I am a rising senior in Kentucky. Have a 4.37 Cumulative GPA (4.0 otherwise), scored a 34 on my ACT. Have taken the most rigorous course load and will finish HS with 12 AP classes, 4 years of Chinese. Volunteer hours are good. Officer of National Honors Society, Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta Writing Club. Play clarinet in the top school band (wind ensemble), and am a World Certified 1st Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. (working on 2nd Dan and have been in the sport for 6 years), and am now an instructor.
What are my chances of obtaining any type of merit scholarship/dept scholarship from W&M?
Your credentials are a dime a dozen for applicants to schools like W&M.
Also, being OOS stacks even acceptance against you.
I will say, though, that W&M has fairly great financial aid (mine is great anyway), so if you get in you should be in good shape.
What is OOS
Out-of-State
Actually, your stats would appear to meet the bar for consideration to become a 1693 Scholar (does your GPA put you in the top 1%?). Keep in mind that this is W&M’s most selective scholarship, and out of roughly 15,000 applicants, 70 are selected as semi-finalists, of which about 8 receive the scholarship.
Read more about it here: https://www.wm.edu/as/1693scholars/selectioninfo/index.php
Otherwise, a 34 ACT, rigorous coursework, and top 5-10% in your class probably gives you a good chance for a Monroe: http://www.wm.edu/as/monroescholars/
You have a shot at the Monroe, it seems. Nobody is a safe bet to be awarded the scholarship since it’s so competitive, but your credentials are strong.
And I completely disagree with LaVolpe; your numbers are not “dime-a-dozen,” even for a top state school like W&M. I know it’s a case-by-case scenario, but I got in OOS with far less impressive credentials. Just make sure you work hard on your essays and have them reviewed by a teacher you trust.
@NickP96
Having a 4.36 gpa is pretty run of the mill today for the top, say, quarter of any given HS class.
34 on the ACT is far more impressive, but the information given was limited. A few clubs and ‘good’ volunteer (quotes because it’s his/her word, not for sarcasm purposes) isn’t something I’d consider extraordinary.
People need to give College hopefuls some perspective on just how hard it is today, but somehow all the threads on CC are that you’re sure to get in, “cause i did with wayyyy lower stats lol” and that “you’ll probably get -insert extremely difficult scholarship- too!”.
My girlfriend graduated #1 in her class with a 4.5 and a perfect score on her SAT (first time, no less) and didn’t get to the finals on any of those absurdly competitive scholarships (at her school). Admissions isn’t sure-fire anymore, and telling anyone anything but that is damaging in my opinion.
@LaVolpe if you read my comment, I never said anything like “oh, you’ll definitely get in or get this scholarship.” I said OP had a solid shot and should absolutely go for it. That’s why I said “nobody is a safe bet” and “make sure you keep working hard.”
@NickP96
I was referring to the common responses on most of these threads, not you specifically.
@LaVolpe what school does your gf go to I’m just curious