Seems like there’s a pretty good chance a student makes NMSF but not NMF is a bit of a slacker (disclaimer: S16 is likely to be one). Are they gambling that the student will be a better student in college than they were in HS? It seems like someone with lower test scores and a higher GPA would be seen as a better gamble.
Very few colleges give big awards for NMSF, most are for NMF only.
One of the most notable is Fordham, but they require NMSF plus top 10% class ranking.
Yes, the big money tends to go to those who make NMF. Fordham does offer according to @bobwallace
Bama will give free tuition to those who only make NMSF, but the student has to have a 3.5 weighted GPA.
What is your son’s GPA? How many SEMESTER C’s does he have?
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I don’t think getting in would be a huge deal for S16, but is it even a possibility? He does have a 1460 M+CR SAT. I guess we’ll see if they recommend applying when we visit this summer.
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YOu mention that he nearly has a 3.5 …is that WEIGHTED or UW?
Is his school year over? If not, can he finish strong and bump it to a 3.5?
@mom2collegekids, his problem is that he has D’s on his transcript. That’s almost certain to keep him from becoming a finalist. Ole Miss offers a lot of scholarship money to NMSF, and he likes the programs they offer. We’re going to visit this summer and see what he thinks.
My question is why any school would offer full tuition to students who are likely to be “bright slackers”. Mind you, I’m not complaining. I’m just curious about the reasoning; some of the schools that offer full rides to NMF also offer substantial money to NMSF, while others offer nothing.
I think it’s a risk that a school takes to “lock NMSF’s” into their school, knowing that most are going to become NMFs.
@mstomper: Have you considered sending S16 to the Ole Miss Summer College (30 day residential) where he can take courses for credit, also has a research option…if you have minimum of 14 high school credits and at least a 3.0 you can get in (deadline June 1). It has various program options, engineering, computer science, several non-stem, honors track, etc. It has a program cost, but if ACT score or SAT score meets a threshold there is an automatic scholarship that covers the program cost, if they are a little lower then scholarship for partial cost. The full program fee (without any scholarship) is fairly reasonable compared to many programs (a little over $2000). Your S16 could experience Ole Miss in depth and try out some coursework there as well (and if he eventually attends there, he would already have a few credits under his belt).
@mstomper: Here is the information from Ole Miss on the scholarship for their Summer College…it looks as if you son would qualify for best one! The initial application is very easy (but eventually there is more paperwork to enroll).
ACT Scores… SAT Scores*… Academic Achievement Scholarship
33-36…1440-1600… …Full program fee scholarship ($2, 000)
30-32…1330-1430…$1,500 off program fee
27-29…1210-1320…$1,000 off program fee
We live in Maryland and he needs to take the classes to get his driver’s license the second and third weeks of July. Too bad; with his SAT score he could go free.