Hi everyone. I’ve had a rough day and am looking for some much-needed advice. Today, I was rejected from both full-tuition scholarships that I was in the running for (UVA Jefferson and Clemson National Scholars). I am feeling very distraught right now, as where I end up attending will be very dependent on money. So far, I have been accepted to Delaware, UMD, Clemson, UVA, Villanova, and Northeastern, but have not received much financial aid anywhere. I am still waiting on Duke, Rice, Brown, Yale, and Princeton, but honestly, I am not feeling as hopeful now that I have been rejected from these two scholarships. I just don’t know where to go from here, and this waiting game is really taking a toll on me. Can anyone who has been in similar situations provide some words of wisdom? I would really appreciate it.
Did you apply to a financial safety - like an in state public or a school with guaranteed admission/merit based on stats?
All of your applications are in and the waiting is the hardest part. Try not to let the stress and uncertainty get to you.
Thank you. I live in Maryland, so attending there would be my cheapest option. It wasn’t originally one of my top schools, but I am trying to be more open-minded.
A couple things - you weren’t rejected by UVA and Clemson.
You were rejected by scholarships, that no one in their right mind should “expect” when they apply - so perhaps your expectations just weren’t realistic. Most kids who get into Harvard would not get those.
The fact that you are in at UVA, Northeastern, Nova, and UMD is beyond impressive - all great schools. UMD was not easy before and someone on another thread posted admission stats presented on campus - and they were off the charts _ i have to find them but I thought 32/35 on ACT.
So you should be proud!!!
Now - was your list right? Clearly it wasn’t in this sense - you apply to Northeastern and Nova and don’t get much aid - that tells me you didn’t build your list properly. Those schools have merit and are fine to apply to - but you missed the cardinal rule of having a college that you could 100% get psyched about and afford. Even UVA meets need. So it’s fine to apply to - but you didn’t apply to a single school that you could 100% afford (besides UMD)…or should I say that your family wants to afford because I don’t know what you can afford. btw - if you lived in Delaware, NJ, NC, etc. - you might have applied to UMD as a - I’d love to go there…because frankly, it’s strong - but many dismiss their in state option and you shouldn’t.
So let’s say you get into Brown, Yale or Princeton - but they are $340K - are your parents willing to spend? Perhaps they get some aid - but if not at Northeastern, it’s not likely.
So your options are -
UMD - which is honestly very strong - and you shouldn’t diminish it. There are kids with 1500 SATs posting they are getting turned down. And no doubt you got Honors or Scholars.
Alternatively, you could likely go for dirt cheap at Alabama and Arizona. I mentioned these two - and there’s likely more - but you could still apply. Assuming you have a 3.5, for example, tuition at Alabama (based on this year) would be less than $4K. If you are NMF, it’d be free and four years housing. At Arizona, with a 4.0 UW, you’d be $3K or so tuition and with a 3.9 $8K or so.
Not saying these are better options than UMD - but they are options - the type of schools that should have been included if “cost” was the driving factor.
This isn’t to lecture you - what’s done is done but to show other readers, cost is a HUGE factor in building a proper list.
You shouldn’t be distraught. You should say - here’s my budget, here’s what I could afford, and what’s the best school for me.
You are reading too many magazines, seeing too many “top school” lists, and maybe comparing notes with friends.
Rather, you should know - whether it’s UVA or WVU, UMD or Salisbury, tons of successful (and not successful) graduates are hitting the streets each and every day.
A degree helps you with a beginning - but you and only you (not the name on your degree) brings long term success.
So find the right and affordable school - whether it’s UMD or you need to re-open.
You had an expectation for the near impossible. If you wanted these, then why didn’t you apply to UNC, SMU, American, W&L and others that offer these - but even those are near impossible.
You’ve gotten into wonderful schools - schools others dream of. Your head should be high - distraught is the last thing you should be.
Way way way too much pressure on yourself.
Go take a walk, clear your head. Guess what, the sun will rise tomorrow - and you’re going to have a great future at a wonderful school - wherever you end up.
Good luck.
This is great advice. Maryland is a great option, and I shouldn’t discount it just because it’s close to home. While I obviously wasn’t expecting a full scholarship, I think I just got excited when the opportunity was within reach. I will keep moving forward- I am sure that I will be happy wherever I end up
Yes, if close to home is no good, the UMD, UD, and UVA were the wrong choices. But again - they’re all fine schools. 98% of the country would kill to have your acceptances (and you’re not done yet).
Good luck - it’ll be fine I promise.
Congratulations on all your acceptances and even on being considered for those two full rides. That says a lot about your accomplishments!
You’ve gotten some good advice already. You’re just in the really icky time of year when you just have to wait. And the U. of Maryland is an excellent university that you’re fortunate to have as your in-state flagship, making it an even better bargain.
No matter where you go, I am confident you will do well. Best of luck to you!
Lots of good advice posted here already.
The only thing I want to comment on is:
Brown, Yale and Princeton all meet full demonstrated need, so I wouldn’t judge your aid chances based on what Northeastern offered. But of course, getting into these schools is the hard part.
Anyway, you already have very good choices. So anything additional is a bonus. Stay positive.
30/34 (9% of matriculating students)
1340/1490 (34%)
Source: 2021–2022 CDS
It was for next year - and it’s not sourced yet other than from the poster but this is what they wrote. Very high…very impressive.
Wanted to share this information from the Virtual Admitted Student program we attended on Friday 3/4 - from James Massey, Director of Undergraduate Admissions:
*The incoming Freshman class is “the most talented in the 166 year history” of UMD College Park.
*55,000 applications for a class of 4500 students.
*Average SAT 1390-1530.
*Average ACT 32-35
*Average GPA 4.45
Congratulations to all the amazing future Terps! 
Congratulations for all you have accomplished over a couple very tough years. Being a finalist for those two options is a major accomplishment and predicts some possibilities for the admissions decisions still to come. The chances of getting those scholarships are lower than admissions in your next round of notifications to come.
Your reality with your family over the next couple of months is trying to figure out what s affordable over the 4 years. Have you run the net price calculators on Brown, Duke, Rice, and the others? Those should come out fairly close to what your financial aid package will be if accepted. Do those numbers work?
You sound very mature and you now understand you have a great option instate, if needed.
Review the final aid package from UVA when it posts. Compare it to Maryland. UVA will probably give you more than Clemson in merit and need based aid. In April you will be able to compare all of your options and you will have a clearer picture.
Brown especially is likely to provide me with a reasonable offer if I were to get in. I have talked to the financial aid officer there, and they just received a large grant that provides for families in my financial position, so fingers crossed for that!
It’s natural to be disappointed, but please don’t be distraught. It is a major accomplishment to have been in the running for the two scholarships you referenced and you should be very proud. You also have very nice acceptances to some great schools, including an affordable one in UMD. I understand that waiting stinks - you aren’t alone in finding it very stressful. Best of luck to you going forward!
Not trying to be a downer here but trying to set expectations.
Northeastern meets full demonstrated need.
So if you got little to nothing from them, I’m not seeing how it would be largely different from Brown? Yes, all schools look at this differently - but not to the point of one giving little (you said not receiving much aid anywhere) to a ton.
Have you run the Brown NPC? Did you run the Northeastern NPC? Did Northeastern’s office come in similar?
Many people enter the wrong inputs into the NPC - but after CSS and IDOC(it looks like NEU requires and Brown requires upon request) the picture to the school becomes more accurate.
Good luck - just trying to keep your financial aid expectations in check.
We’re you invited to UDel distinguished scholars? I’m guessing you were awarded $17,000? My high stats kids needed merit too, because we don’t qualify for aid. Don’t expect anything from Villanova (my blue hen had them at #1). UMD is a great option, more affordable than our flagship. You should be proud of yourself for your achievements.
Brown is unlikely to be more generous than Yale or Princeton unless they changed their aid formula. They do not offer merit. As noted upthread, Brown, Yale and Princeton are more likely to be generous with FA than the other schools you listed. The hard part is getting in.
Starting with academic year 22-23, Brown has changed their aid formula and is now much more generous with need-based financial aid. They no longer consider home equity in the primary home, and will be tuition-free for those with an income at or below $125,000, with typical assets.
They will have a 0 parent contribution (and a reduced student contribution) for families that earn less than $60,000 and have typical assets less than $100,000.
Additional Initiatives Unique to Brown | Financial Aid Undergradute | Brown University.
That’s good to hear.
Yes! It made us very happy!