<p>here is scholarship info. Have to admit it is hard when you apply to a lot of schools to stay on top of the requirements for each one. We missed the scholarship interview requirement at the school that turned out to be my Ds first choice after she visited all the schools she was accepted at. It was a disappointment but then she turned her sights on the school she liked second best (and gave her more aid) and now loves it there.</p>
<p>The Scholar requirements are different for each school, but at Berkeley it goes something like this:</p>
<ol>
<li>everyone who submits an application to UC Berkeley is automatically "in the running" for the Regents' scholarship</li>
<li>A few weeks week before admissions decisions come out, about 1000 of the 36000 applicants receive notice that they are eligible to interview for the Regents' scholarship. Out-of-state and transfer students are also part of this (I believe?), but the vast majority are freshman in-state applicants.</li>
<li>You interview. Some alumni actually give you a *letter mark<a href="A,%20A-,%20etc.">/i</a> for your interview, depending on how well you did. I found that to be really impersonal and degrading to the applicant. You also find out on the day of your interview that you've been pre-emptively accepted to Berkeley (surprise surprise).</li>
<li>The day you get your official acceptance letter to Berkeley, you find out whether or not you got the scholarship too. Berkeley aims to have about 200 scholars in each graduating class; about 1000 interview, and a large percentage of those people will end up going somewhere else, even if they do get the scholarship. My guess is that Berkeley then accepts about 600 scholars, 200 of which will attend.</li>
</ol>
<p>Again, it's a bit different for each school. UCLA makes you write an essay but there's no interview, and i think most of the other UC schools just kind of hand them out according to stats.</p>
<p>this may be a really stupid question, but i'm unsure of how these things work. is there any possibility of establishing in-state residence through relatives?</p>
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Viciss, most guys would be in heaven at Wellesley as they'd be the only male there, lol!
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</p>
<p>Oops! I meant Wesleyan University! I always get the two confused. :o</p>
<p>I agree with the gap year proposal. I don't think it's very common the US, but almost everyone here in England takes one. Why? It's a great time to take a step back from high school and re-evaluate what you want from you life and whether or not you're on track to get what you want. </p>
<p>In your son's case, I think a year of self-evaluation would be extremely benefical. Also, in a year, it might be possible for him to VISIT more schools that are less selective, but similar to Yale. College guide books are helpful, but it's the visit that really forms an opinion. For example, before I visited this spring - I had my heart set on Colgate. I was planning to apply ED, to take the specific subject tests they recomend, I had all of their propaganda material strewn across my bedroom floor ... but when I visited it, not only was I less excited - but, I HATED it. Yes, the school was everything they said in the guidebooks: beautiful, academic, athletic, but it was also a lot of less complementary things they never mentioned. </p>
<p>Take the Gap year. Spend it wisely looking at other schools. Your son should still apply to Yale ED, if that's what he feels he wants, but he should also apply to more similar schools. There are three excellent LACs in Connecticut - Trinity, Connecticut and Wesleyan. Stop by, have a look. </p>
<p>Another good investment you might want to make (this will be ALOT cheaper than a 40k year at Berkley) is private college guidance. If your school has not provided adequete help, then you need to look elsewhere. </p>
<p>My last piece of advice: DO NOT send your son to a school that he is less than thrilled about. He may adjust, he may not. He may spend four years in silent misery and love you too much to tell you.</p>