<p>Wonder if anyone could share their experiences for merit-based financial aid at Rice for the following stats:</p>
<p>Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Hispanic, mother born in Mexico
Attending a competitive Texas High School, top 3%. Heavy honors/AP course load
GPA 3.77 unweighted; 4.92 weighted.
AP Courses: 3 by end of junior year, 8 by graduation
PSAT: 213 (missed NM cutoff, however I am a National Hispanic Scholar).
First SAT: 2190 (1510 M+CR)
Debate team captain; National Honor Society; Student Council Vice President for Junior class, wrestling.</p>
<p>In talking with my parents, it seems that they can help me with up to $10k a year. Our EFC will probably not yield any need based financial aid. I will really look hard at schools that reward National Hispanic scholars. I would like to minimize the need for loans as much as I can. Thanks in advance for your help. </p>
<p>All comments to help me take the next steps are truly appreciated.</p>
<p>I’m the parent of a Rice grad. My son was also a National Hispanic Scholar with stats similar to yours. He had an exceptional EC that involved setting up a mentoring program between the students at his private Catholic HS and the kids at the neighboring Catholic elementary school. Rice awarded him the Barbara Jordan Scholarship (half tuition) and I believe it was a combination of his Hispanic status and his community service leadership that earned him the award. Diversity is highly prized at Rice.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that merit aid is harder to get there now than it was when he matriculated. Others with more recent experience will chime in here, I hope. Good luck!!</p>
<p>Your next steps, Megadoo, as I see them, (my son won a Trustee Distinguished scholarship and is now a senior, receiving 20K in merit aid annually since he was a freshman) would be to write persuasive essays explaining what you’ve accomplished as a debate team captain, student council VP, and on the wrestling team – and most importantly, what you could add to the campus as a result of these experiences. As a debate captain, did you open any new doors for your team, did you take novice debaters under your wing, debate at senior centers, volunteer your talents in some unique way … You sound like a fine student who has stood up to the scrutiny of
high school judges – write from your heart about how you can add your strength to Rice … let your leadership skills shine! Lots of good luck to you!</p>
<p>Merit aid is extremely hard to predict. Your stats are good and put you in range to get merit aid though. Focus on making your application as polished as possible and good luck!</p>