<p>My DS has WashU as one of his top 5 schools right now. The only way he would be able to go though is if he wins one of the scholarships. I was just looking at the details for the scholarships and noticed that the Scholarship Interview weekend is being held the same weekend that he has his Thespian State Competition, which is the highlight of his whole year. There is no way he would miss that since Thespians is his "thing". I assume there is no way he would be considered for one of this scholarships without attending the weekend.</p>
<p>My question is, are there any merit scholarships that don't require coming that weekend? I don't see any but I was hoping I may have missed something.</p>
<p>Since admissions and scholarship issues can change from year-to-year, the best advice I can give would be to contact the Office of Admissions to see if they can put you in touch with any of the scholarship committees to find out about interview dates. While there are merit scholarships available, they are extremely competitive. If I had a full scholarship offer at a school like WUSTL, I would certainly go to the scholarship interview above any senior year activity.</p>
<p>Scholarships are extremely competitive at WashU. Those who are invited and attend the Danforth selection weekend are given a half tuition scholarship and are considered Danforth scholars, a rare privilege with tremendous benefits as my son has learned. Those that do show up are eligible for as many as 4 full tuition Danforth scholarships. So it is worth the time to go in my opinion. </p>
<p>There is one new scholarship as of this year that is called the Stamps Scholarship. It is full tuition, room, board, expenses and a stipend for travel abroad or unpaid internships. This was a Skype interview with the Stamps Family Foundation - no selection weekend. But there were only a few offered and there was no application process. My son was just chosen and contacted to interview. This may be different in the second year of the scholarship at WashU, as I think Stamps scholarships at other schools have a regular submission process.</p>
<p>My advice is to say that these scholarships are very competitive with thousands dying to be selected. If you are indeed fortunately enough to get an invite to the selection weekend, make every attempt to attend. High school activities are fun, but the day after graduation, they are meaningless in terms of how they shape your child’s future.</p>
<p>Aren’t those high school things to help prepare for college? Would you not want your child to skip a competition, where he might win a ribbon or medal, to go to a scholarship interview weekend, where he is being considered for a $250,000 scholarship? Doesn’t matter what his thing is; one is going to matter in a few years, and the other probably won’t.</p>
<p>This thread is quite presumptuous.</p>
<p>It is quite prestigious to be invited to a scholarship weekend. Anyone calling and asking about options without even having a choice would probably never get invited since it shows a clear lack of priorities. If I was an adcom at WashU and received such a call, I would put a note in the file to reject the kid.</p>
<p>I was just asking a question about other available scholarships. I, unfortunately do not determine my son’s priorities. He is a Thespian through and through. Thespians are very passionate about what they do. Not attending the State competition in his senior year is like not going to the Superbowl if your team wins the playoffs. Besides, if he doesn’t go, his fellow troupmates become disqualified from competing as well. He’s not going to miss it. Even if it means going to a different college because he can’t afford this one. I just have to deal with that.</p>
<p>For those who responded to my question, Thank you for the information.</p>
<p>As they say, one bridge at a time. There are usually many many disappointed folks around here in February when the invitations are revealed and they don’t make the cut. There are also many here concerned about getting invited to BS/MD interview and having other BS/MD interviews at the same time as WashU’s and they are forced to make the tough choices. </p>
<p>However, assuming one will be lucky enough to be invited and calling to ask for alternative arrangements usually messes up what little chance one might have. I do see that happen and my advice would be never to call asking about a possible conflict if such a conflict has not come up yet. It might happen in February.</p>