicable to the NH scholars only. I’ve seen the websites of a number of schools that require a minimum score and gpa but the wording is more along the lines of : for NM, NA, and NH scholars with a minimum XXXX/XX SAT or ACT score and at least a 3.X gpa, the award is as follows… Under this policy, none of the above students would have a free ride from UA. Their grades just weren’t high enough.</p>
<p>I’m not complaining about it… the school has a right to distribute scholarships however it sees fit. For me, when I saw that distinction being made, as a Hispanic student several ??? marks floated over my head and I thought “There’s a reason for this. I don’t know what it is, but maybe the helpful people on CC do!” :)</p>
<p>It’s not a huge deal to me, because I honestly feel that I can make that grade. I’m disappointed that I didn’t do it the first time around, but if nothing else, I’m persistent!</p>
<p>*If Student A= NMF, 3.5 gpa, 1390 combined R/M SAT score (i realize this scenario is unlikely but nevertheless, it is possible and if it were to occur this person would get a free ride) *</p>
<p>I know many NMFs at Bama, and all meet or exceed SAT 1400 (or ACT 32).
The point is that not only is it unlikely for a NMF to miss the benchmark, but simply the fact that the school gets to count that body as a NMF is a plus for the school. The entity that schools report to include a mention of number of NMFs… so, that affects ranking…so, the schools will take a few that might not have that 1400 just to claim their bodies…LOL </p>
<p>*
and Student B= NAF, 3.5 gpa, 1390 combined R/M SAT score (free ride)*</p>
<p>The unfortunate fact is that if Bama were to impose the 1400 req’t, it would have too few NA recipients. For 2008 (the most recent posted year) only 9 incoming students at Bama were NA…and that was without the 1400 requirement. If the 1400 requirement was imposed, who knows what the number would be. </p>
<p>* and Student C= NHS, 3.5 gpa, 1390 combined R/M SAT score (sorry, no dice…your stats just aren’t high enough)*</p>
<p>Yes, that seems harsh, but without that benchmark, Bama would have too many qualify…and the number has to be set somewhere. So, whatever that number is, a person could say…“I have a score that’s just 10 points less and no dice.” I don’t think there are many who have 1390…those kids probably go to a school that doesn’t have the 1400 rule. </p>
<p>Again, the school does an analysis. It isn’t cost effective to give 100 students (each year) a $100k scholarship, if their stats aren’t at a certain level. Over a 4 year period, that would be 400 kids (or more) on campus at any one time (in addition to the NMFs and NAs)… Not a problem if they have high stats, but it is a problem if their stats are at a level that for other kids only merit a smaller scholarship. I don’t know what the cut-off score for NH is, but if it’s around 190, then that suggests that many kids could have M+CR SATs in the 1250-1300 range (or around ACT 30). Keep in mind that a school expects a “return on their investment” when it gives a scholarship - especially a $100k one. </p>
<p>BTW…I wasn’t suggesting that you think schools are charities. That’s just a phrase I often use to explain why schools do what they do with their money. Schools are very calculating (unlike charities that aren’t like that.)</p>
<p>*
It’s not a huge deal to me, because I honestly feel that I can make that grade.*</p>
<p>:) I think you can, too. Have you looked over the Xiggi method for improving scores?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html</a></p>
<p>I, too, have some tips for improving SAT and ACT scores… Which sections give you the most problems?</p>