What does it take to get a full ride like Banneker-Key

[Anonymous]

My kids are a few years away from college applications, but I am curious, what kinds of profile do the kids who get full rides like Banneker-Key have?

[Anonymous]

My Daughter just got notification as a finalist for Banneker-Key. She is also finalist for 2 other full ride scholarships at private colleges but deferred SCREA from IVY. Her stats are

DC area private(not big 3)
94 UW 95W GPA
36 ACT
Latin through Level 5
AB Calc as Senior
Strong ECs inside and out of school
We think very good recos
Very Good essays where her academic interests corollate with her ECs and leadership.

We believe she is having success because of the ECs, leadership and the comprehensive picture. She has very good grades but by no means perfect and fits the well rounded category as opposed to the high flyer CS super smart profile.

[Anonymous]

My kids received bk (one full and one partial) but it was a few years ago. What does it take? No clue. My kids had good stats, good test scores, good EC but not sure what made them stood out. Many kids like mine didn’t get it. From MCPS magnet, Asian kids.

[Anonymous]

When you say good or strong EC’s what do you mean? Can you give examples?

[Anonymous]

I can tell you what one non-recipient looks like! MCPS, well-rounded high flyer.

Very high test scores (National Merit Finalist).
Almost 4.0 UW, 4.7+ WGPA.
Many APs (12 tests, I think), including BC Calc.
Probably at least one excellent rec, based on teacher comments, the other at least strong.
Great extracurriculars (some in line with major) with leadership.

My takeaway? Be happily surprised if the offer comes through, but don't plan for it. (Glad we didn't!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you what one non-recipient looks like! MCPS, well-rounded high flyer.

Very high test scores (National Merit Finalist).
Almost 4.0 UW, 4.7+ WGPA.
Many APs (12 tests, I think), including BC Calc.
Probably at least one excellent rec, based on teacher comments, the other at least strong.
Great extracurriculars (some in line with major) with leadership.

My takeaway? Be happily surprised if the offer comes through, but don't plan for it. (Glad we didn't!)

My non BK DC stats:

MCPS IB manget
4.92 wga/4.0 uwgpa
1580 SAT

CS major - white/asian

[Anonymous]

I can tell you what another non-recipient looks like: MCPS SMCS magnet, 4.0W, 4.85UW, 1600 SAT, top 5 percent of class, 10 AP exams, all 5s. High level of accomplishment in musical instrument including Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra, varsity sport. Multiple volunteering experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you what one non-recipient looks like! MCPS, well-rounded high flyer.

Very high test scores (National Merit Finalist).
Almost 4.0 UW, 4.7+ WGPA.
Many APs (12 tests, I think), including BC Calc.
Probably at least one excellent rec, based on teacher comments, the other at least strong.
Great extracurriculars (some in line with major) with leadership.

My takeaway? Be happily surprised if the offer comes through, but don't plan for it. (Glad we didn't!)

Higher stats profile last year and not selected. CS major though.

[Anonymous]

Both kids I know selected last year were URM but also very high stats. Personally no issue with this. Glad UMD ends up with a diverse student body.

[Anonymous]

Both my DCs got it plus my neighbors DC 4 years ago. The one major thing besides good ECs, test scores and grades that they all had in common, is that they were ranked 1st from their large public high school in their respective year. Knowing how different they were, I have to imagine that being valedictorian was a huge factor

[Anonymous]

I teach at a magnet and know many of the kids that get offers for the 2nd round interview. I think one of the factors between the partial and full scholarship is financial need (as it should be IMO).

[Anonymous]

The above responses are why we call these high-flying honors/admissions a crap shoot. The profile of the people who receive BK (or who are admitted to Ivies) look very much like that of a whole bunch of kids who didn't.

Admissions officers could probably tell you a story (the kid seems to have grit; the kid seems to be a leader, etc.), but that's all it really is-- a story that they put together in their minds based on incomplete information.

[Anonymous]

It's totally a crapshoot. My son received the full scholarship (white male, if it matters), and he had high stats like everyone else. He was extremely well-rounded with a passion both for CS and Classics, if that matters. Also, he was from a Prince George's County magnet HS, though not the valedictorian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Daughter just got notification as a finalist for Banneker-Key. She is also finalist for 2 other full ride scholarships at private colleges but deferred SCREA from IVY. Her stats are

DC area private(not big 3)
94 UW 95W GPA
36 ACT
Latin through Level 5
AB Calc as Senior
Strong ECs inside and out of school
We think very good recos
Very Good essays where her academic interests corollate with her ECs and leadership.

We believe she is having success because of the ECs, leadership and the comprehensive picture. She has very good grades but by no means perfect and fits the well rounded category as opposed to the high flyer CS super smart profile.

Do you mind sharing how she got the notification? DC also admitted to Honors but no scholarship notification yet was curios if students noticed by email or no the portal. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Are all bk email sent? DC didn’t receive it. Guess is a non-recipient.