<p>MFT, How nice of you to report on the progress of your kids. I thought your original post made lots of sense for lots of people (including us). My S is on a full-ride at (non-flagship) State U and is flourishing, couldn't be happier. Congrats to you and thanks for the info.</p>
<p>I am now on my second kid taking the free ride.This one is at U of south Carolina.EA Dad posted about the school, but misnamed the $4,000 (plus instate tuition rate) scholarship..thats the Cooper, not the McNair. McNair (for out of state students) requires a seperate application and interview process.Its worth 15,000 for Scholar winners (20 of them) and 11,000 for finalists (20 of them).S is a finalist.He also was a NMF which gave him additional $6,000 ,they've raised this to $10,000 for 07-08 freshmen.They allow stacking of $$ up to the cost of education. S was also awarded departmental scholarships AFTER admittance..they sent him a letter, it required a short additional app.He is "stacked" up to the cost of ed max.
D took the NMF free ride to Arizona State U,picked it for a music performance major.She graduated in 2005.All her costs were covered except meal plan $$.Her outcome couldnt have been better,shes in Grad School for a PhD with a full fellowship that pays her tuition at a very pricey midwest private U and gives her plenty to live on w/o needing a roommate).SShe's getting TA experience,has a wonderful mentor.She graduated from ASU debt free.
Both kids picked schools based on what they wanted to do,then we looked for cost effectiveness.S will also graduate debt free .So far his experience at USC has been great.</p>
<p>Mercy
We looked at the Park Scholars program at Ithaca for S, and had visited there when D was looking at music programs.I loved the school (modern ) and setting.Park program looks amazing.They take 20 kids/year.
S ultimately decided he wanted pure sports management,not communications and he wanted bigger sports/warmer weather.But I'd recommend looking into it for any kid interested in mass communications/PR,etc.Lots of off campus opportunities.</p>
<p>Saigen1129-</p>
<p>If you'd be interested in really far away from NY, then LSU has a scholarship for oos with a 30 ACT/3.0 GPA that provides free tuition and an oppty for on campus research job paying $1550/yr. Not sure if this is a guarantee if you've got the scores, or just dole out the money 'til it's gone type of thing. LSU honors college requires ACT 30 with a subscore in English of 30. There is an essay rqt that is now satisfied by the ACT plus writing.</p>
<p>Our oldest D is there in the honors college and lived in honors housing for two years. It is a really wonderful program and I highly endorse it. You get priority registration, lots of honors classes options, small classes, as much prof attention as you want. The freshman Western Civilization Seminar in honors is a gem.</p>
<p>Any course can also be "honors optioned", which means you can just set up a deal with the prof to do extra work for the honors credit. This semester D is looking to do that with two upper level classes in her major so as to establish a research-based relationship with some profs who will (hopefully) write LORs for her grad school app.</p>
<p>Just checked the LSU website and the public relations major is in the Dept of Mass Communications. They also have a "political communication" degree there. One thing to consider is they apparently don't just let you major in it, but rather you have to apply after completing 30 or so ug hours and have a minimum gpa. But they do have public relations.</p>
<p>thank you so much! that is great</p>
<p>Momfromtexas, </p>
<p>Awesome info, thank you for sharing. It is great for students and parents to have options.</p>
<p>University of Maryland, College Park has Banneker Key, which is full tuition, full room and board, a $500/semester book allowance, and I believe also a laptop. Very nice program for anyone in-state.</p>
<p>University of Maryland, Baltimore County has a scholarship for science students which offers pretty much the same thing, minus the laptop.</p>
<p>jhu has attainable full rides for engineering students</p>
<p>Boston College offers 15 full rides to EA students every year I believe...but I'd imagine you'd have to be VERY very outstanding as BC admissions is already quite selective (think val/salutatorian 1500+SATS and some amazing ECs)...I'm not positive, but I think Emory might have something similar</p>
<p>Let me add University of Cincinnati to schools that offer free rides to NMFs. They are outstanding in several areas--Engineering (co-op); Design, Art & Architecture (also co-op); and the Conservatory. The latter two colleges are world-class and comprise an even more elite sub-group than NMFs, but if you're in...you've got it made!</p>
<p>Thank you so much for sharing this information. I always feel so sad when I read posts by students who are desparate to go to college and are in family circumstances that can't or won't support their dream. Your research provides some great options for them. And I'm so glad to hear that your sons are doing well!</p>
<p>
<p>I assume you are talking about the Charles Westgate scholarship. Interesting that the FA website doesn't mention room & board, so I'm not sure this is truly a full-ride. <a href="http://apply.jhu.edu/finaid/scholarships.html%5B/url%5D">http://apply.jhu.edu/finaid/scholarships.html</a></p>
<p> [quote]
Charles R. Westgate Scholarship in Engineering This merit-based scholarship provides full tuition for up to four years of undergraduate study in any major in the Whiting School of Engineering. Up to two scholarships are available for entering students each year.</p>
<p>The Westgate Scholarship is designed to bring the most outstanding undergraduates to the Whiting School, students who distinguish themselves by their academic, leadership, and research abilities. All students admitted to the School of Engineering are considered for this scholarship. No separate application is needed. A Scholarship Committee selects finalists from among qualified applicants.</p>
<p>Westgate finalists are notified at the time of admission and invited to campus to participate in the final selection process. The scholarship is renewable for up to three additional years of undergraduate study based on continued enrollment in the School of Engineering and maintenance of at least a 3.0 GPA.
</p>
<p>I found a link to a five-year-old flier that does indicate that the award includes a "stipend for living expenses." It doesn't state the size of this stipend, though, and I don't know if it is still included.
<a href="http://www.jhu.edu/finaid/images/pdf_files/Westgate2001.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.jhu.edu/finaid/images/pdf_files/Westgate2001.pdf</a></p>
<p>
[quote]
Johns Hopkins University is pleased to offer the
Charles R. Westgate Scholarships in Engineering. These
merit-based scholarships provide full tuition and a stipend
toward living expenses for four years of undergraduate
study in engineering. Students in any engineering major
may be considered for the scholarships. Up to two
scholarships are available for entering students each year.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm not sure what you mean by "attainable." </p>
<p>With only one or two awarded to the best of a very strong applicant pool, I suspect this scholarship is not realistically attainable by candidates with less than spectacular credentials. I wouldn't want any mere mortal to expect a full-ride at JHU, or any merit aid for that matter, as their stats on USNews indicate that 1% of first-year students receive non-need based aid. But if anyone out there is strong enough to be in the top few percent of the Hopkins engineering applicants with outstanding "academic, leadership, and research abilities," congratulations--go for it!</p>
<p>There a number of scholarships that are very competitive. When you read MomofTexas's post on what she did, do note that most of the search was done on what she described as 3rd and 4th tier public schools in order to get a good "hit rate". When you go out of that range, you are now getting into a very selective arena where kids who are accepted to HPY are passed up. The very top schools that offer the merit money, are so competitive in giving out those awards, that they are true lottery tickets. Getting into Duke or Johns Hopkins is not easy. Getting their full ride tickets is against odds, and no one can count on this. If you have to get a full ride to go to college, you would be wise to use Momoftexas's strategy for a number of your schools. Anything else are reaches, super reaches if you want "free".</p>
<p>Can someone point me to where I'd determine what are 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc tier schools? Are the LACs tiered also?</p>
<p>For tier info, get the US NEws and World Report college guides at your bookstore, library or on-line. The on-line premium edition costs $15 for full access until next Aug. It provides detailed info about hundreds of individual colleges and is well worth the price.</p>
<p>Ohio State has Presidential Scholars which is a full-ride of in-state costs. They have Buckeye scholarships for out-of-state students but they don't cover the whole difference.</p>
<p>Alfred University offers full tuition scholarships (plus room and board, if the person is ranked in the top 5% of their graduating class) for National Merit Finalists.</p>
<p>Then, of course, there's Berea College (and I think a few others, but the one I know best is Berea), which doesn't have any tuition at all. You just have to be in a certain income bracket (depending on the size of your family) in order to be eligible to apply.</p>
<p>Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich. has generous merit scholarships and a grid for calculating them based on GPA and SAT/ACT.</p>
<p>Rutgers offers a full ride to some in-state students. To qualify, you must have a 1500 M+V SAT and be in the top 5% of your class. </p>
<p>The $19k scholarship is a full ride: <a href="http://admissions.rutgers.edu/080101.asp%5B/url%5D">http://admissions.rutgers.edu/080101.asp</a></p>