<p>Congrats OHKid!!
I got accepted to Denison today too with an 18k/yr scholarship as well!
I’m a Founders Scholar, what about you?</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad - School-wise, Denison has a huge edge IMO. Its rep is better, its atmosphere is better, and the size is right. But, now I’m still kinda confused about whether I’m going to do the engineering/business route or do the social science/lawyer route. So, that’ll most likely decide my school, with Miami being my choice if I go the former route and a battle between Denison and DePauw if I go the latter route…</p>
<p>Ltenns23 - Congratulations to you as well!!!</p>
<p>Yep, I’m a Founders Scholar, too :)</p>
<p>Where are you guys from? I’m expecting my letter to be here tomorrow hopefully… Congrats by the way! What kind of envelope came?</p>
<p>I wonder how many applicants are Founders Scholars. It seems to be the most encompassing of the 18k scholarships since it does not have a racial and location requirement.</p>
<p>I’m from northern Ohio, and I’m assuming (with almost certainty lol) that OHKid is from Ohio as well.</p>
<p>It’s a large envelope full of letters, a brochure, and hopefully $$</p>
<p>Congrats to all - Go Big Red!</p>
<p>D got in, $18,000 scholarship. NE Ohio. Decision time… Wooster or Denison</p>
<p>D got into Denison with $18000 Founders Scholarship. We figured that if she got a scholarship that it would be one for diversity of the same amount, but it was not, not that it matters.</p>
<p>Mail arrived minutes ago. Two letters:</p>
<ol>
<li> Large envelope was acceptance to Denison</li>
<li> Small envelope was $35,000/yr scholarship.</li>
</ol>
<p>Very proud, as this is a first rate University.</p>
<p>congrats to all! Your good news is exciting, revives some memories!</p>
<p>We got our letter in the mail today also. My daughter was offered a $35,000 a year full tuition scholarship. Right now, Denison is at the top of her (and her parent’s) list.</p>
<p>My son received his offer of admissions today, along with notification of his Denison Founders Scholarship. He was pleased. Let the rumination begin!</p>
<p>gentleharp …wow, what grand good news! And now you’re on the cusp of moving from fishing trips and filosophizing about campus mythology to getting real and making genuine assessments of projected value. Aspects like “fit,” “I loved the student tour guide”, and full-day car and/or flight plans take center stage in light of a $5 or $10K annualized out-pay vs. a $55K outlay (TIMES at least 4!:eek:)</p>
<p>Value becomes a much more viable, valuable concept …</p>
<p>Accepted! Still bowled over with happiness 
:D</p>
<p>I think I’m going to go here!</p>
<p>Go Big Red!!!</p>
<p>In looking over the information packet we received during our visit last fall, I noted that DU recently adopted a SAT optional policy. Has this switch had any noticeable impact? I’m sure this issue was thoroughly debated internally, but as a prospective consumer, I can see where this action could be perceived in a negative light - a lowering of the academic standards. I am not an Educator, and I understand that students learn in different ways, and that standardized tests are often not the best measure of an individuals potential. But SAT scores are just one component of the admissions are they not?</p>
<p>I agree Initiate. SATs are just one measurable element. I doubt it will decrease the quality of the student body. One reason the school offers such good merit and financial aid is to persuade desirable students to attend.</p>
<p>Thanks Erin’s Dad. A quantitative measure that the majority of posters on CC seem to fixate on, and I am certainly not guiltless in that regard. Hard habit to break in a hyper-competitive world. But then again, our education system has geared us to believe those measures = success. I guess time will tell. Thanks again,</p>
<p>How many freshman receive either the $18K or full rides? What critieria are most important in the decision process - GPA, leadership activities in high school, athletic achievements, honor society memberships, etc. Assuming test scores are not in mix because they are now optional…
For those of you that have received Founders Scholarships, I would love to know your profile (okay to PM) - daughter is high school junior and we are wondering if she has a shot at any of these awards. Thanks!</p>
<p>smjf…I know not the specific answer to your “how many frosh …” question. General FA stats are available as to what % receive merit and need-based assistance. </p>
<p>But I do know that Denison has been the lone LAC-Tier 1 school in Kiplinger’s Best Schools for FA in each of he past 3 years. Specifically, as Esquette has noted elsewhere, DU has a particular strategy to use much of its still substantial endowment to attract bright, well-rounded students whom they believe will contribute to and transform a living/learning community. Thus, in a nutshell what the ranking is …DU gives the most to the most …</p>
<p>And if it were anything but a spectacularly attractive campus with an outstanding academic reputation, well it might be deemed less of a “value” than it is. All things considered …and that’s the key…it is one of the better buys in higher education, especially when one looks at the diverse, bright student body who come from all over and do extraordinary things when they leave. DU is one of the top schools for selection of “Teach America” honors. Other than in the heavy sciences, this is a monumentally competitive program. Same for Peace Corps. On the other end, the Posse Foundation recognizes DU as one of its top institutions where they direct inner-city students of great promise. </p>
<p>And the really great news in all of this? While it’s ok if a student wants to wear purple hair …or be a pretend witch for a few post-adolescent years, it’s ok. And thankfully, there are few. Academically everyone is in a different place on the learning continuum, but …I can tell you that for ours, it seems to have a really good balance between work and play. Students who are there tend to be really stretched and challenged …absent of becoming suicidal because they screwed up a bio test. Again, just the right balance in another respect, imo. </p>
<p>One other “balance” I appreciate more than our student? Location. Midwestern dominated culture. Because of that MUST offer more and better than its East or West coasts counterparts. The town is in close proximity to both major and minor metro areas …easy commutes and consequent access to the internships and field experiences as well as social outlets both of those offer. While still being post-card perfect in perception of Granville. I’m sure it’s not nearly as idyllic as it looks. But unless one lives there as an adult, it matters not. Conversely, alums and parents LOVE going to Granville. It’s precisely the way a top-shelf LAC is supposed to be w/o the isolation required of so many or the weird notions of what’s cool. Posed another way …it’s the perfect New England-type college absent of all the goofy and detriments of being in so many New England locales. </p>
<p>Further, that location fuels both access to many major grad school programs (some of which DU has specific letters of agreement w/ …ex: Wash U Med School/St. Lou …often ranked #1 in the nation) and w/ the help of DU’s really helpful placement operation, helping students develop and land internships and employment opportunities.</p>
<p>Lastly, and this is not insignificant. DU has long and often been perceived as a campus composed of predominantly well-to-do kids from private schools. For sure there are many who might fall into these categories. Conversely, because of the FA, there is substantial socio-economic diversity. So the chair/CEO of ESPN’s son can be in class w/ my pauper child. In the longer run, this type of diversity may be far more valuable and instructive on both sides than the classic color issue. DU seems to do inordinately better (not well) @ attracting students of color and less than might be preferable in terms of genuinely integrating the place. Just a perception that might be all wet.</p>
<p>Congrats to all! </p>
<p>FWIW - Pres Knobel told us (parents) last fall that it is a bit harder to be accepted to DU without SAT scores – meaning that it’s up to applicants who do not submit SAT scores to establish a sufficiently compelling record for admission. That means your GPA still reigns supreme, as adjusted for curriculum content of course. And your ECs, recs, and essays should “make the case” for admission.</p>
<p>My alma mater Wake Forest was the first one of the USNWR “top natl univs” to make SAT optional and had experienced the same questioning I’ve seen at DU. Often diversity is cited as one justification - recognizing that not all students have the same financial ability to take SAT prep classes, multiple sittings of the test, etc And there’s quite a strong evidentiary case in support of the optional policy based on the experience of several top LACS in the NE who have tracked students admitted with and without SAT scores.</p>
<p>Very well said, WP! Couldn’t agree more. </p>
<p>My $.02 on the Midwest location and vibe – my decidedly beachy mid-atlantic son feels so very at home there. People are warm and friendly and real – just like home without all the water 
Plus the students are literally from everywhere, so there is definitely not a feeling that he is an “outsider.”</p>
<p>Granville is quaint and postcard perfect like DU. And the kids really do go out to eat and shop in GranVegas. But, and this is majorly key!, Chipotle, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy are less than 10 min away in Heath and any kind of food/shopping/movies you can think of is less than 30 min away in Easton or Columbus. Airport access – great as well. Just like DU, the location has proved to offer a wonderful balance!</p>