Anonymous wrote:Any interest in schools in UK/Ireland? They are stats only so he wouldn’t have to join anything

No they are not stats only. They require a personal statement of about 4000 characters / 47 lines outlining relevant experiences to the subject degree you're applying to.

Canada looks at stats only though, perhaps you're confusing the two.

Anonymous wrote:LOL "large merit"
I would not count on that OP

When colleges give merit even if it is large the amount is still higher tuition than a instate school.

Apply to data only schools like UMD, UF, Univ of SC, Univerity of Michigan etc.. then the extra's do not matter much. DCUM won't agree with me.

The bolded is usually true, OP.

My ADHD/ASD kid who is very intellectual and only interested in his academic topic of interest had nothing but a pandemic dog-walking business and his native language weekend school as his extra-curriculars. He received a laughable $1k merit offer from UMD, but was offered Honors College there (in-state cost of attendance around 30K). He got 17K knocked off the 50K or so of cost of attendance at his safety, St John's College in Annapolis. He got into McGill on a whim, but never seriously thought of going, and didn't apply for scholarships (that's what you have to do over there). He got no merit from W&M's dual degree programme with St Andrews (very selective). The OOS cost of attendance would have been $65K a year. And finally he received 20K a year from GW, guaranteed 5 years, which reduced the total cost of attendance to 65K. GW knew what it was doing. Since his major is International Affairs, and their local competition is Georgetown and W&M, both at 65K, they didn't have to offer more merit than that. They gambled that all prices being equal, he'd pick them. And he did: they have nicer food and dorms, and he liked the professors better.

It's a little insight into the calculations that go into offering merit aid to students.

Go TO. Accomplish something with the EC’s…spearhead an endeavor. Kill the grades.

Any interest in schools in UK/Ireland? They are stats only so he wouldn’t have to join anything

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS didn't have much in activities -- mainly a long running monthly volunteer thing that we do with the whole family + a summer job. He got into all the big state Us he applied for except for UVA. Merit awards at a couple OOS schools brought the cost down to about $40k, so in line with the most expensive VA colleges but still more than VT where he ended up.

The standard "automatic" type of merit awards seem to be more based on stats so definitely get the SAT up. But the more competitive scholarships, where the school only gives a few out after additional applications, possibly interviews, etc. are going to be looking for the whole package of stats + extensive resume.

For the non-joiner, I'd say a summer job is required.

I agree. My son is a non-joiner, but he got a job at Chick-Fil-A. I sparked a firestorm here with my query on whether it was a liability. Well it turned out to be a boon in college admissions. Make him get a job and make him volunteer with your family at a food bank.

I like this idea that this could start out as a family thing to ease the transition and get everyone trying something new together.

What does your kid like or like to do? My DC was a non-joiner at school but had summer jobs (also a year round job), volunteered, studied a language on her own time, and started running regularly. I'm sure there's something your kid could get involved in and also develop an interest towards new things by putting themselves out there and trying new things.

Anonymous wrote:My DS didn't have much in activities -- mainly a long running monthly volunteer thing that we do with the whole family + a summer job. He got into all the big state Us he applied for except for UVA. Merit awards at a couple OOS schools brought the cost down to about $40k, so in line with the most expensive VA colleges but still more than VT where he ended up.

The standard "automatic" type of merit awards seem to be more based on stats so definitely get the SAT up. But the more competitive scholarships, where the school only gives a few out after additional applications, possibly interviews, etc. are going to be looking for the whole package of stats + extensive resume.

For the non-joiner, I'd say a summer job is required.

I agree. My son is a non-joiner, but he got a job at Chick-Fil-A. I sparked a firestorm here with my query on whether it was a liability. Well it turned out to be a boon in college admissions. Make him get a job and make him volunteer with your family at a food bank.

Anonymous wrote:LOL "large merit"
I would not count on that OP

When colleges give merit even if it is large the amount is still higher tuition than a instate school.

Apply to data only schools like UMD, UF, Univ of SC, Univerity of Michigan etc.. then the extra's do not matter much. DCUM won't agree with me.

There are MANY state schools that give substantial merit to OOS students, bringing the price to well below in-state prices at the ridiculously expensive Virginia state schools. The question is whether OP would call those schools “good.” But they definitely exist.

Anonymous wrote:DC has no interest in activities, and never really has. Has maybe 1-2 that are mostly just on paper. No real hobbies either.

Course rigor and GPA are both very high, but test scores are middling (1100-1200).

Better to encourage SAT prep or activities? Both? Neither? DC is very resistant to parental suggestions.

Goal is a large merit scholarship at a good college (T10/Ivies not of much interest.)

My kid is in the same boat. He got a job as soon as he turned 16 summer before junior year. had trouble finding something within walking/biking distance from us before that age. The paycheck is a big motivation now although he has to save part for college. He even picks up extra shifts when possible and gets extra on holidays..Not sure about big merit but at least he is getting out of the house and saving $.

My DS didn't have much in activities -- mainly a long running monthly volunteer thing that we do with the whole family + a summer job. He got into all the big state Us he applied for except for UVA. Merit awards at a couple OOS schools brought the cost down to about $40k, so in line with the most expensive VA colleges but still more than VT where he ended up.

The standard "automatic" type of merit awards seem to be more based on stats so definitely get the SAT up. But the more competitive scholarships, where the school only gives a few out after additional applications, possibly interviews, etc. are going to be looking for the whole package of stats + extensive resume.

For the non-joiner, I'd say a summer job is required.

Major? Career interests?

Anonymous wrote:LOL "large merit"
I would not count on that OP

When colleges give merit even if it is large the amount is still higher tuition than a instate school.

Apply to data only schools like UMD, UF, Univ of SC, Univerity of Michigan etc.. then the extra's do not matter much. DCUM won't agree with me.

Nice try...

LOL "large merit"
I would not count on that OP

When colleges give merit even if it is large the amount is still higher tuition than a instate school.

Apply to data only schools like UMD, UF, Univ of SC, Univerity of Michigan etc.. then the extra's do not matter much. DCUM won't agree with me.

Depends what he is aiming for. T50 or so probably want both. Usually kids that are test optional that have success have great grades and very good extracurriculars.

DC has no interest in activities, and never really has. Has maybe 1-2 that are mostly just on paper. No real hobbies either.

Course rigor and GPA are both very high, but test scores are middling (1100-1200).

Better to encourage SAT prep or activities? Both? Neither? DC is very resistant to parental suggestions.

Goal is a large merit scholarship at a good college (T10/Ivies not of much interest.)