UT Dallas is on the rise! I’m currently a HS senior awaiting (hopefully) National Merit Finalist status this upcoming February. I’m considering UT Dallas because of its more-than-generous scholarships and opportunities, such as:
“…complete coverage of UT Dallas tuition and mandatory fees for eight semesters, a $4,000 per semester cash stipend to defray the costs of books, supplies, and other expenses, a $1,500 per semester housing stipend for students living on campus, and a one-time award of up to $6,000 for an international study abroad program after completion of two academic years in residence. The total estimated value over four academic years is $100,000 for in-state students and $178,000 for out-of-state students.”
This is from the UT Dallas National Merit Scholars program webpage. They have an excellent engineering program, and many graduates have landed jobs at top-tier companies such as the Big Four.
My DD just started at UTD in CS on the NMF scholarship and had a great 1st semester. She was also a swimmer in HS, also made sectionals and state one year. She is swimming on their swim club team and has had fun. Won 2 races her first meet and has qualified to go to Atlanta later. Again, it has been fun but allows her commitment to vary based on what is going on academically. UTD has been a good match for my DD and is close to a full ride, can’t ask for anything more.
My S17 is waiting anxiously for NMF because our hometown UK (SeeBlue!) provides all tuition and a stipend for room and board as an automatic award for NMF. With the infusion of $23M this year into the Lewis Honors College, brand new honors housing I really think UK is a no-brainer for NMF in-state students -in engineering at least.
@Backbeatcat …I wish we lived closer because that is a great NMF scholarship. I agree if you are in-state student near UK it is a no-brainer. Good luck and congratulations.
Except that the UK scholarship may be going away, right? In their annoucement that they were shifting to more need based aid, seems like they acknowledged they will get less NMF at the school as a result. That implies they will cut NMF scholarship. Make sure to ask if it will be guaranteed all 4 years.
@vistajay Good point! I believe that incoming 2017 Freshmen are going to get a full deal as they have advertised it as four year and automatic. The letter we got from them seems to indicate that it is still on the table. I am, of course, very interested in how this goes. I completely understand their logic but selfishly I want the status quo. Of course, my S is the exact kind of transcendent scholar that they are trying to attract
Those going to OU, can you estimate what your actual expenses were per year after the NM scholarship? Our family is blessed to have a son that might get the scholarship, but we have not been able to put away the money for college that others have. Thank you for any insight you can give.
Who picked U of KY? We are going to their Merit Week as a Finalist ! We might also explore U Texas Dallas, or U of Central FL ! Wants Comp Science! KY would be the closest to get to!
@Backbeatcat Icing on cake with KY: New dorms, access to Honors college, & a goal to become the Top 20 public research university by 2020. http://www.uky.edu/Top20/ :))
That’s garbage compared to what it used to be. Kids that are NMFs are very more than likely able to go to more elite schools for the same price. The cost really has to be close to nothing for the program to be successful. I expect OU to see a lot fewer NMFs in the next few years.
