I agree. I feel kind of fortunate my D really wants to attend out of state (we’re in WA) and only applied to UW because we ‘made’ her. She has several East Coast schools to choose from. I firmly believe our (WA) high stat kids who have done ‘everything’ right deserve the opportunity to go to UW-Seattle.
5 Likes
Not just the high stats kids. Also the kids who have high integrity, are industrious, and have shown some regional loyalty. Kids who are interesting and have done some eipc stuff through entrepreneurism, athletics, adventure, service, and leadership…
4 Likes
S22 accepted direct admit to Foster.
3.97 GPA, HS does not weight or rank. 2 AP, 4 college courses.
Varsity sport, ECs focused on community service.
S18 identical stats, same HS was not direct admit to Foster.
Hard to tell what they look at. Perhaps community service and sibling success at UW weighed more heavily (yield management).
Honestly figured no chance for DA for S22. Would not attend without DA but now at top of the list.
3 Likes
I hope people are still on this thread, as I have a question to those of you who got a Purple & Gold scholarship. Did you apply to financial aid in some form to get that?
I did not even bother to apply, as my EFC would have been far in excess of the costs. Is the P&G money related to financial need or is it more a merit-aid kind of grant?
My DS received the P&G scholarship based on merit, I believe. We wouldn’t have qualified for need-based merit based on our FAFSA. He didn’t have to do anything additional to the application.
My DS got a Purple and Gold Scholarship. He did not apply for financial aid and we’re OOS. For more info: Scholarships | Office of Admissions
Hi, thanks for the quick reply. So you did fill out the FAFSA, so I wonder if that is a prerequisite?
Thanks for responding. You did not fill out the FAFSA and still got the P&S scholarship? Without filling out FAFSA, how do they know how much to grant you?
I’m not sure how they determine the amount, but I would guess they have some type of calculation to determine what would help someone decide to enroll.
Yes, I had heard that it’s worth filling out a FAFSA, even if one may not feel like they qualify for financial aid. In our state (OR), it is a first step in potentially qualifying for merit-based and need-based scholarships through the Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC).
1 Like
It is a merit scholarship and the amount is not determined by financial need. It’s a recruiting tool.
1 Like
Because in our situation it was merit based, I’m assuming the amount U of WA gave a student was based on how much they wanted to entice a student to the campus. I hear scholarship amounts varied in the range of $3000-$8000 per year.
1 Like
OK, but do you have to apply through FAFSA to get it or do they just award it randomly to non-resident students? Big point for me, as I did not bother applying through FAFSA, as the EFC in excess of the OOS costs.
An appeal is a 1 in 20 shot, much worse than the IS CS admit rate. Given his stellar stats, I assume he has other great options. If so, I would focus on that rather than wait for UW. Not saying you shouldn’t appeal but it’s probably better for your son to assume a denial and keep moving.
My kid did not apply for it. Just randomly awarded to him as merit. Big surprise that he got it but then read that it’s a recruitment tool and now understand.
Hi, then did you not fill out the FAFSA?
The UW Scholarships page, including P&G, states:
" To be eligible for consideration, students must be admitted to the UW for autumn quarter of the academic year and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or the [Washington Application for State Financial Aid] (WASFA) by the priority filing date of January 15"
FAFSA determines if you qualify for federal aid and generates an EFC. Merit has nothing to do with that. The merit is not random. Rather, it’s provided to certain students as a recruiting tool.
Some scholarships may have a need component and that is where the FAFSA would come in. Purple and gold scholarships are not need-based.
Of course we did otherwise you won’t be considered for merit. But we didn’t apply for the merit at UW, they just gave it to my kid. He’s been accepted to 2 other schools so far and wasn’t awarded merit.
Our school college counselor advised us to submit FAFSA to be eligible for merit. A pain to do but worked for us for UW as my kid did get merit.
From the UW website regarding Purple and Gold:
All admitted U.S. non-resident applicants are automatically considered for the Purple and Gold Scholarship based on their admission application. No other application, including the FAFSA, is required . You will be notified by letter in mid-March from the Office of Admission if you are selected as a recipient.
2 Likes