<p>Today I got a letter from UNC recommending that I apply for the Thomas Wolfe Scholarship (4-year full ride, level of support equivalent to the Morehead Scholarship). The same letter was probably also sent to the other 500 or so winners of the NCTE Achievement Award in Writing, though any prospective freshman may apply. My question is: how competetive is this scholarship, and is it worth it to apply early to UNC to try for this scholarship rather than apply early to, say, Yale (my original intention)?</p>
<p>Early application to UNC would be non-binding, so you could certainly apply to Chapel Hill while still applying to Yale (I assume that Yale's early action/ decision plan is binding). To answer your first question, I imagine that the scholarship is highly competitive, due to the fact that it is indeed a full ride to a rather prestigious public university. </p>
<p>It is my understanding that writers of any genre may apply -- I know in the past they have accepted a girl who wrote a massive novel whilst still in high school, as well as a different girl who was regarded as the best writer (short stories) my high school ever produced. I would expect that the scholarship draws a large, talented pool of applicants, but if you already have a portfolio of your work, I don't see how it would hurt you to apply.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure that they only select one per year, in which case it's incredibly selective. The major scholarships at UNC are highly selective and there's a lot of overlap between HPYS admits and UNC scholarship recipients (plenty of Harvard/Yale admits don't get the Robertson/Moreheads, as well, which is worth noting).</p>
<p>You can apply to Yale EA and UNC EA.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure that they only select one per year, in which case it's incredibly selective. The major scholarships at UNC are highly selective and there's a lot of overlap between HPYS admits and UNC scholarship recipients (plenty of Harvard/Yale admits don't get the Robertson/Moreheads, as well, which is worth noting).</p>
<p>You can apply to Yale EA and UNC EA.</p>
<p>The girl that won the Thomas Wolfe Scholarship last year ended up going to Yale. So, y'know, my odds aren't great.</p>
<p>Yeah, I just found out today that I can apply SCEA to Yale and still apply for the Thomas Wolfe Scholarship at UNC. Sending in an application to UNC, or UT, or perhaps other public schools as well, by Nov. 1 isn't considered a breach of the Single-Choice clause in Yale's early action program (to my understanding at least, someone please correct me if I'm wrong). I've been inadvertantly working on the very thing that the scholarship requires for the past month now, so I might as well apply.</p>
<p>Yano,</p>
<p>They actually awarded the Thomas Wolfe Scholarship to two girls last year, and they both accepted -- by last year, I mean that they were high school seniors who graduated in June 2007. I'm not sure where the 2006 winner of the prize went, but I have met either the 2006 or the 2005 winner as well. </p>
<p>Unlike the Morehead or the Robertson, however, the Thomas Wolfe Scholarship is focusing more on writing ability than anything else. Obviously academic record and test scores are going to matter, but the kids who are already brilliant authors in their own right will be the recipient before someone that would be more qualified for the Morehead or the Robertson.</p>
<p>With that said, it remains highly competitive, but I would argue that the general admissions at Yale will focus on different qualities than a highly selective creative writing scholarship committee might. </p>
<p>And Amwidkle, you're right -- UNC is non-binding, so it would be very easy to withdraw your application if you were accepted to Yale.</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone.</p>
<p>Last (or maybe two back) Sunday's New York Times magazine ran a piece on students fm Bronxville HS in NY. Bronxville is a chi chi NYC suburb, and the local high school is top notch, similar in caliber to Scarsdale, New Trier, Highland Park etc. They profiled two superstar seniors: an old money legacy to Princeton with great boards/grades/ECs and a brilliant woman with off the chart grades/scores/ECs. The woman was admitted to Yale, Princeton and Columbia, and received the Woodruff (full-ride) to Emory as well as a host of other honors. She ultimately chose Chapel Hill where she was one of two winners of the Thomas Wolfe. The article is online, very detailed and an enjoyable read. I think it'll give you a great sense of the competitiveness of the scholarship, and the kind of brilliant student it attracts, and can pry away from HYPS.</p>