Your merit aid success story

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not relevant to many, but interesting to the few. Musician DC got 40% off total cost of attendance at one of the top conservatories in the country.

The interesting part is that DC was an indifferent student in everything other than music and never took a single honors or AP class, stopped math after graduation requirements were fulfilled and doubled-down on everything music related in and outside of school. Had fabulous auditions and glowing (music) recs.

Used the Cal Newport "do a single thing better than anybody else" strategy (not strategically but because refused to do anything else), and had a great outcome.

Wow, that is impressive and you should be proud! Sounds like a gifted kid and goes to show there is more than one route. I’d be willing to bet he’ll be more successful than most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not relevant to many, but interesting to the few. Musician DC got 40% off total cost of attendance at one of the top conservatories in the country.

The interesting part is that DC was an indifferent student in everything other than music and never took a single honors or AP class, stopped math after graduation requirements were fulfilled and doubled-down on everything music related in and outside of school. Had fabulous auditions and glowing (music) recs.

Used the Cal Newport "do a single thing better than anybody else" strategy (not strategically but because refused to do anything else), and had a great outcome.

Wow, that is impressive and you should be proud! Sounds like a gifted kid and goes to show there is more than one route. I’d be willing to bet he’ll be more successful than most.

Agree. That kind of passion can’t be faked and can take a person really, really far. Congrats!

[Anonymous]

GMU (OOS) - (18k/year)
Temple (17k/year)


Then some smaller amounts from instate publics

[Anonymous]

Besides generous merit, S Carolina offers a marching band scholarship that brings cost close to in state for everyone that makes the band.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Full ride at Wisconsin (requires degree specific focus, but she can double major to do what she actually prefers)!

Could you provide more information about this scholarship? UW Madison is my DC’s top choice but they rarely give much merit to OOS.

[Anonymous]

3.8UW/4.4W/28ACT DD so far got 15K/yr from Michigan State plus 3-5K study abroad scholarship. 9K/yr from University of Iowa.
Brings MSU tuition to ~40K all in and Iowa to ~35K. Still waiting to hear from several others.

[Anonymous]

This thread is giving me life - thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC got $25K/yr from UMiami and $20K/yr from UMN.

Can you give GPA/test stats? Curious about UMN

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not relevant to many, but interesting to the few. Musician DC got 40% off total cost of attendance at one of the top conservatories in the country.

The interesting part is that DC was an indifferent student in everything other than music and never took a single honors or AP class, stopped math after graduation requirements were fulfilled and doubled-down on everything music related in and outside of school. Had fabulous auditions and glowing (music) recs.

Used the Cal Newport "do a single thing better than anybody else" strategy (not strategically but because refused to do anything else), and had a great outcome.

You have to want to do that one thing though, and excel at it! I have a ds who is very good at many things but exceptional at nothing. One of those things is music, and he could probably make a marching band (not a top one), but he just has no desire due to the huge time commitment.

[Anonymous]

Got our first 0 merit offer as a point of comparison. Since schools hate this, I won't name it but it ranked in the same range as the others on US News and World Report--70-100 ish.

Student had sub 1400 scores, 3.5 ish gpa. Has gotten merit at every other school in this range (5 others), so I was starting to expect it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not relevant to many, but interesting to the few. Musician DC got 40% off total cost of attendance at one of the top conservatories in the country.

The interesting part is that DC was an indifferent student in everything other than music and never took a single honors or AP class, stopped math after graduation requirements were fulfilled and doubled-down on everything music related in and outside of school. Had fabulous auditions and glowing (music) recs.

Used the Cal Newport "do a single thing better than anybody else" strategy (not strategically but because refused to do anything else), and had a great outcome.

You have to want to do that one thing though, and excel at it! I have a ds who is very good at many things but exceptional at nothing. One of those things is music, and he could probably make a marching band (not a top one), but he just has no desire due to the huge time commitment.

FWIW, my DD wanted to continue her instrument in college, symphony + pep band since she also thinks marching band is too much time. She'll never major in music, it's just a fun extracurricular. A few LACs she applied to offered additional small scholarships for participating in music. Some were little, $500 or so per year, but where she ended up it added $5k/yr to an already good merit award.

[Anonymous]

Can someone tell me how this works if you HHI is high? Presumably most of you have HHI above the US median. Do you still get merit scholarships if you have a high HHI?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me how this works if you HHI is high? Presumably most of you have HHI above the US median. Do you still get merit scholarships if you have a high HHI?

Yes. They typically come in with the acceptance letter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC got $25K/yr from UMiami and $20K/yr from UMN.

Can you give GPA/test stats? Curious about UMN

Thanks

4.0 UW, 1410 SAT, non high-flying NOVA hs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
20K merit a year guaranteed for 5 years from George Washington U. Sticker price is 85K a year. We pay 65K a year.

4.67 wgpa and 35 ACT.

How does your kid feel about staying in DC?