<p>I posted this earlier in the College Admissions board, but no one seemed to reply (despite getting like a hundred views). Maybe some parents can help me out on this one.</p>
<p>I was interested in seeing how much of a benefit (aside from the monetary benefit) there is to being named one of the 250 Coca Cola Scholars finalists (in terms of college admissions and or applying to other scholarships). I understand there are about 104,000 people who applied for this scholarship this year.</p>
<p>I applied to some Ivy League schools, one LAC, one big public university, a few middle tier schools, and one safety. Should I notify these schools that I have received this award? Should I interpret being named a finalist as a possible indicator of any possible acceptances in April?</p>
<p>I am far from the most experienced parent in terms of college admissions advice, but I would definitely notify all colleges to which you are applying. My son is an applicant this year, and he has continued to garner several awards since the apps. were submitted. We are keeping all of the colleges advised of this additional information. If nothing else, it lets the colleges know of your continued interest in them!</p>
<p>Almost forgot to add the HUGE congratulations for this remarkable accomplishment! I wish you all the best come April!</p>
<p>Given the lateness of the app cycle, I'd suggesting sending by FAX on Tuesday. Just make sure to add your full name, address and SSN, or some other identifier. (My niece and another girl had the exact same first and last names and the top public school totally confused both of their apps.)</p>
<p>I agree with the others. You should send a note to each college informing them of your finalist status in this pretigious scholarship competition. If you have any other "news" since applying, you could include it with this update. While being named a finalist does not indicate a better chance of acceptance in April, it definitely adds something positive to your "resume" of a national stature and it surely won't hurt. Always update schools if something of this nature comes up since you applied. Had you known of this prior to your apps being filed, I am sure you would have listed this under "awards", so why not tell them now? Same thing. And as others said, by keeping them updated, you are also showing continued interest. I have a daughter who is an applicant who received a national award after many of her apps were filed. She sent update letters informing them of this award, plus any other news since she had filed an application. She just got a state award and is doing the same again. I don't recommend this for minor things but for things like this, updates are worth letting them know about. </p>
<p>Many congrats for your accomplishment. A local girl was a finalist for the Coca Cola Scholarship who got to go to Atlanta two years ago and I know how great she was and I imagine the same of you!</p>
<p>Last year my D got a late honor. Only a week or two before the RD decsions were to be mailed out, she was named the top science student in her high school, not a national award by any means. But nevertheless, that evening before she had even changed out of her nice clothes, she was drafting a letter to the adcoms informing them of this new achievement. And the next morning I was down at the FedEx office overnighting the letters off to the schools.</p>
<p>One thing I learned from talking to an MIT adcom last year: the horse trading continues with people coming on and off the admit pile right up until the letters/e-mails go out. By all means you should tell your schools about every significant award and achievement you receive. You never know just what will be the thing to tip a decision in your favor.</p>