<p>So...this is a basic rundown of the resume'........</p>
<p>Student Council President (officer every year)
NMS Commended
Eagle Scout
ACT 35 SAT 2170
GPA 3.98 unweighted (1 B in college Eng 1020 --2 B's in 13 years)
Honors classes
Math club president
community service
leadership
National essay winner
National vocabulary championship participant..
Beta
NHS
Gifted program
numerous small awards</p>
<p>Accepted into the college of his choice (he only applied to 2 because he has his mind set on this one...)and yet turned down for a the ultra top scholarship...and now received a letter of NO four year scholarship. The requirements were less than what he has accomplished. He did receive a note saying he was still eligible for one year, departmental scholarships. He is so disheartened...the only money so far he will get is lottery scholarship, merit and a guaranteed scholarship for all state residents. He's still $12K short..so far. He just keeps telling me he doesn't know what else he could have done except play sports. Does anyone have any suggestions? We are all lost at what else could have been done.</p>
<p>What kind of school? Small, private LAC is probably different than big, public state school. Oddly, it seems to me that the random kids (that is kids that do not have the top scores) get picked more for the big awards at the large state schools that at the small, private schools. Don’t know if that is true everywhere.</p>
<p>I assume that there were many qualified applicants being considered for that scholarship. I wouldn’t focus on what you could have done, because there probably wasn’t anything specific that would’ve ensured a scholarship. It doesn’t matter how accomplished and well-rounded your son is, sometimes life isn’t fair and you don’t get what you want. There is so much scholarship money out there, I’d encourage him to apply for as many scholarships as possible.</p>
<p>What you could have done is applied to more schools and more scholarships. You never know what will appeal to one committee vs. another committee.</p>
<p>I agree with applying to more schools, but this is his future and it turned out to be more effort, more paperwork, and more waste of everyone’s time when he was set on ONE school. His first acceptance was from a smaller private school that offered him $15K right off the bat, but their tuition was twice the state school and they did not offer what he wants to major in. I feel like a failure myself in this because I feel so inadequate and unsure compared to some parents here that seem like they know exactly what to do, and the next step. My husband has told him that he’d be only one of many smart kids in that school instead of the top of his class as he is now. I guess today was the first punch that made that statement ring true.</p>
<p>I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, but I detect what seems to me a misplaced sense of entitlement here. You list your son’s impressive academic accomplishments and ECs, for which he, and you, are to be congratulated. You say your son has gotten into the college of his choice. Congratulations again! You then go on to list several scholarships he’s gotten—congratulations! But then you say he’s “disheartened” because he’s “still $12K short.”</p>
<p>Excuse me? Are you saying he’s gotten scholarships for all but $12K of the full COA? If so, that’s fabulous! </p>
<p>And frankly, the University doesn’t owe him anything, certainly not any more than he’s gotten already. Look, the cold hard reality is that “merit” scholarships are money schools set aside to help them get the students they want. It’s typically very limited, and they use it strategically—and frankly, they’d be fools not to. It’s usually not put forward as an entitlement to anyone who meets specified thresholds of excellence—a few are structured that way, but not many, and clearly not the one your son was hoping for. Nor is it usually doled out on a purely meritocratic basis to those with the highest test scores, best GPAs, strongest ECs, etc. Most often “merit” aid is awarded on a highly discretionary basis, targeted to high achieving students who might go elsewhere if they don’t get the money. This school already had your son—it apparently was his first choice, with or without this particular scholarship. So they probably elected to use it on someone who was wavering. Also, as impressive as your son’s accomplishments are, you don’t know who the competition was; there may very well have been other candidates with equally impressive records, and not enough money for all of them. In that circumstance, the school will do what most schools do with merit aid: they’ll make the award in a way that they calculate is most likely to land the strongest class they can. It sounds like your son came up short in that calculation, not because of any deficiency is his record, and not because of any error or oversight on the school’s part, but because they saw a strategic advantage in giving the money to someone else.</p>
<p>Did it come off as “entitlement”? I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just when a kid puts his heart and soul into what he feels is building toward his academic success it is hard to come down to it was not enough. I think any parent would feel the same way. </p>
<p>The scholarships he will receive basically ARE entitlements. Our state has a lottery scholarship for an ACT of 21 and a 3.0gpa, along with an additional scholarship for having an ACT over 29 and a 3.75gpa. The other one is from the school solely for being a resident of the state and choosing that school. So basically it’s around 12-13K less than tuition a year. </p>
<p>I hadn’t thought of your point of view about wavering. He paid the admission within a few days of acceptance. The had him hook, line and sinker. I guess this is where the not knowing the ropes comes in. Too late now to change it. He can only apply for outside scholarships. </p>
<p>And as for there being other kids as smart as he is going in to that class…I am well aware he isn’t the only smart kid that will be there.</p>
<p>TNMOM, Sounds like you have a great S. Are you saying that he/you can’t afford for him to go to college because he is still 12K short since he didn’t get the hoped for scholarships? He may still be able to get some local scholarships. Who knows? He may yet still get the 4 yr. scholarship you mentioned. </p>
<p>S1 (now a sr.) applied for a four yr. merit scholarship at his big state u. Like your S, he was well qualified. He received a letter in early spring saying he did not get one of the scholarships “due to many qualified appliacants,etc”. We just forgot about it and moved on. </p>
<p>In late May, he got a letter saying he would be receiving the scholarship…what???
I called FA and was told that some of those who had originally been awarded the scholarships had decided to attend elsewhere and so the scholarships were being awarded to the kids who were next down the list that were still committed to our big state u. He is a senior now and has kept the scholarship all four years. I don’t know how often ths happens but it did happen for us. Good Luck to your S.</p>
<p>Getting scholarships is a lot harder than people would have you believe! The “full ride” big-name scholarships at big universities are particularly difficult since everyone who applies has wonderful stats and the committee is looking for that undefinable “something outstanding.” Being a bright, well-rounded kid is often not enough. Many people don’t understand that. </p>
<p>His hard work toward academic success has paid off handsomely in his admission to college. The work of getting a big scholarship requires a different tack.</p>
<p>The kids who win lots of scholarships at our high school are what I call “story kids.” They are often NOT the val, sal, etc. but they do have successful academic credentials.</p>
<p>The story kids have overcome some sort of financial or personal difficulty (many of the local scholarships look seriously at the need component) in the process of succeeding and often have some serious, protracted community service in one area or with one group and many times have stepped in to organize and run groups themselves to fulfill a need not otherwise addressed in the community. There is often a real passion to reach out beyond self. Needless to say, whatever program they establish is a success and energizes others to contribute time and effort also.</p>
<p>What could your kid have done differently? Positioned himself so that he would have a story to tell. The kind of story that the newspaper could write a big article on your efforts. </p>
<p>Go for the departmental scholarships, work a job in the summer and at school–you’ll be able to make a dent in that $12,000 that still remains. He’s had a successful high school career and should not feel down because he didn’t get a full ride to his university.</p>
<p>^^^Yes, the Val. of S’s class never made a B, Eagle Scout, varsity athlete and even had a “story” got passed over for the full ride big name schoalrship at S’s U.</p>
<p>Forgot to say in my above post, that in addition to the merit scholarship that S got late in the game, he also applied for a scholarship on his departmental web page. Graduation came and went with no word. We figured it was a no-go. Finally in late June, he got a letter saying he had the scholarship. The departmental one turned out ot be worth more than the university merit scholarship. Don’t give up TNMom. You’ll find a way.</p>
<p>Life isn’t fair. Just because your Son want’s it and is qualified doesn’t mean he will get it. Harvard received 25,000 applications for 2,100 spots. Assuming half are well qualified, that means they are turning away 10,000 well qualified kids.</p>
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<p>It is only a waste of time if Option A is guaranteed. You rolled the dice expecting “the ultra top scholarship”, and you lost. There are usually at least 10 highly qualified kids for each available scholarship. Who knows what the was the deciding factor. Maybe they had stronger essays. I noticed you didn’t list any AP classes. My son has friends who will graduate with 8 AP classes, and they could have taken more if they were not in Orchestra for 4 years.</p>
We are all lost at what else could have been done.
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At a large public state school, assuming it has rolling deadlines… apply earlier. If they’re like mine, they have a budget for merit scholarships – and when it’s gone, it’s gone. So sorry for your son’s disappointment, but hang in there; as another poster mentioned, some funds may become available to him as other awardees hear from other first-choice colleges and drop the state school off their list.</p>
<p>More evidence that it’s tough to get that big scholarship. I don’t count on my kid’s getting anything. Then I am pleasantly surprised when some money comes in.</p>
<p>Yes he has several AP classes and dual enrollment classes. In fact, we were just discussing tonight that by the time he enters college, with credits he’s already earned, he will almost technically be a college sophomore. </p>
<p>And you’re right…life isn’t fair…and we did take a gamble. Didn’t waste other colleges time (although we have received mounds of slaughtered “trees”) because he did get accepted right away at first choice. It is a good school for his major and until he gets into the college year, I don’t forsee him making a transfer or changing his mind. It’s pretty much all said and done except the outside scholarships. He’s suceeded at everything he’s attempted…and had some bumps these past couple of months but it will be a test of his character and he will stronger because of it.</p>
<p>TNMom2Three, I echo what others have said. It is very difficult to earn scholarship money. As a teacher, I have had several students gain admission to their No. 1 school, but have heard nothing about money. So, they, too, are scrambling for the fall. Continue to apply for outside scholarships – you might get lucky. Also, about rechecking with financial aid for scholarship news, I know of a student who desperately needed funding to attend her state school. She was placed on a waiting list and told if someone accepted an offer from a different school, she would earn the scholarship. Someone did – to MIT. She now attends UVA on a full scholarship. So do not lose hope.</p>
<p>OP, here is what my opinion about top $$ at State schools. They have limited funding so they use that money to attract good students that would otherwise going to other schools.</p>
<p>So, either they know your S have his mind set on them so they don’t have to do anything for him to attend; or they think highly of your son and do not believe their money could buy him.</p>
<p>Either way, you need to look at the the way you communicate to the school. Had your S told them you only applied to two schools, they knew you have no other choice. It is a game perse. </p>
<p>BTW, no AP classes was offered at the HS or your son did not take any AP?</p>
<p>Dad, as I responded to Operadad, he has taken almost every AP class his schedule would allow along with dual enrollments. If he passes his AP Spanish and AP Chemistry tests at the end of this year, he will ALMOST have enough credits to be a sophomore when he enters college. His chem teacher sought me out at a basketball game and told me that S has “uncanny aptitude” for chemistry and about the credit hours it would give him upon passing the test. </p>
<p>As for the school knowing they had my son, it could be. In asking why he wanted to come there, I think I remember him writing that he had been looking at them for a long time. If there was a place to put another college, and he was truthful, the small college is near them and actually feeds his major to them for the last year because they don’t have the capacity. This tempered with being so excited he got in and the admission fee paid a few days later, they didn’t have to do much more to get him to come. This has definitely been a “live and learn” experience. I suppose it is the school and size of it. My older son went to a smaller state school, had much less acheivement and a 32 on the ACT and got a full ride. I guess that distorted our expectations. </p>
<p>To get the state scholarships he’s getting the FASFA has to be filed and that might be a factor too. Our EFC was more than the tuition but we are just starting to get back on our feet after DH’s quadruple bypass. Building a savings after medical bills and taking a huge hit on mutual funds will make our help for son small. He is already accepting the fact that a PLUS loan may be his only option. We are excited he was accepted into the Honors Program, but will continue to pray for other scholarships.</p>
<p>sorry I did not read all the posts so I missed the AP part.</p>
<p>BTW. I have seen many students with similar status like your DS and did not get a full ride at our flagship state school. Most of them because they made it known that they were using the state school as a safety.</p>
<p>Sorry, I’m missing something here. What about loans and/or working while in college? Why are you expecting 100% scholarship coverage? Are there state U’s that promise need blind, no loan deals such as made by some of the ivies and LACS?<br>
He’s in at his first choice and can make it work - Good luck.</p>