Lewis & Clark Posse tuition scholarship or apply to W&M?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think there really is a question here. The kid is a finalist for a scholarship. That may not work out. So apply to both schools (and at least 8 others) and hope it all works out. W&L has a lot of scholarships too.

I came to post the same thing. Do both (and other applications of course, as well).

[Anonymous]

OP how did the visit go?

[Anonymous]

OP here. The visit went well and confirmed for DC that they think they would like L&C socially, and it would be okay academically. But DC is still totally on the fence about the posse program and the commitments involved and also DC would like to know what all their options are (which unfortunately isn't possible with how posse works). But the deadline is Friday afternoon, so DC has to just decide. It's been a rollercoaster -- definitely no for a couple of hours, then definitely yes for a couple, now back to indecision. I really don't know what's going to tip the scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The visit went well and confirmed for DC that they think they would like L&C socially, and it would be okay academically. But DC is still totally on the fence about the posse program and the commitments involved and also DC would like to know what all their options are (which unfortunately isn't possible with how posse works). But the deadline is Friday afternoon, so DC has to just decide. It's been a rollercoaster -- definitely no for a couple of hours, then definitely yes for a couple, now back to indecision. I really don't know what's going to tip the scale.

Would it be possible to connect with another Posse scholar at LC before EOD tomorrow? Maybe they could talk to a kid about their experiences?

I just did a Google search and found the page below with a very sweet embedded video. I bet the kids in the video could be found on Instagram or LinkedIn or something since their names are there.

https://college.lclark.edu/giving/posse/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, to apply for the posse as a finalist and actually get the scholarship, you have to apply ED to the school that you've been matched with, which means that if you go forward with the L&C and posse, you apply ED.

Wait what? You have to commit to going to the school without knowing whether the scholarship is going to come through??

Yes, students selected as Finalist and accepting that spot for the matched school will have to submit an ED application and if chosen as a Posse Scholar following their third-round interview are committed to attending that school.

That sucks! What a terrible set up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC was just named a finalist for the Posse scholarship paired with Lewis & Clark. While full tuition (but not room and board) is wonderful, I'm concerned it's not a great school academically. We are in Virginia and are mostly confident that DC will be accepted to W&M with DC's stats, which seems better academically and has a better reputation. DC is interested in humanities and will surely go to grad school at some point. DC is intellectually curious, so W&M, if they get in, seems like a good choice. But DC thinks they will make friends and fit in more easily at Lewis & Clark. DC is quirky and non-binary. The presence of a greek society at W&M, even though only 30%, has DC convinced they won't like it. But when we toured W&M, they did like it. Will visit Lewis & Clark this week as decisions need to be by Friday. Is it better to go to a school with more rigorous academics and better reputation, or a school with full tuition paid and made easier social environment? I know there is no right answer, but just looking for thoughts and things to consider.

Lewis & Clark is a really good school. But don't let the Greek/non-binary issues keep your kid from applying to W&M. I think it is pretty welcoming. Our straight child is there and two-thirds of their roommates are gay, one identifying as non-binary. Everyone seems to coexist well. Good luck to your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, to apply for the posse as a finalist and actually get the scholarship, you have to apply ED to the school that you've been matched with, which means that if you go forward with the L&C and posse, you apply ED.

Wait what? You have to commit to going to the school without knowing whether the scholarship is going to come through??

Yes, students selected as Finalist and accepting that spot for the matched school will have to submit an ED application and if chosen as a Posse Scholar following their third-round interview are committed to attending that school.

That sucks! What a terrible set up

I don’t really understand why the Posse scholarship is set up this way. Doesn’t it mean that if a kid doesn’t get it, they are committed to a school that might not offer aid? It seems against the goals of the Posse scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, to apply for the posse as a finalist and actually get the scholarship, you have to apply ED to the school that you've been matched with, which means that if you go forward with the L&C and posse, you apply ED.

Wait what? You have to commit to going to the school without knowing whether the scholarship is going to come through??

Yes, students selected as Finalist and accepting that spot for the matched school will have to submit an ED application and if chosen as a Posse Scholar following their third-round interview are committed to attending that school.

That sucks! What a terrible set up

I don’t really understand why the Posse scholarship is set up this way. Doesn’t it mean that if a kid doesn’t get it, they are committed to a school that might not offer aid? It seems against the goals of the Posse scholarship.

My recollection is that the kids submit and ED, and if selected, they enter the college under ED with the scholarship. If they are not selected, they can choose to leave their ED with that college, or it is null and void and they are free to ED elsewhere. However, this is where timing comes in. By the time the colleges announce their selections, and the non-selected would be free to ED elsewhere, the ED deadlines have all passed.

So, if a kid decides to stay a finalist and submit to the third interview round, and does not get selected, they can only EA/RD at other colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC was just named a finalist for the Posse scholarship paired with Lewis & Clark. While full tuition (but not room and board) is wonderful, I'm concerned it's not a great school academically. We are in Virginia and are mostly confident that DC will be accepted to W&M with DC's stats, which seems better academically and has a better reputation. DC is interested in humanities and will surely go to grad school at some point. DC is intellectually curious, so W&M, if they get in, seems like a good choice. But DC thinks they will make friends and fit in more easily at Lewis & Clark. DC is quirky and non-binary. The presence of a greek society at W&M, even though only 30%, has DC convinced they won't like it. But when we toured W&M, they did like it. Will visit Lewis & Clark this week as decisions need to be by Friday. Is it better to go to a school with more rigorous academics and better reputation, or a school with full tuition paid and made easier social environment? I know there is no right answer, but just looking for thoughts and things to consider.

The city of Portland, Oregon is tailor-made for quirky & non-binary individuals.

Experiencing the Pacific Northwest is an education in itself. Very different from the east Coast--different in away that your child might love & appreciate.

Because I know very little about your student & family so I cannot make a hard recommendation--but your child does have two options that should result in a lot of positive growth into adulthood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The visit went well and confirmed for DC that they think they would like L&C socially, and it would be okay academically. But DC is still totally on the fence about the posse program and the commitments involved and also DC would like to know what all their options are (which unfortunately isn't possible with how posse works). But the deadline is Friday afternoon, so DC has to just decide. It's been a rollercoaster -- definitely no for a couple of hours, then definitely yes for a couple, now back to indecision. I really don't know what's going to tip the scale.

Sending good thoughts to your DC. Just let them know that it sounds like they are all good options and whatever decision they make will likely be a good one. A few techniques I have found helpful with knowing myself in hard decisions are: 1) flip a coin and see which outcome you feel more disappointed by, 2) Pretend there are two doors representing each school. Envision yourself able to choose and walk through both but you have to decide to walk through one first. Really imagine yourself walking through onto that campus through the door, starting your experience as a first year student. See if your thoughts are more curious about what it will be like, what lies before you or if they are more about what lies beyond the other door. If you're not that curious about the other door, you know your choice. If you are, do the same with mentally going through the other door and then decide.

[Anonymous]

OP what did your DC decide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like your kid can’t go wrong. I don’t know enough about Lewis and Clark to give an informed opinion. But, I have a kid at WM and would say:

If they want to go to grad school, don’t take out loans for WM over accepting the posse placement. It’s not a cheap school, so if you can’t comfortably full pay, strongly consider L&C.

Greek life at WM is a small part of the social scene, because it’s less intense and less exclusive than at many southern schools. This not buying the perfect wardrobe for rush, it’s all about big sports and tailgating, UAB type Greek (WM has a decent football team in a nothing D1 league and is not exactly known for sports).

LGBTQ+ is very accepted on campus. And I say that as a parent of a kid who falls into that category. W&M ranks very well on LGBTQ friendly on lists like niche and Princeton Review. Again, this isn’t a traditional southern school.

If your kid decides to give up posse for WM, apply ED. “My kid shouldn’t have any problem getting in to WM” are famous last words in NoVA.

Good luck! Reality is, your kid will probably be happy and do very well at either school.

I agree with all of this as the parent of a W&M grad who was not Greek and was in a large friend group with many LGBTQ+ friends.

Another parent with similar kid also agreeing with all of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP what did your DC decide?

I am also ridiculously invested in this story and am curious about the outcome.

Personally I'd pass on the scholarship and try for W&M, with VCU/UMW as in-state back-ups, (while applying to some solid second tier SLACs if the goal is $cholar$hip$)

[Anonymous]

OP here again. Decision has been made! DC decided not to move forward with the posse program. I think a came down to a coin toss, and I'm not joking. I suggested lots of ways of making a decision similar to the helpful posts from others here, but none of them really worked for DC. But DC said they are feeling fine about the decision (but admitted they would probably also feel fine if they had made the opposite decision). These 17/18 year olds are really becoming their own people, with their own decisions to make, and sometimes seemingly nonsensical decision making process. But I guess it's a part of parenting this age to learn to live with it and support them. Anyway, here's hoping DC gets into some schools they want and that they offer some merit (hope that common data set doesn't lead us astray!) so that DC will have options.

Thanks for all the input everyone!

[Anonymous]

It is a though decision and definitely a growing experience.
In the end it will all works out, in a good way. Just having made finalist is a great accomplishment to be proud of and make sure they include it on the common app.

If you kid is still interested in WM, i can assure them there are plenty of Posse finalists who did not get matched with them and are happily attending Make sure that essay really shows who they are, it can even be stuff like 'I do not like words/logos on my clothes'.

Best of luck to your kid!