Banneker Key Decisions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only fools would decline. College is what you make of. Dreams schools don’t mean dream results.

Speak for yourself. UMD was a safety school for DS. He got merit elsewhere (more than half tuition) where he would have preferred to attend over UMD. He ended up at a top 20 and would never have had the same experiences at UMD where he would be with a lot of the same people from his neighborhood. He wanted to be further away from home at a top university that has name recognition and prestige...oh and great football too

Our 529 had over $300K when he started and we depleted it. Money well spent. Our net worth is over $10M, so we will be fine lol.

DD say the same thing, I told her this is being very immature but you seem to proud of this

PP here. If we can afford to have him wherever he wants, why on earth would we send him to Maryland. SMH.

WOW!

What is wow. DS had a particular very prestigious school in mind. If he didn't get into that school or any of his other top choices, UMD was our safety. He got the BK offer but turned it down because he got into his first choice. What is so wow about that? We can afford to send him anywhere he wants to go. It is not about the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Asian-American kid got the full-ride Bk scholarship and Honors last year. Was accepted to two T-3 schools (H, M, S). We did not know about this scholarship when she applied so it was a nice surprise. They had planned on choosing it over U-M (full pay), Rice (Trustee Scholarship) and other smaller (think 32K/year).

For the high star Asian kids who did not get BK this year, my net is that your kid did not have an impact on their community. BK does a fantastic job of picking kids who apply that will also get into Ivies. From all our friends who applied last year, two got the invite (and full-ride), and both were also admitted to Ivies.

We looked at UMD for CS and it is amazing! It was really hard to turn down the T-3s! Not all bK scholars get into Honors.

Interviews were over Zoom. My kid had 2 interviewers who played bad cop/ good cop. Asked about EC details and future plans. Neither interviewer was from CS Dept.

So am I correct in understanding that your kid picked BJ? How about the 2 friends? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what percentage of students decline?

I am sure a good percentage based on the fact their high stats will get them into top schools. That is if they have the finances to cover tuition.

Money is an issue for many. Our child was accepted to T20 colleges without scholarships or aid. They went to UMD honors with a scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what percentage of students decline?

I am sure a good percentage based on the fact their high stats will get them into top schools. That is if they have the finances to cover tuition.

Money is an issue for many. Our child was accepted to T20 colleges without scholarships or aid. They went to UMD honors with a scholarship.

Mine also! We bought him a car and he got a great job offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what percentage of students decline?

I am sure a good percentage based on the fact their high stats will get them into top schools. That is if they have the finances to cover tuition.

Money is an issue for many. Our child was accepted to T20 colleges without scholarships or aid. They went to UMD honors with a scholarship.

Mine also! We bought him a car and he got a great job offer.

+1. My kid ended up getting his phd from mit. Undergrad and phd all free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Asian-American kid got the full-ride Bk scholarship and Honors last year. Was accepted to two T-3 schools (H, M, S). We did not know about this scholarship when she applied so it was a nice surprise. They had planned on choosing it over U-M (full pay), Rice (Trustee Scholarship) and other smaller (think 32K/year).

For the high star Asian kids who did not get BK this year, my net is that your kid did not have an impact on their community. BK does a fantastic job of picking kids who apply that will also get into Ivies. From all our friends who applied last year, two got the invite (and full-ride), and both were also admitted to Ivies.

We looked at UMD for CS and it is amazing! It was really hard to turn down the T-3s! Not all bK scholars get into Honors.

Interviews were over Zoom. My kid had 2 interviewers who played bad cop/ good cop. Asked about EC details and future plans. Neither interviewer was from CS Dept.

So am I correct in understanding that your kid picked BJ? How about the 2 friends? Just curious.

I can see how you got that impression. My bad.

My kid turned down BK for a T-3. But a friend took BK over an Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Asian-American kid got the full-ride Bk scholarship and Honors last year. Was accepted to two T-3 schools (H, M, S). We did not know about this scholarship when she applied so it was a nice surprise. They had planned on choosing it over U-M (full pay), Rice (Trustee Scholarship) and other smaller (think 32K/year).

For the high star Asian kids who did not get BK this year, my net is that your kid did not have an impact on their community. BK does a fantastic job of picking kids who apply that will also get into Ivies. From all our friends who applied last year, two got the invite (and full-ride), and both were also admitted to Ivies.

We looked at UMD for CS and it is amazing! It was really hard to turn down the T-3s! Not all bK scholars get into Honors.

Interviews were over Zoom. My kid had 2 interviewers who played bad cop/ good cop. Asked about EC details and future plans. Neither interviewer was from CS Dept.

So am I correct in understanding that your kid picked BJ? How about the 2 friends? Just curious.

I can see how you got that impression. My bad.

My kid turned down BK for a T-3. But a friend took BK over an Ivy.

WTH is T-3? People can't even agree onT-20

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Asian-American kid got the full-ride Bk scholarship and Honors last year. Was accepted to two T-3 schools (H, M, S). We did not know about this scholarship when she applied so it was a nice surprise. They had planned on choosing it over U-M (full pay), Rice (Trustee Scholarship) and other smaller (think 32K/year).

For the high star Asian kids who did not get BK this year, my net is that your kid did not have an impact on their community. BK does a fantastic job of picking kids who apply that will also get into Ivies. From all our friends who applied last year, two got the invite (and full-ride), and both were also admitted to Ivies.

We looked at UMD for CS and it is amazing! It was really hard to turn down the T-3s! Not all bK scholars get into Honors.

Interviews were over Zoom. My kid had 2 interviewers who played bad cop/ good cop. Asked about EC details and future plans. Neither interviewer was from CS Dept.

So am I correct in understanding that your kid picked BJ? How about the 2 friends? Just curious.

I can see how you got that impression. My bad.

My kid turned down BK for a T-3. But a friend took BK over an Ivy.

WTH is T-3? People can't even agree onT-20

Stanford, Harvard, MIT.

I think these are pretty agreed upon!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Asian-American kid got the full-ride Bk scholarship and Honors last year. Was accepted to two T-3 schools (H, M, S). We did not know about this scholarship when she applied so it was a nice surprise. They had planned on choosing it over U-M (full pay), Rice (Trustee Scholarship) and other smaller (think 32K/year).

For the high star Asian kids who did not get BK this year, my net is that your kid did not have an impact on their community. BK does a fantastic job of picking kids who apply that will also get into Ivies. From all our friends who applied last year, two got the invite (and full-ride), and both were also admitted to Ivies.

We looked at UMD for CS and it is amazing! It was really hard to turn down the T-3s! Not all bK scholars get into Honors.

Interviews were over Zoom. My kid had 2 interviewers who played bad cop/ good cop. Asked about EC details and future plans. Neither interviewer was from CS Dept.

So am I correct in understanding that your kid picked BJ? How about the 2 friends? Just curious.

I can see how you got that impression. My bad.

My kid turned down BK for a T-3. But a friend took BK over an Ivy.

WTH is T-3? People can't even agree onT-20

Stanford, Harvard, MIT.

I think these are pretty agreed upon!

LOL. Only in your mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My Asian-American kid got the full-ride Bk scholarship and Honors last year. Was accepted to two T-3 schools (H, M, S). We did not know about this scholarship when she applied so it was a nice surprise. They had planned on choosing it over U-M (full pay), Rice (Trustee Scholarship) and other smaller (think 32K/year).

For the high star Asian kids who did not get BK this year, my net is that your kid did not have an impact on their community. BK does a fantastic job of picking kids who apply that will also get into Ivies. From all our friends who applied last year, two got the invite (and full-ride), and both were also admitted to Ivies.

We looked at UMD for CS and it is amazing! It was really hard to turn down the T-3s! Not all bK scholars get into Honors.

Interviews were over Zoom. My kid had 2 interviewers who played bad cop/ good cop. Asked about EC details and future plans. Neither interviewer was from CS Dept.

So am I correct in understanding that your kid picked BJ? How about the 2 friends? Just curious.

I can see how you got that impression. My bad.

My kid turned down BK for a T-3. But a friend took BK over an Ivy.

WTH is T-3? People can't even agree onT-20

Stanford, Harvard, MIT.

I think these are pretty agreed upon!

First two are debatable but I don't think anyone considers (except you) MIT as T-3.

[Anonymous]

Can someone clarify what the B/K scholarship is? Clearly my senior didn't get it. But for my younger kids, please enlighten me. Does UMD prioritize academics? Volunteering? Other factors?

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Can someone clarify what the B/K scholarship is? Clearly my senior didn't get it. But for my younger kids, please enlighten me. Does UMD prioritize academics? Volunteering? Other factors?

Thank you.

https://honors.umd.edu/scholarships-financial-aid/banneker-key-scholars/

Start above. It's the highest level merit scholarship offered - either a full ride or partial. If your kid is invited, your kid is guaranteed at least partial BK. Interview itself lasts only 15 min or so and very casual. Usually with two people - one professor and one adcom rep. High stats is given but the student also needs to have other accomplishments (extensive volunteering, community involvement...etc.) to get an invite

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only fools would decline. College is what you make of. Dreams schools don’t mean dream results.

Speak for yourself. UMD was a safety school for DS. He got merit elsewhere (more than half tuition) where he would have preferred to attend over UMD. He ended up at a top 20 and would never have had the same experiences at UMD where he would be with a lot of the same people from his neighborhood. He wanted to be further away from home at a top university that has name recognition and prestige...oh and great football too

Our 529 had over $300K when he started and we depleted it. Money well spent. Our net worth is over $10M, so we will be fine lol.

DD say the same thing, I told her this is being very immature but you seem to proud of this

PP here. If we can afford to have him wherever he wants, why on earth would we send him to Maryland. SMH.

WOW!

We had fully funded 529 and could afford to send DC anywhere they wanted. They were accepted to several T20 but chose UMD. Some kids don't want to go far away and welcome being with long-time friends. I think the pandemic contributed to the decision in DC's case because they hadn't been away from home during summers as much as maybe they would have been otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what percentage of students decline?

I am sure a good percentage based on the fact their high stats will get them into top schools. That is if they have the finances to cover tuition.

Money is an issue for many. Our child was accepted to T20 colleges without scholarships or aid. They went to UMD honors with a scholarship.

Mine also! We bought him a car and he got a great job offer.

+1. My kid ended up getting his phd from mit. Undergrad and phd all free.

What was it like living in Boston on a PhD stipend?

[Anonymous]

One thing people might consider (and I might have considered in hindsight), is whether NOT putting biz, CS, ENG might increase the odds. There are obv huge numbers of high stat kids applying to those 3 majors.

Given the BK awards are presumably not necessarily concentrated in those majors, I assume they are inclusive of all programs, maybe indicating a major that is not the flavor of the month would up the odds?

And can BK awardees change major? I assume so.