<p>Has anyone received notification of being awarded a STRIDE or Zollman? I know in some previous years, those notifications came out before RD acceptance/rejection letters went out...
Thanks!</p>
<p>TheDad said his daughter got notification of her STRIDE about two to three weeks before she was officially accepted. But that was a few years ago, and I don’t think anyone this year (on CC or who I know personally) have heard yet. Though I have been checking my mailbox neurotically ever since TD mentioned the early notification in the vain hope that I’ll receive one. :]</p>
<p>Also, sorry for the double post, but something I meant to include earlier: the chance we’ll hear from someone who has actually received a STRIDE/Zollman is pretty small, as less than 60 students out of the 4,009 students who applied will receive one or the other. So in all actuality, we probably won’t have a clue as to when they’ve been sent…not to be a Debbie Downer or anything.</p>
<p>But considering this is college confidential, the chances are actually much higher than that.</p>
<p>True, but I felt obligated to put things into perspective anyways–mostly because I need to keep my own hopes in check. :]</p>
<p>Last year my sister was notified of her scholarship and Smith acceptance during Smith’s spring break (I know because I was at home, trying to read the letter through the envelope). Smith’s spring break is next week.</p>
<p>Of course, nothing from past years can be held as law.</p>
<p>Hey, I just got in to Smith with a STRIDE today!!! 
So happy right now! </p>
<p>I live in Massachusetts, and the letter was postmarked March 13th, so I’m probably one of the first ones to get the letter because I live so close. Good luck!</p>
<p>wowwww! COngratulations LaMariposaAzul!!!</p>
<p>congratulations LaMariposaAzul!!!</p>
<p>Hey, congratulations, LaMariposaAzul–you must be thrilled!!! (And to quote a friend, I don’t use exclamation points lightly! )</p>
<p>And thanks for posting when it was postmarked…definitely useful as far as directing my anxiety into a set few days. :]</p>
<p>Congratulations , LaMariposaAzul. I know you’re interested in many colleges, but Stride is a unique opportunity, leading not only to research with a professor, but to possible publication and, if you give it your best, future very useful LOR for graduate school or jobs. As the brochure says, this is not only about money and stipend, although both are greatly appreciated, both on my side and on my daughter’s.</p>
<p>Also, I hadn’t realized how merit aid had changed recently at Smith–the short-lived Mary Maples Dunn scholarships are gone, STRIDE scholarships are MUCH bigger (it used to just be the 2-year research grant but now it’s that plus $15k a year), and Zollmans are slightly bigger (used to be half tuition; now it’s $20k/year plus 2-yr research grant).
[Smith</a> College: Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/finaid/prospect/aid_merit.php]Smith”>http://www.smith.edu/finaid/prospect/aid_merit.php)</p>
<p>So a STRIDE is huge now–almost comparable to what a Zollman used to be. Congrats to anyone who gets one!</p>
<p>LaMariposaAzul,
will you post your stats? I’m getting so anxious!</p>
<p>I received a notice of admission and a STRIDE scholarship on Saturday, March 14. I live in RI, but the letter was postmarked 3/13.</p>
<p>to glassmenagerie–my stats: </p>
<p>GPA: 98.1 (through jr year)
Class Rank: 1/183
SAT I: CR 720, M 670, W 740 (2130)
SAT II: Math I 690, World History 710, English Lit 740, US History 800
APs: US History 5, AP Lang&Comp 5; this year taking AP Calc AB, AP Physics, AP Literature</p>
<p>ECs: Managing Editor of my school paper for 2 years, first violin in regional youth orchestra for 4 years (concertmaster for 2), school a cappella group (by-audition-only) for 4 years (this year I’m group director), Amnesty International, NHS, peer tutoring, church youth group…other stuff I’m probably forgetting…</p>
<p>I wrote my essay about this camping experience I had and how I saw it connect to a quote from Thoreau that I love. Recs came from my APUSH and AP Lang teachers from last year, both probably excellent (I hope). And I had a great interview at Smith. </p>
<p>I hope this helps with your anxiety. I’ll admit, I was pretty surprised about it, I didn’t think my stats were anything really really special. Good luck to all of you, I hope Smith works out! </p>
<p>And to quarkify–congratulations! Is Smith one of your favorite schools?</p>
<p>I just got my STRIDE notification in the mail!! My parents and I are thrilled–I haven’t decided yet where I will go, but knowing that we should be able to afford Smith without taking out a bunch of loans is a definite relief. My letter is dated March 13th as well.</p>
<p>Hmm, I just checked the Smith financial aid webpage, and it looks like merit aid replaces grants. 
Is this true? Shouldn’t they at least eliminate loans from the aid package first so that a financial aid kid like me gets some reward for qualifying? I know that working with faculty would be a great experience, but still–that seems a little unfair that people who can afford to pay full tuition get a $15,000/year bonus, while those with less resources have to pay the same amount that we would without the STRIDE.</p>
<p>It is kind of unfair, but the point of merit aid is that one’s financial situation doesn’t impact it. Also, just because a student doesn’t qualify for need-based aid doesn’t mean that they can’t really use that merit money from STRIDE. For some of them, STRIDE helps alleviate what might otherwise be a pressing need to get a campus job. Not on financial aid does not always translate to not needing to worry about money for the student or the family. </p>
<p>Did your STRIDE offer include your total financial aid package? If not, i wouldn’t start freaking out until you get your full package, if you’re STRIDE, they’re going to make it as attractive as possible because they obviously want you to attend.</p>
<p>I got my STRIDE notification just now. Unfortunately, I was already pretty set on going somewhere else, but this is making me doubt my decision. D’oh.</p>
<p>Cygne: On the info sheet in the packet it says that we get a $60k scholarship regardless of financial need… I assume that means that the $15k is on top of whatever need-based package you get. Or at least, I hope that’s what it means.</p>
<p>Congrats, lookbeyond! I’ll keep hoping, too. I don’t know what my FA package will look like, but after my last post I found some info indicating that <em>outside</em> merit scholarships would be used to reduce family contribution and self-help aid first, so hopefully that applies to institutional scholarships, as well. :)</p>