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.

With all the high stats kids accepted into Honors, I think the B/K scholarship becomes somewhat of a lottery, people. Admissions officers pick the profiles they like most out of the pile, and it gets subjective. My son is in Honors, but did not get a B/K scholarship, nor did we expect him to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone ever get an invite and decline? My son got into his dream school but it was still hard to walk away from the invite.

My son declined back in 2019. He never really wanted to attend UMD and got into his dream school EA. It was tough for me to have him walk away from all that $$, but he is super happy where he is, already is gainfully employed upon graduation this year, and has possibly met his future wife. This was where he wanted to be and we are grateful to be able to afford sending him there.

Yeah, I am the PP whose kid didn't get BK, but did get presidential, 2 dept and nms (umd only award). I think her coa would have been under 10k. She also got into dream school which gave great FA (but not anywhere near down to 10k)! It was the right choice for her because the other school suited her interests better in the way they organized major(s)/requirements. Ah, well.

Does one have to apply for the Presidential scholarship, or are you automatically considered and get notification via email if you are considered?

Anonymous wrote:Super high stats kids not even getting honors invite, WTH?

what do you consider "super high stats"?

Super high stats kids not even getting honors invite, WTH?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is worthless without stats.

-HS type (private prep, parochial, public, magnet)
-In state or OOS
-W and UW GPAs
-SAT or ACT
-Where else were they accepted?

well, I can tell you who did NOT get one
public magnet
in-state
weighted 4.8 GPA
1580 SAT
14 APs

Similar to mine last year. No BK invite, but her presidential was half, plus 2 department awards, plus nms, would have made it essentially 3/4. But, she ended up choosing another school.

Congrats to all the finalists and other scholarships, and, honestly, all admitted because even at full price, it's a good deal!

Was yours in honors? Mine made it into a LEP, but not honors or even scholars. I assume that means we shouldn’t expect any merit?

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.

IDK PP. I am kinda glad your kid is not at UMD.

+1 kid could be a jerk too

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.

IDK PP. I am kinda glad your kid is not at UMD.

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.

I was going to say, for people who regard college as a Veblen good, a full scholarship actually makes the school less attractive. And here you are to illustrate my point!

My kid used saved 529 for his med school. Sweet deal. Good luck!

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.

Will people with BK share stats please?

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

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone ever get an invite and decline? My son got into his dream school but it was still hard to walk away from the invite.

My son declined back in 2019. He never really wanted to attend UMD and got into his dream school EA. It was tough for me to have him walk away from all that $$, but he is super happy where he is, already is gainfully employed upon graduation this year, and has possibly met his future wife. This was where he wanted to be and we are grateful to be able to afford sending him there.

Yeah, I am the PP whose kid didn't get BK, but did get presidential, 2 dept and nms (umd only award). I think her coa would have been under 10k. She also got into dream school which gave great FA (but not anywhere near down to 10k)! It was the right choice for her because the other school suited her interests better in the way they organized major(s)/requirements. Ah, well.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone ever get an invite and decline? My son got into his dream school but it was still hard to walk away from the invite.

My son declined back in 2019. He never really wanted to attend UMD and got into his dream school EA. It was tough for me to have him walk away from all that $$, but he is super happy where he is, already is gainfully employed upon graduation this year, and has possibly met his future wife. This was where he wanted to be and we are grateful to be able to afford sending him there.