<p>How valuable is a perfect (2400) SAT score in the quest to win merit-based scholarships? My nephew has had the fortune of earning one of these. This family needs $ help but is in the middle class zone that often mostly gets stuck with loans. Obviously each college is different, but there are also national scholarships to consider. He is applying to public and private schools, East and West coast. I would love informed opinions and advice. Nowadays colleges CLAIM to pay less attention to scores, but hopefully they will pay attention to a score such as this, as long as the grades, etc are good. Thank you.</p>
<p>Is your nephew also a NMF? Does he have a great GPA? </p>
<p>NMF have have colleges that give nice merit awards. E.g. USC gives a 1/2 tuition scholarship. Northeastern gives a fully tuition scholarship, I believe.</p>
<p>If this student has a great GPA as well, he will find himself either eligible for guaranteed merit awards (see thread above) where they are offered, or in contention for merit awards at other schools.</p>
<p>A 2400 is a great score but it really isn’t perceived as being better than a 23XX score. That being said, scores are important at most schools for getting scholarships, particularly those with assured merit aid. As Thumper said, look through the merit aid threads at the top of this forum.</p>
<p>musicmama, DS got 36 on his ACT so we are really interested in your question, too. I have not seen any scholarships specifically for perfect standardized test score earners. However, a few years ago (3 years?), University of Kansas had a perfect score scholarship that would give either a full tuition or full ride (can’t recall the details). They have since changed their program and no long award to specifically perfect scores.</p>
<p>the answer is…it depends. Some schools have enough very high stats students that when they do award merit, they award for different reasons…to help with regional or ethnic diversity or to bring in some talent.</p>
<p>What schools would he consider attending on large merit?</p>
<p>You say that his family needs help…sounds like an unaffordable EFC. If so, then getting a partial merit scholarship may not help because that would just go towards “need”…and the family would still have to pay its EFC.</p>
<p>If you can provide this info, we might be able to help…</p>
<p>How much can the family pay each year?
What is the career goal of this student?</p>
<p>there are also national scholarships to consider.</p>
<p>Is he a NMSF? If not, what do you mean by above?</p>
<p>What state are they in?</p>
<p>For financial reaches, he should try: Vandy, Rice, and USC.
for financial safeties, he should try the big merit schools on the thread for full tuition scholarships.</p>
<p>*A 2400 is a great score but it really isn’t perceived as being better than a 23XX *</p>
<p>Very true. And with so many kids taking multiple tests, a perfect score (or very high score) may not be as rare as it used to be.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-19.html#post16145676[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-19.html#post16145676</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-4.html#post16224918[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-4.html#post16224918</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-55.html#post16379939[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation-55.html#post16379939</a></p>
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<p>Northeastern reduced their award for NMF to $30,000/year (about 3/4 tuition) this year. This is included in the latest list that ucbalumnus linked.</p>
<p>Though a perfect score is rare, most schools and scholarship boards do not have a specific category for that achievement. When using any kind of a point system to evaluate candidates, set points are there for the points. On a 1-5 scale, a 2400 SAT1 would be a 5, but so would, say a 2350 or whereever that line is drawn. The same is often done with gpa. A 4.0 and a 3.8 may get the same 5 score with anyone just under that 3.8 being delegated in the 4 score category. THat’s why you can see kids getting “more” than another with lower numbers at times. It’s the way the categories are drawn. When an unusual feature is present, that is the tie breaker. No one cares if the test score is slightly less than perfect and there is one with a perfect test score when other issues are also considered. </p>
<p>Still, there is a market for good test scores, and those wiht perfect scores should look to the those colleges seeking such students. Fordham is a good bet as are any number of Catholic school, Tulane, Gettysburg,Case, Pitt, just to name a few, would love to have a 2400 student in their midst.</p>
<p>Valedictorian son with 4.0 UWGPA, high ACT, 13 AP courses got full tuition scholarship at Miami. They now offer a scholarship with room and board as well (I believe). Nothing wrong with going to a “safety” school.</p>
<p>depends on caliber of school</p>
<p>Northeastern has said that $30,000 is the minimum for NM, but they could add on top of that to provide up to full tuition for well-qualified candidates. We’ll have to see how that actually plays out in practice.</p>