<p>I'm a junior and I am really starting to feel the college pressure. Teachers, peers and guidance counselors have all told me my chances of getting into most schools are very high. However, cost is going to be a big factor in my college selection. I live in florida and have prepaid, but I'd like to know I have more options than UF. I've already visited Auburn because of their full ride national merit scholarship but i am interested in more selective schools such as UNC Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, and Vanderbilt. I known these schools offer full ride scholarships but I'd like to know my chances of earning them, especially from people who have received them. any comment would be appreciated. Thank you :)
-cum. GPA- weighted 5.43 i think
-transcript includes almost entirely honors and AP, all straight As
-Varsity wrestling 9th, 10th and 11th and next year of course. Varsity captain in 10th and 11th and most likely next year
-NHS and Spanish honor society member
-philosophy club member
-cofounder and historian of my schools history honor society chapter
-350+ community service hours
-work every other weekend and will work full time this summer at a paid internship/business learning program
-i go to a private school on a full academic scholarship
-Hispanic</p>
<p>I personally do not think your profile is not strong enough for “full” merit scholarships at the schools you mentioned, but you are definitely qualified enough for some good scholarship money. However, being an URM should significantly increase your chances of getting those bigger (full or close to it) scholarships.</p>
<p>Do you know what your EFC is? Schools like Vanderbilt guarantee to meet 100% need even without merit scholarships.</p>
<p>See the Hispanic Students forum (under College Admissions, Specialty Topics) for lots of information about scholarships, summer programs, fly ins, etc. I suggest you start with the Resources sticky thread.</p>
<p>thanks for the quick replies. @pancaked, i was a little confused by your wording, you think my profile is not strong enough, or you wouldnt rule out my chances entirely? i have asked around a lot and no one has been able to give me even a reasonable answer as to what a solid profile for a scholarship winner would look like. and i no that the answer is not a clear cut one, but if you know someone who won a scholarship such as these id love to get some idea as to what their profile looked like. in your opinion what would constitute a serious contender’s profile?</p>
<p>i am not sure what my EFC is, my family and i have not looked into it quite yet, especially considering my dad is pushing me to accept the essentially guaranteed full ride at auburn when the time comes</p>
<p>I was saying your profile is strong enough for some decent scholarships at the schools you mentioned, but NOT strong enough to get a full ride like NMF will get you at Auburn or Bama.</p>
<p>However, because you are an under represented minority, you may have a shot at getting big scholarships. Though your profile alone may not have the strength that full-ride scholarships usually call for at elite schools, being URM gives you a large advantage in the scholarship department.</p>
<p>oh ok, thank you for clarifying. i cant help but ask, in your opinion what is it that separates me from those who would be likely candidates? i understand the ambiguity with which the school describe their selection criteria, but what factors do the cornelius vanderbilt scholarship (VU), carolina scholars program (UNC), colonel robinson (UNC), reynolds (WFU), and carswell scholarships (WFU) focus on the most?</p>
<p>^^As a URM, you should be looking at the Pogue at UNC-CH as well as the Robertson (which is one of the most competitive in the country).</p>
<p>As far as minority consideration, my mother is Cuban but my father would not be considered a minority by any stretch (though for what it’s worth his grandfather did emigrate from Greece). As such, while I have been raised under heavy influence of Hispanic culture and speak to both my mother and grandmother in Spanish daily, my name does not in the slightest reflect any Latin heritage. Will this take away from my chances when being considered for the scholarships you mentioned?</p>