Scholarship Weekend experiences

Parents Forum
1

<p>My dd was invited to two scholarship weekends, and she had very different experiences at each one. It made me curious to hear what others have experienced.</p>

<p>I’m taking a couple of things for granted:</p>

<li><p>Most students invited to the scholarship weekend will not be offered the top scholarship.</p></li>
<li><p>The school wants as many as possible of them to enroll anyway, even the ones who don’t get the big money.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>From that perspective, it’s been interesting to compare my dd’s experiences at the two scholarship weekends she attended.</p>

<p>School A offered more money up front; each invited student was guaranteed about 80% tuition, and about a third would be picked for a full ride. This school invited a small number of students, and the event itself was shorter and more focused on “fun” – going to a basketball game with current students, for example. The whole thing was over in less than 24 hours, with the main event being an interview with the selection committee.</p>

<p>School B invited more students and offered them less money up front, starting at half tuition. Only about 10% would get picked for the top award, but others could get unspecified intermediate awards. This time there was no ball game – instead the students were treated to lavish dinners, chamber music, speakers, class visits, and a reception with faculty. They also got gifts – a school sweatshirt, T-shirt, book bag, etc. The students had an interview with the selection committee and did a writing exercise during the event, which lasted two and a half days. </p>

<p>In my dd’s case, I think the attention lavished on her at School B was far more effective at making her want to attend the school than the guaranteed cash at School A. Over time, however, the headiness of that experience has subsided and she is more inclined toward the dollars offered by School A.</p>

<p>It’s also interesting how both of these schools have risen in her estimation compared to the higher-ranked university that was her original first choice. </p>

<p>What have your dc experienced at scholarship weekends? Did they make your dc want to attend, even if they didn’t get the top scholarship? Did they make your dc prefer the scholarship school over the elite college?</p>

2

<p>We attended the Maximus Day at Ohio State. I was touched when a group from the OSU Marching Band came and played 3 songs at 8:45am. Brutus the mascot tried his best to get the prospective freshmen to loosen up but they were awfully nervous about the 2 hour essay competition that was looming. I think it was good to stress the school spirit and excitement that could be found at OSU. The Honors/Scholars program had already convinced us of the intellectual rigor.</p>

<p>We knew going in that the numbers were against us. 900 students with a minimum ACT of 32 were writing essays over two weekends. 10 would receive a full in-state ride. 70 would be awarded full in-state tuition.</p>

<p>The event was extraordinarily well organized (as were all of our dealings with the Honors/Scholars Programs). They had a surplus of current students stationed everywhere to answer questions. It lasted from 8am-4pm and they packed a lot in there.</p>

<p>We also attended a 3 day event at another nice school where we knew we had a lot of money going in. Looking back, 3 days is just too long for an introvert like my daughter.</p>

<p>She chose OSU in early March... and found out this week she received one of the 70 in-state tuition awards which was a great validation.</p>

3

<p>I don't understand the point of scholarship weekends. Either they want to offer a student merit aid or they don't. It sounds like gaming on the part of schools.</p>

4

<p>I'm assuming that it is mainly used to weed out the people who look great on paper, but can't put together a meaningful conversation in real life. I'd like to hope that it's not based on attractiveness, etc., but it's always a good idea to put your best foot forward. Years ago, a manager and director at a place I worked hired a computer programmer, site unseen, based on an awesome resume. Ph.D., teaching experience, had written programs for some really spectacular stuff, etc. They checked out her history and it was all legit experience. Personally, though it turned out she was a real nutcase, with a very tragically sad background. She required about a 20-ft personal space radius, and she had major personal hygiene issues to boot. (made that personal space thing desirable for both sides).</p>

5

<p>I think they do want to offer merit aid to these students. All of them got offered at least half tuition. </p>

<p>At one of the schools I mentioned, I think the true purpose was to interview the top-ranked students in order to choose who got the top award.</p>

<p>At the other, I think the school was just as interested in attracting <em>all</em> the students as it was in picking the top winners. That goal flavored the entire event.</p>

6

<p>One weekend event my D attended was the culmination of the selection process to choose the top 20 students for a full scholarship that came with lots of perks. I believe there were about 100 invitees there. The most intense part included a panel interview where each student was asked a series of questions, some of which were determined based on a questionnaire each applicant was required to submit earlier.</p>

<p>It also included faculty discussion, nice meals, and separate sessions for parents, tours, etc. An overnight visit was also arranged for each nominee to stay with a current scholarship student. Getting to the school was not provided, but the hotel, meals and transportation to/from the hotel for family was provided. I think the overall feeling was that even though this school isn't in the fabled top 25, the chance to be a "big fish" was pretty appealing. </p>

<p>Going in, each student already knew he/she had qualified for 50% tuition. The students were told they would hear within 48 hours who was selected for the top scholarship. </p>

<p>Some of the students there were chosen for a couple of other scholarship programs which were less comprehensive, but still very attractive. It was my sense in talking to some of the other parents that this event was quite effective in creating stronger interest in the school.</p>

<p>D also attended a couple of other Honor Weekend events, but she wasn't being interviewed for the top scholarship, so I can't offer specific comparison. These events were always worth attending, in my opinion, because it gave you a chance to see beyond the standard college tour.</p>

7

<p>curiouser and others, I'm puzzled that most of you haven't mentioned the names of the colleges, particularly since your comments are for the most part, very positive. If I were at an earlier stage in this process, I'd be very interested to hear which schools do an excellent job with their scholarship programs.</p>

8

<p>UNC and UMD-College Park both did a good job of acknowledging that they knew the students there had options at lots of competitive colleges. That said, they then went to work to describe their experiences and why students chose their schools instead of the HYPs of the world. Both have/will offer every one who attends some merit money. UMD was much less stressful on the students.</p>

9

<p>"I don't understand the point of scholarship weekends. Either they want to offer a student merit aid or they don't. It sounds like gaming on the part of schools."</p>

<p>Doesn't sound like gaming at all. It helps the school weed out students who just look good on paper (possibly due to ECs that are ECs on paper only; essays that were ghost written by others) and those who will become active, vibrant members of the college community.</p>

<p>As a person who has run scholarship programs, I've seen a big difference in how students can seem on paper and how they seem in person. For instance, a top applicant in a scholarship program that I directed came to the interview late and was obviously bored. For instance, the experience included a tour of the company (which was offering scholarships to students interested in that line of work), and the student asked no questions and looked like she was sleep walking through the tour. During her interview, she answered questions as briefly as possible -- as if she were doing us a favor by simply showing up.</p>

<p>Anyway, others -- who hadn't stood out as much in their applications -- got the scholarships, and two of three of them entered the field and are still in the field 16 years later. The student who seemed bored entered a different field.</p>

10

<p>All it takes to understand scholarship weekends is reading curmudgeon's description of his daughter's reaction to her weekend at Rhodes. Getting the scholarship was crucial to her decision to attend there, but if they had just mailed her the award (which they wouldn't have done for the reasons Northstarmom says) she might well not have accepted it. It's an important opportunity to recruit top students.</p>

11

<p>My S, who looks good on some pieces of paper and not-so-good on others ;), received a surprise invitation from Fairleigh Dickinson U in Madison NJ, telling him he was a finalist for their Colonel Fairleigh S. Dickinson Scholarship, with a substantial annual dollar amount. To receive the award, he was informed that he would have to come to Scholars Day and be interviewed, for the reasons Northstarmom mentions above. We arranged to fly him there from CA for the weekend, and he got a very good feel for the school and the students and the faculty from the interviews, student panels, honors program presentations, and even from the talk given by the University President. (Trust me: it's not every day that this kid will mention things from a talk by a senior administrator, weeks later.) My S in turn was animated and interested and enthusiastic, and came home feeling like a rockstar.</p>

<p>He was rewarded 10 days later with a letter telling him he was named a Col. Dickinson Scholar, with an annual award $1500 <em>higher</em> than the original offer. (Making FDU far less costly for us than even a UC school, instate.) FDU has risen highly in his estimation, and he is now considering it more favorably than the "bigger name"/"bigger reputation" schools he's been accepted to (Purdue, Clarkson, and Northeastern). The weekend did make my child prefer the scholarship school over the (not elite but "higher tier") schools he has to choose from.</p>

<p>Check back with us a month from now for the final decision, though. ;)</p>

12

<p>My son had a similar experience to mootmom's at a scholarship competition at an "unknown" school - Ohio University in Athens Ohio. My son also shines on some pieces of paper, and less so on others, (but he's great in real life :) ).</p>

<p>Anyway, they held a competition where the kids had to work on a project together. They are seeking kids with leadership and innovation skills. My son had a fun time there, the turn out was impressive (the kids seemed great) and the faculty and student ambassadors were friendly, helpful, and fun. It definitely conveyed a sense of a very personal, supportive environment.</p>

<p>Son was ultimately granted one of the awards - it is a small scholarship (the big ones there are based on SAT scores and he got good money from those too), $1250/yr and he can live in honors housing - very important, but mostly it identifies kids as "scholars." Requirements for renewal are more than just GPA - they want to see this group of kids really step up to the plate - attending engineering functions, acting as ambassadors, participating in professional organizations.</p>

<p>If he decides to go with this school, that honor, and the experience of the competition, will be a big factor I suspect.</p>

13

<p>I'm a newbie here, but my D is attending a scholarship weekend at UM this weekend. She was already awarded a 3/4 scholarship and is being interviewed for a full tuition. We welcome the experience and look forward to the opportunity. Unfortunatley, she was admitted EA to her dream school which is offering us $0. We're hoping the weekend may change her mind.</p>

14

<p>stkmp
could you identify which UM you mean?Theres Miami,Michigan,minnesota,Maryland.......
Anyways,best of luck to her whichever one it is.
S picked his school immediately after attending their Scholars weekend last year,turning down what he thought till then was his first choice (with 3/4 ths scholarship,no interview needed) and cancelling a weekend at another school for one of their top scholarships.Thats how sure and how good he felt coming out of the experience.</p>

15

<p>Miami, FL,</p>

16

<p>I've seen people here on CC chastise kids who were angry at not getting EA admits or not getting merit $$ when they thought they should have---and saying that kids shouldn't take these things personally. While I agree that it shouldn't be a blow to one's self-esteem, some of the "intangibles" in feeling good about a college decision is how the place makes you feel. And, feeling wanted and wooed goes a long way in making a student feel welcome to a university.</p>

17

<p>The point of scholarship weekends, at least at our state u, is to kind of "force" kids to look at the campus and show them what the school can offer (mind you, D was not invited to attend, even tho she had higher stats than some). The mom of a boy we know who went said that even tho he was abundantly familiar with the school, he had his heart set elsewhere, but after a weekend of wining and dining and one-on-one with the profs in his dept who showed all kinds of behind the scenes stuff you would never see or get told about on a tour, he totally changed his mind, took the offer he got and is now going to the school. </p>

<p>For equally qualified students like my D who don't get invited they either view it as an insult, or at least they never get the chance to get that behind the scenes treatment that might have made them change their minds. Sure, you could call and ask for a special tour, and they would probably set one up if you did, but a state u that does this is probably going after big fish who won't call and won't ask, but they could be tempted by a fancy invitation.</p>

<p>This is why just sending them the scholarship in the mail is not often all that persuasive. Sad, but true.</p>

<p>(i'm ocd, i called all miffed, and they said that they had 250 qualified but could only afford to invite 25 due to budget and time constraints; they do the best they can with the $$ they've got)</p>

<p>In addition to eyeballing the prospect, there's the psychological component too.</p>

18

<p>Our D went to one Scholarship weekend (the rest were merit in the mail) and thought she did great in one interview and pretty good in the other. The whole weekend was a wonderful experience. She received one of the lower scholarships and was insulted by the amount (as compared to the ones she received in the mail). And the lower $ has a much higher GPA requirement attached to it. It is still on her list but I doubt she accepts.</p>

19

<p>etkmp
Miami was S's first choice with the 3/4ths.He loved it there when he spent a summer there doing a special program.I'm sure your D is going to love it,especially with their full tuition scholarship (the Singer isn't it?)
Only reason S loved where he wound up more (South Carolina) was getting their top scholarship that came with perks, and the strength of the major he wanted (LOL it was a prof in the dept at Miami that encouraged him to apply to USC in the first place).
Congrats on being called for that scholarship...not many get that call....</p>

20

<p>S#1 did 3 scholarship competitions last yr. Very different reactions to each. Ultimately selected his top pick on the basis of the experience. </p>

<h1>1 LAC - a one dayer. Held four diff sessions students could pick from. So hard to tell how many were invited total. One essay to apply. S had already been admitted with at least 1/2 tuition. Small group "talking" session with adcom and prof. Written essay. Lunch, tour. No overnight, but one could be arranged. Good fin aid session for parents. Rec'd full tuition offer (1 of 10 offered) last wk March. S liked everything, but did not connect personally to the school. Neither was he turned off in any way. But always held out "higher" hopes for another offer.</h1>

<h1>2 LAC - arrived Tue, picked up lunch Thurs. 900+ applications (one essay), 95 finalists. All told to expect admission (raising excitement level). Approx 40 to receive 1/2 tuition to full ride. Dinners, lunches. Went to two classes, assigned according to stated academic interests. Interviewed with panel of students (the only school that did this -- his favorite part of any scholarship comp). Interviewed with panel of 3 faculty members -- who knew every single line of his entire admissions application. He was very impressed with that. Exit interview with admissions, like talking with a big sister he said. Stayed on campus w/ non-scholarship freshman host. Loved that, too, bc he got to see life from student perspective -- even told they were feel free to "go out" so they could learn more about life on campus (i.e., hit the Wed night parties), which most did -- also a big hit with him. Campus-wide welcome - students happy to talk to finalists anytime, anywhere. We rec'd call from him Wed night -- "this is it!" Wanted to take his name out of finals at school #3, but Mom said NO! Nb - This school originally went on the list grudgingly bc I thought it might be a good fit ;) Rec'd full tuition scholarship, along with admissions acceptance letter. Happy then, and even happier now as a freshman. Actually training now to be tour guide. When the shoe fits . . . .</h1>

<h1>3 - Flagship state univ (we are OOS). Arrive Thurs, p/u Sun. Prestigious full ride scholarship competition - all or nothing - 35 winners. Nomination by school in summer. Multipart application due Nov 1. Rounds 1 & 2 -paper screening by regional committee. 48 invited to third round interviews before panel of 1/2 cte. 12 invited to fourth round interviews before full cte. 4 selected as state finalists, sent to campus for 3 day competition with 95 finalists total. Finalists automatically admitted. Fun experience but very nerve-wracking, even for the kid who's at his best in interviews. Stayed in hotel next to campus with other finalists. Liked that, but preferred being on campus with current student. Wonderful dinners, speakers, etc. Student host assigned, took to dinner, out at night. Two large group sessions with profs, based on assigned reading material. Math test! Written essays! Alums and big wigs on panel of interviewers! S loved meeting the other finalists, but ended up feeling that he wouldn't be what they were looking for -- and it wasn't what he was looking for -- too big, too much tell us "how you are going to save the world" for this 17 yr old. And he was right! He heard two days later he didn't get it. Rec'd nice "consolation" scholarship of $2,000. Sweated it out for another 10 days before he heard from School #2, but he lives happily ever after.</h1>