<p>Participated in the chat session Sunday evening. Sounds like the "name" scholarships are a done deal, except for the Robertson. As middle class OOSer's, merit aid is a big deal for us. Anyone have a feel for what comes next? One ad rep in the chat said don't sweat it, UNC does great with aid, but I wonder if this applies mostly to need-based. Our EFC is higher than COA, but the difference between EFC and a family's real budget is already the subject of a thousand threads. So, what can we anticipate from UNC as we move closer to the spring?</p>
<p>merkur: Did they say these other "name" scholarships had all gone out? I'm surprised by that, since applicants in the RD round won't hear until April 1 (correct?). Is it possible they're a "done deal," as in decisions have been made, but those decisions haven't yet been mailed to applicants? Just a thought.</p>
<p>merkur, I believe that it's true, at least for those accepted EN. Given the state of the ecomony the full tuition scholarships that our S has been awarded are looking better all the time. UNC would have been able to attract him with even a partial tuition award, but at this point UNC is not his likely choice.</p>
<p>He was also a bit surprised that UNC's ranking in The Times Higher Education top 200 colleges and universities was way below universities that offered him great awards.</p>
<p>Ultimately it's all about supply and demand and if UNC doesn't need to offer generous packages to attract top OOS students then so be it. In fact, the impression he got from someone at the school was exactly that.</p>
<p>Times</a> Higher Education</p>
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He was also a bit surprised that UNC's ranking in The Times Higher Education top 200 colleges and universities was way below universities that offered him great awards.
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<p>I assume you're talking about their world rankings? The methodology used there is a little different (from US rankings); their "analysis combines the opinions of 5,101 individuals," and "peer review accounts for 40% of the score." I'm not sure about what makes up the rest. I always find rankings a bit suspect, but congratulations to your son on his acceptances and merit awards! Sounds like he has some great choices for the fall.</p>
<p>I don't know anything about what merit awards may be out there still for the EA admittees. My own S hasn't been offered anything, although if he goes there he'll be eligible for a little bit of money based on being a NMF. We're instate, however, so it's still a better deal, with or without any merit money, than any of the private colleges he's applied to.</p>
<p>I definitely understand how the OOS people are feeling. I do think that it may be best to wait and see what all of the choices are before making a decision. </p>
<p>I'm not sure how much I'd use that ranking to determine what is the best college for an undergraduate education. It seems to be addressing the universities as a whole, not just as undergraduate institutions, and it appears to be using criteria that may not be terribly relevant to the undergraduate experience or the value of the undergraduate education.</p>
<p>Agree with nceph; you should certainly wait to see what all your choices are before making a decision.</p>
<p>That said, Maximus is correct in stating that UNC doesn't need to offer merit to attract top students. I get the sense that people are often less interested in the school itself, than in the fact that UNC offers generous merit aid, and assuming it's a given that a top student will be awarded. You have to remember that UNC receives around 11,000 OOS applications, and about 9,000 in-state applications. Now, that's some fierce competition-- just for an acceptance. Among 20,000 (both in-state and OOS) are some truly outstanding students. To be accepted and to receive an honors invite (only 200 invited for freshman year for honors) is impressive. To also receive a merit award is no small feat. That's why posters on here always say that it's a real honor, just to be in the running for some of these merit scholarships.</p>
<p>I don't know if all the name scholarships have "gone out," but I have the impression they have been decided, at least to the point where if you aren't in the running by now, there won't be further opportunities. They also indicated that they offer more than the intended number, in anticipation of some-even if only very few- turning down the scholarship. My DS may be in a similar situation as Maximus'. No sense of entitlement or hard feelings, but you gotta do what you gotta do. But patience is always a good thing-we'll wait and see what comes.</p>
<p>^^^Exactly</p>
<p>what exactly are the "name scholarships" you are talking about.
Carolina scholars isn't what you would call a "name scholarship" is it?</p>
<p>JohnC: By named scholarships, I suspect the OP means scholarships like the Davie, Pogue, Robinson (not Robertson), Old Well, and there are smaller scholarships that are named as well-- after the people who have endowed them. Could be some others as well. The Robertson would be separate, and nominees announced usually in late February, I believe.</p>
<p>Robertson semifinalists should be notified sometime on the day of February 23 by email and will also relieve a letter via FexEx a few days later.</p>
<p>Janieblue is correct. By "name scholarships", I was referring to Carolina, Col. Robinson, Davie.</p>
<p>I'm beginning to sense that this idea of UNC not needing to offer merit aid to attract top students from OOS may well be correct. I have read that they recognize many such students go elsewhere due to lack of merit aid, and want to increase OOS scholarships from 30 to 60 in the Carolina Campaign to raise funds. As a state school, I can appreciate if their main mission is to serve and educate NC residents, and as an excellent school it is fair for them to enjoy their reputation. Other state schools, however, have expressed more interest and backed it up with aid, while UNC has done only the standard invitations to visit and welcoming phone call. If there is no particular goal to attract top students from OOS, this would be one rational explanation for the seeming lack of interest. Maybe Maximus is experiencing the same thing? Again, we aren't owed anything, but the difference with other schools is at times striking, and I'll admit a little frustrating.</p>
<p>merkur: A couple of years ago, the NC legislature approved this change in merit and athletic scholarships offered to OOS-- that is, any merit or athletic scholarships awarded to OOS, would automatically make the OOS student in-state, for tuition purposes only. This act transformed these once partial scholarships (including Davie, Carolina Scholar, etc) into <em>full-freight</em> scholarships for OOS students. (Previously, the Morehead and Robertson were the only full-freight scholarships at UNC.)</p>
<p>This has been mentioned innumerable times here, but this was really done (in part) to attract and keep more top OOS. (These same scholarships remain partial scholarships for their in-state counterparts.) Since those scholarship awardees are now considered in-state for tuition purposes, that also effectively raised the OOS 18% cap.</p>
<p>My guess is, this act simply made it all the more competitive for any OOS to be awarded a merit scholarship. I can imagine how frustrating it is, though, when you have an outstanding student who is being offered more at other state schools. I would guess, though, that the other state schools probably aren't at the level/ranking of UNC-CH. That's not meant as an insult-- at all-- just points out the competitive admissions of UNC -- most especially for OOS. </p>
<p>I would guess that the other publics that have been more generous with your son, thus far, accept more OOS as well. That would also make them less competitive.</p>
<p>At any rate, I would encourage anybody to hang in there and not make any decisions until May 1 (or whatever date it is now that students must make decisions). </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>For whatever it is worth. I received a letter today inviting me to Scholarship Day. So there definitely is merit money to be had.</p>
<p>Meugenio, congratulations. Are you NC or OOS? I didn't think there was still another scholarship day coming? What is the date?</p>
<p>I am in-state and it is on March 27th.</p>