Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

so people all over this website frantically post their stats to see if they can even get accepted to certain schools. now what are you supposed to do to try to get a full ride scholarship? i've seen people close to the 1600s and 5.0's but they can't get a full ride..so what are you supposed to do?

By rcd on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 10:56 am: Edit

Look at schools one notch down from the top, most likely.

By Nkemdilim on Monday, January 27, 2003 - 08:54 pm: Edit

Yeah, that's what I did. So far, I have a full ride to UPitt.

By Christine (Christine) on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 01:36 pm: Edit

I got full "tuition" from one school, but not room and board because they don't give money for that. However, I did get a "full ride" from another school, but I don't want to go there. Do you think that the other school would give me more money if I told them that I'm getting a totally full ride from another school?

By curious on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 10:14 pm: Edit

well even though it is easier to look at notch lower at schools to be more likely to receive a full ride, is there still any way to focus at the highest schools (Ivies, Stanford, UCLA, UC Berkeley)? I know even the perfect people with 1600 on the SAT and straight A's and a bunch of EC's and great letters of recommendation and stuff can't even get accepted, so does that mean it's a matter of a lot of luck to receive a full ride at the top tier schools? If not, please tell...

By Shennie (Shennie) on Sunday, February 02, 2003 - 01:02 pm: Edit

It is highly unlikely that you will get a full ride to a top tier school unless you can get an athletic scholarship (and places like Harvard and Yale don't give athletic scholarships.) Most of the top tier schools are need base only. They will evaluated your need and award aid based on that. They have too many exceptionally qualified applicants to award merit aid.

By poorman on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 12:12 am: Edit

well that sux....maybe i should start makin my family poorer so i can qualify....

By Thedad (Thedad) on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 12:31 am: Edit

The idea behind full-ride scholarships is that the college _really really really_ wants you. Think it through: if you're an awful lot like a lot of their applicants, odds of getting a scholie are not good.
Quite often a school will offer a full scholarship to someone who is great _in terms of *their* admissions class_. E.g., Wesleyan might pop a merit scholarship on someone who might be otherwise inclined to go to Cornell or even, say, Williams. They can look at your profile and know what other schools you have a good shot for.

All this is about merit-based, not need-based, financial aid.

By Texas137 (Texas137) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 12:59 pm: Edit

HYPS and MIT have no merit-based aid.

The following do have significant merit aid (up to full ride): Caltech, Duke, Harvey Mudd, Cooper Union, Washington U, Olin (Ohlin?) School of Engineering. I would be interested in hearing about others.

The more selective the school, the more outstanding the applicant has to be to be offered merit aid. A mere valedictorian with a perfect GPA will not be enough. For places like Caltech and Duke, you need to do something like win a gold medal at the Int'l Math Olympiad, or win the Westinghouse Science contest

By Leebob (Leebob) on Sunday, March 23, 2003 - 02:55 am: Edit

Had to add my 2 cents. The thrill of being accepted to a top school is matched by sticker shock. Then, it becomes just as nerve-wracking to await notice about financial aid. Of the four schools I got accepted to, UCLA gave me a finaid package of over $14k ( pretty good but still leaving a balance for out-of-state of $17k), haven't heard anything from Ga Tech, and the U. of Washington (in-state) gave me all grants except for $1500. But the best was an appointment to the AF Academy - what a relief that was to my parents who has to deal more with the bottomline cost of my education.

By Crackcorn (Crackcorn) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 01:21 am: Edit

Too bad the AF Academy is going through such scandal right now. That's gotta hurt its rep regardless of how good its academics might be.

By Leebob (Leebob) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 11:10 am: Edit

Well, not to defend it (USAFA) but it shows how having high standards tend to get more attention when something goes wrong. I would suspect that the Harvards, Princetons, Yales, and Stanfords probably have more rapes - and enough private money to keep it quiet. Anyway it's "rep" will never be appreciated by some - but as long as it's academics remain high it's graduates will remain highly competitive with graduates of those "elite" schools mentioned above.

By Tsdad (Tsdad) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 02:02 pm: Edit

"What are you supposed to do?"

Being 6'5", 320 pounds probably works at most Division I schools to ensure a full ride.

By Wonderin (Wonderin) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 09:11 am: Edit

Nkemdilim, you received a full ride to UPitt? Was it merit based? What were your qualifications? Thanks... (They only gave me $2000)

By Ceasefire (Ceasefire) on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 10:48 pm: Edit

To anybody interested in the scholarships that
UPitt offers: http://www.pitt.edu/~oafa/schlrs.html
They do have full-ride scholarships!!!