Renaissance Scholarship

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Rochester
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I've been reading the forums for awhile now, but this is the first time I've posted. My son has applied to UR and it is his first choice, but unfortunately, we could not apply ED since I couldn't commit to paying for it without knowing how much ahead of time. He is a NMF and has already been told that he would receive a Rush Rees Scholarship as well as a National Merit award, but I was wondering how and when they decide on the recipients of the Renaissance Scholarships? Does anyone here know anything about how that works? </p>

<p>Thanks!
Hayley</p>

2

<p>As long as there is still $ left then yes, as far as I know the Rush Rhees Sch. goes to anyone with over a 1350 on their SATs (Or at least that's how it was last year). The Renaissance Sch. is super competitive </p>

<p>(ie- Each year, up to 1% of the most outstanding students attend the University of Rochester with four-year, full-tuition Renaissance Scholarships. Winners exhibit intellectual promise and academic achievement and have often scored very high on admissions tests. Most have received local or national recognition for their research or talents, and they often demonstrate community involvement and leadership qualities through participation in school activities. All are highly accomplished beyond their years.) <a href="http://www.rochester.edu/admissions/financial/merit.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.rochester.edu/admissions/financial/merit.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>But as with any other award, I assume that definitive notification comes with or after the admission notification.</p>

3

<p>Thanks, tothemaxbro. I did see the description on UR's website, but it's pretty vague. I don't know that my son even has a shot at it (he's a smart kid, but there are a LOT of smart kids applying, I'm sure), but since it is so competitive, I assumed that they would contact anyone who might be qualified ahead of time to get more info from them (or maybe even conduct interviews). </p>

<p>Does anyone know of a student who has received this scholarship?</p>

4

<p>hayley, did your son have an admissions interview? If so, I think that serves as a scholarship interview too. According to my son's paperwork, an interview for scholarship consideration is "highly recommended." Website says fall admission interview is required for Rush Rhees. My son had his last November. I don't think he has a shot at the Renaissance since his SATs weren't the greatest, but we're hopeful that he'll get something!</p>

5

<p>mom3sons - thanks for your response as well. Yes, he had an interview in the fall, which is what got me to thinking about. The person that interviewed him mentioned the Renaissance scholarship and said that he might have a chance at it, but like I said, I'm well aware that it is super-competitive and I'm not holding my breath. </p>

<p>This is all new to me, so I just wondered if you found out about scholarships at the same time you find out if you got in, or if there is some hint of it before?</p>

6

<p>I'm also a prospective applicant @ URoch and although I'm not 100% sure, I think that the scholarship letter will either come with the acceptance or shortly thereafter. Assuming that CSS and FAFSA were on-time, the total finaid package should be either included in a packet or will follow very shortly after the decision/scholarship letter. The two schools that I have already been accepted to sent the awards a few days later (citing that the finaid council met on fridays and considered monday's acceptees, obviously they were rolling), so I assume that the acceptance letters will include the package (no guaruntees)</p>

7

<p>The interviews for the renaissance scholarships are in late march... i got the letter inviting me already</p>

8

<p>OK, so I guess if he hasn't recieved a letter, he's not among the finalists. But congrats to you, xlittleonex!! Good luck with your interview and I hope you end up getting one of the scholarships!!</p>

9

<p>Renaissance Scholarships are very difficult to get, to top 1% of the applicant pool. So since they have about 10,000 applicants it's to their top 100 applicants. </p>

<p>Admissions interviews are used for scholarships, if you've already had one for admission I doubt their going to contact anyone for a second scholarship interview.</p>

<p>I was told that I was a good candidate for the Rush Rhees Scholarship, but since I am a Bausch & Lomb Scholar ($6000/year) I can only receive another $5000/year through Rush Rhee's since there is a cap for merit based scholarships at $11,000. </p>

<p>I would consider myself a Rush Rhees candidate, but not a Renaissance Scholarship candidate due because my SATs are not incredably high.</p>

<p>My stats are:</p>

<p>Rank: 1/94
GPA: 4.0
SAT: 1360
ACT: 30
SAT II: 740 (Amer. Hist), 740 (Math IC), 640 (Writing)
AP Bio: 5
AP US History: 4</p>

<p>Awards + Leadership:</p>

<ul>
<li>Eagle Scout</li>
<li>Bausch & Lomb Scholar</li>
<li>Student Council- President, Treasurer, Forum Rep, Class Sec.</li>
<li>Honor Society- Sec.</li>
<li>Newspaper- Assis. Ed.</li>
<li>Spanish Honor Society- V. President</li>
<li>Independent Research Project</li>
<li>Coca-cola scholar semi-finalist</li>
<li>Toyota Scholar semi-finalist (Still going)</li>
<li>PTA Citizenship Award</li>
<li>Amer. Legion Boys State (Senator)</li>
<li>Published 100-page historical website with FrontPage</li>
</ul>

<p>I think I'd stand a chance for the renaissance scholarship if my test scores were higher. Unfortunatly, much emphasis is placed on SATs at Rochester for merit based aid.</p>

<p>oh, btw, tothemaxbro, I thought the 1350 SAT for Rush Rhees was a thing of the past, like they changed the criteria a few years ago? I could be wrong, but I thought it's based on more than SATs now.</p>

10

<p>StPlayrXtreme, I read they give $5,000 if you are from NY state. I also read that you must have all your application documents in before 12/1 to be considered for merit aid.</p>

11

<p>On the website it says that the Meliora Grant for in state ($5000/year)students is now only available to those that are not receiving any other merit based aid. Although, I've heard mixed messages from the admissions office about this. . . .one admissions officer said that you can have another scholarship with the grant, the other was not sure, but I think it was changed recently.</p>

<p>Also, it is prefered that the application is post-marked by December 1st, but not mandatory. Although mine was in before December 1st, it didn't absolutely have to be to them by then. It's only a recommended date.</p>

<p>Admissions awards scholarship money until they run out, if you submit an application later in the admission and they still have funds available, then you could get a merit based scholarship, if there arn't any funds left, then you're out of luck.</p>

12

<p>I found U of R's admission staff the most forthcoming and friendly of any of the colleges that either of my kids applied to (including my alma mater!). I would call them and ask what is going on with the Renaissance Scholarships and whether or not all the candidates have been contacted for interviews already. It may be that since your son was interviewed in the fall, they don't need to do another interview. I suppose at the worst case, they'll simply say they can't give out any information.</p>

13

<p>I'm almost positive your admissions interview was your scholarship interview too. </p>

<p>I think they only make a big deal out of getting people in for the interview and send letters to candidates if they have not yet interviewed on campus. In this case, I have heard that if you are a considerable distance from U of R, they will fly you in to visit. Since I interviewed in November, I can't tell you I'm positive on this. . . . .but I wouldn't worry about it.</p>

<p>If you believe your son is a candidate of a Renaissance Scholarship, then he must be a great student. . . . .so my guess is he will at least get the $11,000 merit based to the cap.</p>

<p>You also have to figure that any need based aid, is also included in your aid package. . . .</p>

<p>for example, my need based package is anticipated to be about $19,000 (they have a calculator on U of R's financial aid website). . . .so if I max out at $11,000</p>

<p>That's:</p>

<p>40,000
- 11,000 merit based</p>

<h2>- 19,000 need based</h2>

<p>10,000 - just after U of R is done</p>

<p>For my case I have at least $2000 outside scholarships at the moment. . . . .so my freshman year will cost about $8,000. Not bad for a top private research university. . . . .and if even if I don't cap out at 11,000 and only get 6,000 it will be $13,000 per year. . . which still isn't bad! I will probably be responsible for about $6000 of it. . . .I'll pay off $3,000 in the summer, perhaps get a part time job, and get whatever low interest or perkins loans I can get. </p>

<p>I was don't have too much in my bank account, which is a good thing, because the school will take about 1/3 of students savings. . . .which is insane! Why should students who save for their education be punished? </p>

<p>So, my philosophy. . . .U of R has been known for their good financial aid packages, a lot of schools don't even give merit based aid (ex: Cornell, Colgate, Columbia). I will be happy with what they give, because there are not many schools at U of R's level or above that give merit based scholarships away. </p>

<p>So, probably mid-march, we'll all hear back! Until then, I will try not to worry too much. . . .just as long as you did your h/w on the school and considerable interest was shown to the admissions office, I think things will work out.</p>

<p>Oh, and I agree, U of R's admissions is the most open and helpful admissions office I have ever dealt with. . . . .so are the professors! I emailed a professor of biomedical engineering. . . .he got back to me within a couple hours, with a great and insightful response! I've been in contact with professors from other Universities through research projects, and it is very common to be ignored, or get brief responses like you're not worth the time. . . . .but the professor i talked to seemed to want to take the time to answer my questions. . . .i hope there are more professors like that there.</p>

14

<p>Xtreme, don't take that Calc for real...
I did it and it said I would receive a package of 35,000 and I only got about 21</p>

15

<p>Yes, be careful with your calculations. I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm, but you must closely inspect all offers you receive.</p>

<p>Some schools don't let you accumulate beyond your calculated need. In other words, if your need based aid is calculated to be 19K, then your merit aid/grants, work study, student loans etc....will come in about there. In this case, 11K merit which leaves a deficit of 8K. This could be met with a 2.5K stafford loan, 1K in work study, and and a 4.5 University "grant." Unless you are getting one of the half ride/full ride type scholarships.</p>

<p>My son received several kinds of financial aid awards last year. Some were merit based. Some were grants. Some had work study or low interest student loans. The higher your academic credentials, the more "free money" ie grants/scholarships. Also, freshmen and sophomores receive more grants/scholarships. At any rate, almost all of the packages came in about the same number regardless of what form the aid took.</p>

<p>When your aid package comes, remember to check and see if you will get that same amount all four years (assuming your family situation remains the same), if it has some sort of GPA attached to it or other stipulations, and if there are hidden costs. I think some of the college web sites have programs that compare aid.</p>

<p>Some schools look like they are giving more, but there may be a large chunk of work study thrown in. Or another school may give you a computer. Or travel expenses to one school are greater than another.</p>

<p>This might be a good time to look on the financial aid threads to see what you can expect.</p>

16

<p>thanks for the warning. I think the U of R calc told me about 24,000, my dad found a resourse about FAFSA and the college board financial aid (drawing a blank on what it's called!). . .and it gave about $18,000-$19,000, so i'm hopeful, but I will see when my package arrives. </p>

<p>In a perfect world, i'll get arround 19, but I don't know for sure if this will happen. </p>

<p>It's to my understanding that merit based doesn't come out of need based packages according to what I've heard at U of R. </p>

<p>Also, what types of jobs to people get through workstudy?</p>

<p>So yeah. . . .thanks for the heads up! It's by no means the only school I've applied to, since I'm going to compare packages, but from what i've heard, it sounds promising at U of R, keeping in mind that I don't have my financial aid package yet :( I can't wait! lol. . . .a few more weeks</p>

17

<p>I haven't had any dealings with U of Rochester fin aid--yet. (Hopefully!) At some schools merit aid is given to students regardless of need. Particularly those 1/2, 2/3 and full rides. Emory Scholars for example. Claremont McKenna also has a non need based award. </p>

<p>At some, merit aid is given as part of your over all package. For example my son got a merit award from F & M of 13.5K, and it helped the college meet our demonstrated need. There were also grants, and one small student loan in the package as our need was greater than the merit award. The combined total met our need. Generally merit does play in to the need based awards, the better the student, the fewer the loans.</p>

<p>(that 2.5K student loan is pretty standard in all fin aid packages, you can choose whether or not to accept it, but it is how the school considers your need being met)</p>

<p>Work study. Caveat emptor: they don't guarantee it. You must apply for the jobs. Generally they are posted at the school, and some have the openings on their web pages. You might work in the school library or the IT help desk, or logging people in at the gym. Generally they are 10 to 15 hour a week jobs. You could always opt for an off campus job if you so desire and there is something off campus for you to do. Rochester would have plenty of jobs near/off campus. AND the work study isn't subtracted from your bill in most cases because you get the check. Your school's fin aid policy will come with your aid package.</p>

<p>The CSS profile treated us more kindly than the FAFSA. Many private colleges use a combination of both systems.</p>

<p>Oh...you must declare your outside scholarships to the schools. Many apply them to the loans in your package first. Each school is different, but you must disclose any you win. By outside scholarships I mean those you receive from your community, or off Fastweb etc...</p>

<p>So--when you get your aid packages, you really need to see who gave you what, not just the bottom figure. The bottom figure may say 20K at one and 18K at another, but the first may include work study and a loan that will make it competitive to the second offer. There are many ways for a school to meet your need. If you have questions regarding your package, it is always best to call the school and ask. Make sure you understand what to expect in following years (we have a second entering school this year, and we wanted to make sure that our need would be adjusted at the first son's school--yes it will) and any stipulations attached--GPA of 3.2 or above as an example.</p>

<p>There are many nice folks around here that can also help, and check out the financial aid threads, too. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what you receive. Many people think you have to be entirely without income to receive aid, and that is just not so.</p>