<p>So I realize the chance of getting a Dora Windes Zollman scholarship is ridiculously small...so I'm wondering just what "exceptional promise for Smith" means? Like, have the girls who received it cured cancer or worked in impoverished African villages? </p>
<p>Also, how do the STRIDE scholarships work? I mean, are you given a field of study based on your perceived interests, or can you choose whatever you want?</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure that for STRIDE you're assigned to someone based on your field of interest, but it can be kind of broad. My friend is really interested in Latin American history and spent her STRIDE transcribing interviews with Vietnam war vets. It was a history project, but not her interest per se. </p>
<p>For Zollman, you're right, the chances are very, very, very slim (no reflection on you personally, they're slim for everyone). And yes, besides being a straight-A student and having exceptional scores on everything, you very likely need to have done something super amazing that makes you stand way out from the field of other applicants. </p>
<p>Basically, for Smith financial aid, don't count too much on the merit aid. The options are few and perfectly qualified students get passed over all the time even for the more common scholarships like STRIDE. It's better to be realistic and prepare yourself for the fact that the financial aid package you get will be a mix of loans, grants, and work study, rather than a merit aid windfall.</p>
<p>My D is a Zollman/Stride. Yes, she had incredible test scores and her grades were pretty awesome (not straight As but close from a very competitive private college prep school with lots of APs and honors) but it felt to me like they were even more captivated by her spirit and essays and the fact that she didn't just do the "national honor society, french club" type of extra-curriculars but, rather, focused on outside interests that included something as unique as training in the aerial circus arts, singing, and having even performed with a professional opera company. Having spoken with those in the program choice, I had the distinct feeling that it was matching that "heady, nervy, intelligent" Smith profile that makes them feel that the school might just be a perfect fit both ways and gets that incredible offer. The opportunity to distinguish yourself from the pack through uniqueness of thought is there- and my read was that it was that which lead to the Zollman.</p>
<p>With respect to the STRIDE portion, at the beginning of the summer she was sent a pdf of approximately 70-80 potential projects and had to send back her top 5 ranked in order if the student wanted to do so, and with why she would want to do them and be appropriate for them. The program director then did a mix and match and sent back the assignment. There was something there for every possible interest. Quite a lot of them looked like they would be a great deal of fun!</p>
<p>My d. was a Zollman. Let's just give you the short version and say she wrote an opera, and actually had it performed by an opera company (in concert version).</p>
<p>In her case, they created a STRIDE that fit her perfectly, and later led to a massive graduate fellowship.</p>
<p>There seems to be a conglomeration of opera on the boards, how interesting.</p>
<p>Huh. Clearly I should've gotten into opera. :] Thanks for the info, everyone--it's definitely interesting!</p>
<p>I was a Zollman several years ago. My grades were good (top 10% at a competitive public high school) and my SAT scores were above Smith's 75th percentile. I didn't write an opera or anything (I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket!) but I'd been an exchange student for a year, edited my school newspaper, and had done a fair amount of community service. So good things, but nothing unique.</p>
<p>One thing that really helped me, I think, is the question about "where else are you applying?" I was honest about the fact that I was applying to significantly more competitive schools than Smith (as well as some that gave more merit aid). My distinct sense is that most STRIDE and Zollman students are people Smith fears will attend more selective schools without merit aid, and who would not have received a significant amount of need-based aid. Of course there are exceptions to this--my sophomore year roommate got STRIDE and was on a Pell Grant; she got lots of need-based aid at Smith and everywhere else she applied.</p>
<p>Honestly, once your grades and test scores are in the ballpark, and you have good recommendations and interviews, it's a matter of luck.</p>
<p>My daughter was top-flight in her grades (top 1% highly competitive HS) and scores (which don't even matter much at Smith), but more traditional in her ECs, though she did what interested her. Her ECs simply were not unconventional like circus-flying or opera-composing. She is every bit as "heady, nervy, intelligent" , however! She did not get a Zollman scholarship, but did get a stellar financial aid package comprised almost entirely of grant money. Our spin, What's in a name?</p>
<p>Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>This thread is a few years old, but considering that Smith has been SAT optional for several years now, does it affect an applicant qualifying for STRIDE or Zollman if they choose not to submit scores with their application?</p>
<p>I think so. Nearly every STRIDE I know(including myself) submitted scores</p>
<p>Rocket-- what was it about your app and resume that you think made you stand out and get the STRIDE?</p>
<p>I mean, i dunno. I was all around a good student, high test scores, top 1% of class, 4.0( you can find my stats on chance threads if you’re that interested), but I think it was 2 things.
<p>If you wanna PM me, i’ll go into more details</p>
<p>I think there are many paths to STRIDE, fewer to Zollman. D had a 1580/3940 on her SAT I/I&II’s…mebbe 3920. Top 10 percent at a good public high school and EC’s as an almost all-consuming (20 hrs/week) very good but not spectacular ballet dancer, no leadership positions, 5’s on a modest number of AP tests…five? six? Sally Rubenstone looked at her profile and said “STRIDE but not Zollman” in about 30 seconds.</p>
<p>The difference is that Smith Admissions could look at her profile and guess that they might be fighting Wellesley or the likes of Middlebury (a school she didn’t apply to) but didn’t particularly have to worry about HYS as competition…accurately calculated.</p>
<p>In short, they use the awards to try to improve their yield with students who have some great options elsewhere.</p>
<p>I definitely agree with TD. My daughter had 2130 SAT, I don’t remember her SATIIs but they were right up there; she had 5s on her APs. She was valedictorian in a good MA public high school and had a number of leadership positions both in and out of HS (including HS newspaper editor) along with other interesting long-term ECs. Smith wooed her away from Wellesley with the STRIDE.</p>
<p>What Smith didn’t know was that D would have chosen Smith over Wellesley even without the STRIDE, but hey…</p>
<p>And I’ve got to say, so that the STRIDE paid off not only immediately but down the road.</p>
<p>Glad this thread is current.</p>
<p>Yesterday I was looking at Wikipedia listing for “college endowments”, and under references the article has a link to the ‘2009 National Association of College and University Business Officers Endowment Study’.</p>
<p>I was surprised to see Smith at #50 – near the top of the list (LAC) just above Grinnell. Wouldn’t that mean that they can offer merit aid fairly generously to attract top students?</p>
<p>Smith has historically been a bit schizy about merit aid. Their endowment is spread over a lot of areas, including the push in science and engineering, and they have been very aggressive in courting first-generation-to-college students, who in turn have higher non-merit financial aid needs than other students.</p>
<p>Also, Smith is bigger than most LACs, so endowment/student ratio isn’t necessarily as high as it would seem</p>
<p>And remember that the idea of an endowment isn’t necessarily to pay it out. It’s supposed to sustain a school in perpetuity, it’s not supposed to be spent until it’s gone. So having a large endowment does not translate to lots of merit aid, particularly at a school that’s committed to meeting full financial need.</p>
<p>Typically, the charter of a private college outlines what the maximum percentage of the endowment can be spent. For example, perhaps Smith is allowed to spend down 10% of the endowment every year, with other funds coming from tuition and “soft” money such as grants. When the market tanked, Smith’s endowment likely did as well, which means that the 10% is now a lot less money than it was before the economic downturn. This is why all colleges, even the richest, are struggled to balance student aid, faculty hiring, and general spending.</p>