<p>Thanks ROCKFISHDG , very helpful.</p>
<p>My son’s selection of schools is driven very heavily by the merit money available. Have it narrowed down to University of Alabama, UA @Birmingham, University of Central Florida, and University of Kentucky. Have visited all but UAB so far. Lots of pluses and a few minuses to all the schools still on the list. It’s hard for him to choose with different schools fitting different criteria.
Hoping to make a final decision by end of the month so we can put down deposits and “move on”…</p>
<p>Meliora, you asked about diversity at UTD. S and both roommates are out of state, and all from different regions of the country. I imagine that most living in the dorms are OOS or international. I doubt S has seen any true Texas culture or even heard a real Texas accent at UTD. In any case, Dallas is a huge metro area with people from all over the world.<br>
Here is the 2012 profile copied from the UTD website: Anglo (38%), International (21%), Asian-American (18%), Hispanic (12%), African-American (5%), Unknown/Other (2%), Two or More Races (3%), Native American (0.3%), Native Hawaiian (0.1%)</p>
<p>Internationals are mostly Asian, so you can see that, with the addition of Asian Americans, UTD is a heavily Asian school. At orientation there was a whole gym full of tables with dozens–probably over 100 clubs/groups represented. There were many different religions groups–Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, --even Korean Baptists and atheists. Some groups were promoting diversity events–there was a “European Heritage” celebration of some sort. (European Americans are a minority at UTD like everyone else.) There were all kinds of groups from ethnic dance clubs, frats/sororities, LGBT, pro-life, sports, student government, newspaper, chess, volunteer service, crafts, etc.<br>
BTW, S refused to look at Alabama–the deep southern accents on the promotional dvd they sent were a huge turn-off. Junior S also will not look at Alabama for the same reason. (And these kids spent most of their childhood in Arkansas.)
Oldest S and H really liked Oklahoma when they visited there a few years back. But OU’s scholarship is no longer as generous as it used to be.</p>
<p>atomom, mytwods, and lmkh70,</p>
<p>Thank you so much for all of your input on UTD. It really helps clearing our uncertainty about the social aspect on the campus. My son does like chess and other activities offered at UTD. So far UTD seems to be a top choice. Other NMSF schools under consideration are University of Arizona, Arizona State, and Tulsa. We haven’t visited any of them–still waiting for the NMSF decision letter.</p>
<p>Really appreciate the camaraderie and support here. :)</p>
<p>I’ve gotten into UIUC, Miami of Ohio, and Kentucky (full ride for NMFs). I got deferred from Michigan and, honestly, I’m not very optimistic about it or any of my other schools, which are mostly reaches. But it’s nice to know that I have a choice.</p>
<p>DS Accepted with NM merit money: U of Alabama, Northeastern
Accepted with merit: Case Western, UMBC
Accepted: U of Pitt, UMCP
Waiting: U of Rochester, RPI and Wash U</p>
<p>Still very unsure where he will end up.</p>
<p>Any new input?</p>
<p>Our daughter applied to UTAustin, A&M, SMU, TCU, Alabama, Auburn, S. Carolina, Tulane. Accepted at all. Good merit offers at SMU, TCU, S Carolina, Auburn, & A&M in addition any NMF $. She has probably narrowed it to UTAustin, A&M, 'Bama, or TCU</p>
<p>SNinTx: Congrats! Your daughter has a great list of schools.</p>
<p>My D has decided to attend Arizona State University. She also strongly considered Alabama, Oklahoma, and Case Western, but in the end it was the atmosphere of Barrett Honors College that swayed her decision.</p>
<p>Congratulations to you & your D. I am just curious if you guys checked out the University of Arizona also &, if so, how it compared to the finalists.</p>
<p>D has also decided on Arizona State University, but waiting on official word from music dept., has been unofficially accepted by prof.- 13 days to wait. Loved Barrett, the warm weather, the music dept and music prof there. The audition/visit did it. If things go awry for some reason, lots of back-ups, though she’ll be devastated, has her heart set on ASU. In that case we’d do a spring break tour of schools she hasn’t seen or only seen once. The other school she’d like best for music so far, UIUC, is not a NMF scholarship school and won’t know for awhile if aid package will allow us to afford it. Thank goodness for these NMF scholarships and for BobWallace and all the others who contribute to getting the word out about these scholarships. I so appreciate it, wouldn’t have known about these opportunities otherwise.</p>
<p>@bigdadreed, my niece used U Arizona as her safety last year because it was stronger than ASU in her intended major. But ASU has a much better music school, so for us ASU was a clear choice as an academic safety, which morphed into ‘the one.’ We put some financial restrictions on her choices, not more than $35,000/yr of our money (not that we can really afford that much), but finances is not why she chose it. Or anyway, a smaller consideration than some of the others. Tho she will be very happy not to feel the weight of so much money spent on her shoulders. As will we.</p>
<p>Sorry, bigdadreed, D did not consider University of Arizona either. In addition to having Barrett, Arizona State was the only one of the two that has the type of marching band that my D could participate in (ie one that has a front ensemble). And her program is at least as strong at ASU. However, Arizona is clearly the better financial deal for the NM package.</p>
<p>celeste – I was wondering if your D had made a decision and whether it was ASU. I know how it feels to have something unofficial that you’re pretty sure about but just wanting that final confirmation so you can relax and celebrate. Sorry your D has to wait another 13 days for that. Keeping my fingers crossed for her!</p>
<p>StemFamily, thanks so much- 12days! Maybe we’ll meet there. Funny, still waiting on a couple of RDs, Chicago and Vandy. Chicago, where she visited twice, used to be her top choice and she would have given up the music performance stuff and just done math if she could go there, but now doesn’t even care to know if she is accepted. D would also like to be in marching band. Fear the Fork! They don’t have one at her HS and she’s been dying to do this for years. It would be a secondary instrument. Unfortunately, the music prof kind of disapproves of it for music performance majors- very time consuming and doesn’t help with music for her major. We’ve found that is common among music profs. But she’s met a few kids who do it anyway. At UIUC a girl told her you just put your foot down and tell him you are doing it and that’s that. Then the music ed kids at ASU are required to be in marching band. Go figure. Have you checked into it? It sounds like the marching band kids get a $350 scholarship, but not certain. Also, they provide the instruments and you have to use that one. I haven’t talked with anyone there about it, just reading, so I could be wrong.</p>
<p>Celeste: Sent you a PM.</p>
<p>The only school affiliated with the NMSC that I’m considering is the University of Southern Mississippi. They may not be the most prestigious choice, but they’ve been incredibly professional in answering my questions and making me feel welcome there the few times I’ve visited. Also, their scholarship package for finalists is nothing to sneeze at with everything covered plus a book and study abroad stipend. From what I’ve seen, their study abroad programs are crazy amazing, too, as is their honors program. I still haven’t decided if I’m going there, but USM is definitely a good safety, at least for me.</p>
<p>USM offers one of the best NMF packages out there, no doubt about it.</p>
<p>Has anyone looked at U. Nebraska (Lincoln)? They give full tuition and $2000K annually, but the website says NMFs are
“eligible for consideration for full tuition coverage plus a $2,000 stipend annually (Scholarship is applicable for up to four years with three inclusive summers.)”</p>
<p>Not sure if this is nearly automatic or how many NMFs are “considered” for this Chancellor’s Scholarship. Does “inclusive summers” mean that the student could attend summer sessions free–and possibly get a masters or at least double major this way?</p>
<p>So no one looking at the U N T full ride? Great music program too. Waiting on audition results.</p>