<p>ST2, you do rock, BTW. Of course it does help to have an all star kid, huh?</p>
<p>Curmudgeon, I tried to PM you but your mailbox is full. Please make some room :)</p>
<p>About the all-star kid, just to bring us all back to our roots, they are all all-star kids in one way or another. Right? Those of us with a second less focused one in the pipeline always need to remember that. In no way to take away from the confetti.</p>
<p>I think it's important to remember that college admission (and, even more, merit money) is simply a crapshoot. My daughter is a sophomore at UChicago, where she was fortunate to receive a full tuition scholarship. Like Curmudgeon's daughter, we are from Texas and she did not want to go to an in-state school. She focused on academic reaches, matches, and safeties that were also financial reaches, matches, and safeties. She was accepted at 10 schools and received a number of good scholarships. Despite a 1520 SAT (taken once in sophomore year), 11 APs (nine fives and two fours), strong SAT IIs (I can't recall her scores, but she had three above 700, including an 800 in Writing), publication in the Concord Review, NCTE award, National Merit Scholar, etc., she was rejected at Princeton (not even a courtesy waitlist). My point is that there are a lot of great kids out there, so be cautious. And if merit money is needed, spread your net wide. After all, what the use of getting in if you can't afford to pay for it?</p>
<p>P.S. A few really bright kids who were seniors with my daughter ended up at their last-choice safety schools because they got overconfident. A couple of them were convinced that MIT, Harvard, etc., would throw their no-merit-money policies to the wind because they were so spectacular. Didn't happen, of course.</p>
<p>As usual, SillyString you say it well. I didn't mention earlier, that 3 very bright kids in our very good public high school did not get in anywhere because they only applied to the most selective (Ivies, Williams, etc..). A good friend of mine's son who attended an exclusive gifted school and was very bright applied to Penn, Davidson, WashU, Yale, Columbia. He was turned down at Columbia and Yale, WL at the other 3...eventually getting in at Penn where his brother is...but didn't find out until late MAY!!!</p>
<p>IS your D having a good soph year so far??</p>
<p>Applying to greater than 10 schools doesn't have to be that intimidating.</p>
<p>D#1 was an "all-star" kid who applied to 15 (yes, 15) schools. Many merit essays could be used multiple times with a little tweak here or there. D had just as many time constraints as every other type A over-achiever, so she learned very quickly how to finesse her apps and save herself the time and effort. One well-written internship essay served many multiple purposes. </p>
<p>Daughter received 3/4 rides (75% expenses paid) from 4 private schools and full rides (plus extras) from our state u and an out-of-state-u. </p>
<p>Applying to 15 schools is not always 15 times the work...it wasn't even 15x the expense, because many of the apps were sent to her free of cost.</p>
<p>I think you need to listen very carefully to hear the ca-ching of merit money.</p>
<p>She will be competing with 18,000 others (most of them are wonder kids) for about 25 scholarships!</p>
<p>Sokkermom - not necessarily true - only at the WUSTLs and Emorys and Dukes - she has a good shot at big bucks at many of the smaller schools Curmudgeon has listed before. The others are longshots for any one person.</p>
<p>Cangel:
I agree with you, but I was addressing the specific quote.</p>
<p>Cur Quote: "when I saw the 35 pop up on the screen the sounds of "harvard-type" bells and the ca-ching of merit money at a "Duke-type" school simultaneously but momentarily entered my mind."</p>
<p>I think there is a misconception out there that the schools you mentioned (and the one in the quote) have an over abundance of merit money just waiting to be handed out to every super star applicant. It is just not true. As others have stated, the very limited merit money at these schools is often used to attract applicants based on attributes such as demographics, gender, or ethnic background. These attributes may have nothing at all to do with an applicant's super star status.</p>
<p>Agree with ya 1sokkermom. My D was a Danforth WUSTL nominee, and like many, many others she was waitlisted. At UMiami she met criteria for merit money, was admitted, but as their site says they dole merit out at their discretion.</p>
<p>Also agree with wishing/hoping. If merit $$$ is an issue go for more schools rather than less.</p>
<p>re the "randomness" of the process:</p>
<p>which is an assertion frequently encountered here and elsewhere; so maybe here is a place to share our experience with the process a couple of years ago. My son was a very attractive candidate by the numbers: his gpa placed him 4th in his class at a well-known Philadelphia-area prep school, 1570 in his first and only SAT sitting, 2 800s and about (I forget) 3 760s on the SAT 2s, first team all-league in baseball and soccer, had spent a summer with a Penn State professor, and designed scientific study that got his name (below the profs) on a significant scientific article published last year--but totally unhooked (as I use the term) since he had no plan to play college sports, no legacy status, not a member of a favored ethnic group, so, in short, a "bright well-rounded kid (BWRK)" from megalopolis, a strong example, but still, just that, and that is a very large and competitive cohort. Didn't write a brilliant personal essay, an ok one, since he's a good writer, but really incapable of tooting his own horn.</p>
<p>Wasn't really ready to apply early anywhere, but like so many, felt he had to fire one off anyway, so tried Harvard.</p>
<p>That resulted in a deferral: ok, disappointing and indicative of the fact that this might be tougher than hoped. So, over Christmas vac, he got the rd apps out to the other schools on his list, Yale, Stanford, Duke, Dartmouth, Cornell, Williams and Colgate. Within a month or so he got back highly enthusiastic early write acceptances to Duke, Dartmouth, Cornell, Williams and Colgate, which took some pressure off, and he settled back to wait on Harvard, Yale and Stanford. These came on April 1st: Harvard--denied; Yale--denied; Stanford--waitlisted.</p>
<p>So, and this is my point, there was a very clear and unrandom seeming set of results: dinged by the uber-selective, but actively sought at all of what I have to think of as the next selectivity level down (I'm not speaking of the quality of the schools here beyond selectivity). Thus, to this day, I think that somehow it's not random, it's not a lottery.</p>
<p>In the end, by the way, Stanford took him (he's there now), which I attribute to the slight geographic hook of being from the East.</p>
<p>based on what I've read in this thread, others on cc, and the popular press, it seems that schools routinely provide merit money to 'buy' students who have options to higher-stat, higher-ranked schools; perhaps a tier higher. For example, EvilRobot gets into Yale, but is persuaded by a full ride to Vandy. There was an article in the WSJ about a similar situation, only the schools were Yale and Emory -- Emory even offered to fund the girl's summer overseas program. A local kid I know had the same thing happen with Emory, only this time the kid was also accepted at Stanford. As others have pointed out, just bcos they have merit money, doesn't mean that every high stat kid is entitled to it -- and, don't forget enrollment management. :)</p>
<p>Thus, for the Mudgette, she could likely get acceped into several of the schools that we dream about (on her behalf), but the "big bucks' is probably only assured at the lower tier schools, as cangel points out, unless, of course, marching band needs a tuba player real bad.</p>
<p>It is interesting to read the wide variety of opinions on Cur's journey. I just wonder how many of the posters have been in a similair situation - and are commenting from that viewpoint. I know my comments are coming from a very similair situation just 12 months ago. If the candidate fits a need - it is amazing what a school will do to get that candidate. I will repeat part of my earlier post - since I absolutely think that it fits the situation.</p>
<p>"Go for the brass ring - it can be a great ride. Remember schools are looking for more than stats. They are looking to complete a complex puzzle of the campus mosaic. The question is where and how does she fit in. She has great stats, but so do most of the applicants at the top schools. So what is next - lets see - a musician - a top female athlete - from rural Texas - I highly doubt many of the other top stat applicants can offer such a unique combo of attributes. Now add a 35 ACT and its BINGO - no more calls we have a winner."</p>
<p>I think Cur's daughter fits the above & the addition of the science interest makes it even a better profile. Been there - done that & it worked out great. I agree with - always have a back up that you can be happy with - but when you have the chance you have to go for the brass ring. Don't ever sell yourself short, there are more than enough other people willing to do that.</p>
<p>over30--finally had some time to peruse this lengthy thread and noticed your reply to my question on PSAT's.--TKS! </p>
<p>And now, back to the Cur Chronicles . . . better than reality TV (Way, way better . . . heck, I don't even watch TV anymore, 'cuz of the time spent viewing CC . . .)</p>
<p>ST2:</p>
<p>Many posters are indeed sharing their experiences. No one disagrees that Cur's daughter will have some great college choices! She is a very talented applicant. Whether the merit money will come is not so certain. Every well deserving applicant may not get merit money, brass ring or not. </p>
<p>Personal experience speaking? Yes.</p>
<p>S's background appears to be very similar to Idler's son. (Very high stats, good grades, tremendous athlete, (broke 7 school records, 12 vasity letters, 2 time regional champion in one sport), lots of science and math awards, locally recognized thespian who won several acting awards, excellent teacher recommendations, community service recognition, Morehead nominee, Echols scholar.... blah blah blah.....</p>
<p>Was he unique? Yes.</p>
<p>Was he accepted to some fine schools? Absolutely.</p>
<p>Did he get a single dime from any of these schools? No.
Even though he was a unique and attractive candidate (at least in our minds), he was also a BWRK who happened to be caucasian, male, and middle class, from the NE. It seems there may be a lot of kids in similar situations. The schools may accept these kids, but may save the merit money for others.</p>
<p>Sorry, Sokkermom, I was just trying to clarify for the newbies, because your post made it seem as if there was little merit money to be had for someone with her stats.
Duke and Emory have very little merit money (I'm much less familiar with WUSTL, but I'll take everyone's word that it is similar), and it is used to "buy" students that they really want. I do know, can almost guarantee that she will get some large merit offers from other schools that Curmudge has discussed before - we just need to be careful to make the distinction. Actually, based on some last year's results that I know, it is possible that because of bball and her scores, she might squeak out some merit at Emory - but it is a longshot, as I'm sure Curmudge understands. Davidson is another school that might be a good bet for her, on paper gives merit money, but in reality there is not a large amount to get - again, though, they love those athletes, and some of the merit money there has definite athletic "tags".</p>
<p>Idler, I can't agree with you more. I'm really beginning to think that the process is not as random as we like to think on this board. I think being from the NE is a big handicap (in the South you have to try harder to get into Duke, particularly coming out of a no-name public school), anybody who "reads" like the majority has an uphill battle, being Asian (particularly as a musician) may be something of a handicap.
I really think that high stat kids are best served by getting finances in order first (because they can get a great education for a lot less money, often with perks at many merit aid colleges), then if the money at a HYPS will work, asking themselves will they bring something to the school, and how can that quality stand out on the application, and which school is the best intersection, as Carolyn puts it, of their talents and the school's atmosphere and needs.
What messes all this up, is that you are dealing with 17 year old kids who don't often think all that logically, even if they are brilliant, who may want to stay close to home, or had a dream about a certain school for their entire lives - it seems random because they have the ability and credentials and a deep desire - it is just that for HYPS, it just may not be enough.</p>
<p>1Sokkermom, I'm confused. I checked back because I thought I remembered your s. getting a huge merit award from Johns Hopkins. Am I missing something?</p>
<p>Nope, he didn't even apply to JHU. You may be thinkin' of Berurah's son. Interestingly enough they are both now at the same campus. :)</p>
<p>I'm sorry...that was stupid of me. Should've checked carefully before posting that!</p>
<p><em>lol</em> Donemom~</p>
<p>All those Dukies "look alike", don't they? ;) ~berurah
p.s. to 1sokkermom~Do you take pm's?</p>