Award came in $0 for merit/finaid today for my son, after long wait, but as a joke they are offering loan for $5,500 for Rutgers Pharmacy.
Merit is gone from Rutgers. One thing for sure they are as consistent as last year not giving scholarship on pure merit. My son applied in September early action. Completed FAFSA in October but still got nothing with ranked top 5% in grade, 4.25 GPA, 34 ACT, 9 AP classes and two college classes, NHS, National merit commended scholar, class officer, lots of EC and leadership positions and volunteer hours
So early or regular application, doesn’t matter, if both parents are working proffesional jobs and paying NJ taxes, your kid don’t qualify for $ at Rutgers. Other 3 out of state better ranked Pharmacy schools offered up to $22k a year merit scholarship to my son couple of months ago, but net cost is still higher than Rutgers without any scholarship due to in-state tuition.
$ are sucked by people not paying taxes…but that’s not new in our contry.
Thanks for people who post here for good info, Rutgers is misinforming about existence of pure merit scholarship on their website. Parents don’t lie here.
@steelersseven I received $16k Trustee from SOE, and $22k from SEBS and SAS (Trustee and $6k Henry Rutgers scholarship) and an Invite to the SOE and SAS Honors College.
My stats:
Out of State
5.15 weighted GPA (on a 6.0 scale)
4.0 UW
1460 new SAT
32 ACT
13 AP classes
Competitive swimmer, captain of hs swim team, 5 clubs, over 100 volunteer hours, good leadership positions
I’m so sorry. Your son deserves a lot more. I’m a little scared. I was rejected from both the honors college and program at the School of Engineering. Whenever I ask why I wasn’t even invited to the honors program, I am repeatedly told that I am not at the top of the accepted student pool for the SoE. Therefore, I feel that my prospects for a merit scholarship are bleak.
1580 SAT, and IB Diploma Program (No GPA) with Physics, Chemistry, and Math at higher level. In 10th grade, I did the IGCSEs, and passed with distinction.
I’m a national merit commended scholar, winner of a STEM team competition in the regional and national level (qualified for world finals and placed as a top-30 team), lots of ECs ranging from music to debate, leadership positions, student council, and some volunteering (very focused music project). My application essay wasn’t my best one, but it was definitely good.
My parents and I are dumbfounded because I never received an invite for any honors (both program and college). While I currently live abroad, my family still owns a house in NJ, and my parents continue to pay US and NJ taxes.
@ByteZz It’s a shame for you, but there are so many competitive applicants and limited spots for honors. It’s a holistic process, so just because you may have better test scores, doesn’t mean you will get the invite. Students are facing this exact same dilemma at hundreds of schools across the country. It’s really that simple and not much you can do about it. Rutgers is an excellent college, is it your top choice?
My son received no merit aid:
in state
4.5 gpa (u/w)
5th in class
1380 sat
5 APs, good ECs, golf, volunteer hours, 2 honors societies
and both parents alumni (DH said it’s because we didn’t donate - lol)
@Kenchen24 - I agree with you - it’s disappointing because my son was seriously considering Rutgers despite the cons, but with no merit help at all, and other good schools who are making merit offers, Rutgers drops low to off the list (even with honors program)
It’s not my top choice. It would have been had they invited me to honors opportunities. However, it may rebound in my books if they offer me a sizable merit scholarship.
I know that the competition is intense, but I still think I was in a very competitive spot. I really want to know if they seriously looked at all of my variables, or if they just stuck everybody in a system. I know a few Rutgers SoE admits who got into the honor programs, and they aren’t as competitive as some of the other students whom I know online and in person. Please forgive me for sounding arrogant. I’m sure you can understand that I am disappointed.
@Kenchan24. Sorry to hear. It is frustrating. I try to remind myself that we are blessed to be able to send our child to college. I have long understood that the majority of our taxes are income redistribution. In the budget in my head, I consider my taxes as part of my Social Justice / Tithe / Charity to the world. It helps.
My son’s stats are lower than what you have posted, so we were not really expecting anything. Where do you think your son will end up. It sounds like he really wants to do Pharmacy. My son is not really sure, He is 100% going to accept either SAS honors program or Pharmacy at Rutgers, since Rutgers is the only place he applied! We went to see a dozen schools, but this was at the top of his list. He was lucky to get accepted early enough that he did not file the other apps. The process was not something he was enjoying, so it was the right call for him.
@Kenchan24 - I’m truly sorry to hear that no merit aid was offered. But why blame people who don’t pay much in taxes for the lack of $ offered? Blame corporate subsidies, blame the tax dollars directed to military spending, rather than education, blame loopholes that allowed our President to not pay a dime in taxes and the system that let’s him get away with it. Do not turn on poor people who have even less than you do,
@panic2017 Congrats again ! Great stats and well deserved. I am sure you will have an amazing future - you should be very proud. Thanks for sharing - my D had 34 ACT , 3.96 GPA and lots of EC’s & volunteer hours. It looks like 35 might e the cut off for Presidential as so far, I have only seen 35 & 36 get Presidential so my D may have missed it with a 34. Not sure but from what I have seen that may be the case. She did get Honors College for both SEBS & SAS and a Trustee Scholarship but she got Presidential at 3 other schools. Thanks again & Congrats and est of Luck to you - Well Done ! Hard work always pays off.
Yes I am in state. I also participate in many EC’s: softball, piano, 5 honor societies, a lot of volunteer hours and leadership in those organizations, Yearbook Editor In Chief, AP scholar with honors, etc
@Kenchan24 If one does not qualify for Free Federal Financial aid (Pell Grants), then one can only get 5500/yr low cost student loan and work study. You must be in high income category.
My DS is invited to honors college to SAS, SOE and pharmacy. He also gets trustee scholarship for all three schools. His stats are 35 ACT, 4.12 GPA weighted, very competitive high school, varsity letter swimmer and others ECs.
Mine still says “not in our database contents financial aid office” . I got into the honors college so I’m guaranteed some sort of scholarship. Anyone else still having this issue?
@anitaclare234, although I hope you receive one, Honors College does not necessarily come with merit aid, it says so on the invitation and on the Honors Portal.