<p>Does applying for merit scholarships require filling out any of the financial aid forms. I know some schools do, but I'm not sure about Wake. I want to apply for merit scholarships, but I'm not applying for need-based aid and my parents don't want to fill out the financial forms.</p>
<p>It depends. Some scholarships (like the Reynolds) are purely merit-based. Others are based on a combination of merit and financial need. </p>
<p>You'd be wise to fill out the FA paperwork anyway, even if you may not need FA this year. If you need FA in following years, it's difficult without a record of paperwork. Either way, it can't hurt.</p>
<p>I don't need financial aid, my parents are willing and able to pay. They don't really want to release any of their financial information unless absolutely necessary. I think they'd want me to apply only if they didn't have to fill out the FA forms.</p>
<p>Wake is a great school, but I'm curious how well kids from the northeast would fit in there? I don't mean problems with discrimination, ie antisemitic or ethnic, but just the culture, which I understand is sort of preppie southern?</p>
<p>My half-brother graduated a few years ago. He was from Philadelphia and had no problem adjusting- he loved Wake.</p>
<p><em>feels stupid for just noticing</em></p>
<p>scarletleavy, are you an international student? If so, your parents are wise in not applying for aid.</p>
<p>I wish. Actually I'm not. I'm just an American citizen living abroad, although soon to be dual-citizen.</p>
<p>You don't have to fill out the need-based forms to qualify for the merit-based scholarships. I didn't (although I actually did need money to attend Wake because my fairly wealthy father wasn't going to contribute to my college expenses, but it was useless to fill out the fafsa). There are some scholarships that are both need- and merit-based, but there are also some that aren't (the Reynolds, the Carswell, the Graylyn, and the Gordon (I think) are all completely merit-based, along with some of the others).</p>
<p>Thank you, that's good to know.</p>
<p>I'm not applying to the two larger scholarships that are due December 1, but I'm applying for all of the other ones.</p>
<p>Mensa:
I'm attending next year and I'm from NJ, everyone I've talked to from my area absolutely loves it.</p>
<p>I've decided to apply for all the other ones as well. I don't have time to finish the one due 1 Dec. </p>
<p>What essay are you writing?</p>
<p>I'm writing my essay on a chapter of my autobiography. I wonder how long these are supposed to be. My actual essays for my application were about 2 and a half pages double spaced. I suppose these should be a similar length.</p>
<p>I'm having trouble deciding which one to do. I figure I'll write both and then choose the best one. I think my application essays were about 1000 so words each. I'm guessing these would be the same length. I hope so.</p>
<p>DS is on the computer right now typing away on his autobiography essay. At this point, I think he has it cut down to less than 1000 words. I told him to keep cutting if he could. Though there is no limit, I think you should keep them as short as you can without losing any of the meaning of the essay. These scholarship committee folks will go cross eyed reading the thousands of essays that will come in. Good luck!</p>
<p>It looks to me that with the WFU Scholarhip application, your choices are:</p>
<ol>
<li>Download and write neatly</li>
<li>Download and type with an old fashion typewriter (if you can find one)</li>
<li>Buy and install expensive software Photoshop, Adobe Pro, etc. then word process</li>
</ol>
<p>Any other options out there? What is everyone else doing here?</p>
<p>I am either doing choice #1 or #3. I downloaded and printed out a copy so I could do a rough draft- make sure all the information is correct and just get it down. </p>
<p>So when I'm finished I'll either write another copy very neatly or I'll do it on the computer. I have a version of Adobe or whatever that allows you to type in it. I'm leaning more towards that option.</p>
<p>To everyone who is writing their essays, I don't understand what you are talking about. For my Merit-Based Scholarhip form that Wake sent me you only have to answer choices c-e if you want to be eligible for the Reynolds and Carswell which are due in a few days. For all of the other scholarships it says on my form that:
"The essays should be typed on separate sheets of paper that are clearly marked with your full name and S.S. number."
I may be mistaken and looking at a different form. Are you all looking at the Merit-based Scholarhips form?</p>
<p>Yes but there are a few pages of personal information, I guess you would call it. I think 2 or 3 that ask your name, school, who is writing your recommendations, things like that. We're talking about how to write that part.</p>
<p>Does anyone know when we are notified about merit aid awards? Also, is it common for a person to receive no merit aid at all or do they spread it around? Thanks!</p>