Still waiting on possible merit aid at one school..

[mckive6]

but it is so close to when my dd has to have her  decision made.  She has to get into the honor's program at this school in order to get the merit scholarship for National Merit Scholar commended.  And it is substantial.  They said she would receive notice by May 1st and that is the date decisions are due at all the schools.

 

Should she send in her deposit to her second choice?  Anyone been in this predicament? 

 

Thanks!

[katilac]

Wow, a little unfair to notify her as late as May 1!! 

 

Is that the admissions office telling her that or the honors college itself? If it's the admissions office or an administrative type person at the honors college, is there any way she can call the dean and explain her predicament? 

 

You shouldn't need to send a deposit to the second school, because she does have until May 1 to decide. At all of dd's schools, she was encouraged to "accept" scholarships even if she was undecided, so I would do that if it's a consideration. Or do you mean a housing deposit? I'm not sure how much it will help to send it in mid-April as opposed to May 1, but I might do so if we really wanted her on campus and could afford to lose it. 

 

I guess it's possible that the honors college doesn't know about the scholarship situation.  A phone call is definitely in order. If at all manageable, I'd probably try to get dd there in person to meet with the dean, but I'd have her phoning or emailing at the very least. 

[mckive6]

Thanks, Katilac.  I hadn't realized she would need to "accept" scholarships, but she did get an email from one school about something similar.  I'll have her check into it.  Funny thing is, this same school called her on the phone and asked her to give $250 deposit over the phone, before she knew if she'd been accepted to the honors program and heard about the scholarship.  My dd was very turned off. 

 

She hasn't seen this school, or 2 others in the same vicinity, so we hope to do that very soon.  Asking in person is a good idea.  

 

Thanks!

[FaithManor]

I hate this kind of pressure on these kids. Our ds was being pressured for a $200.00 non refundable housing deposit and another $177.00 orientation deposit - also non refundable - from the same school BEFORE they had even issued their financial package letter to us.

 

 

I said, "NO WAY!"

 

They did not end up being the school. 

 

OP I hope your daughter gets notification before May 1st.

[mckive6]

Thanks, FaithManor.  I agree.  Schools should not do this to the kids.  They are trying to make a decision for the next 4 years of their lives.  Plus, she wouldn't be giving a deposit over the phone, that would come from us.  And who would give a deposit before the financial aid had been determined?

 

She just called again to see if the decision would be made before May 1.  At first, the man told her the scholarship money was all used.  Nice, huh?  She had a good response right away for that comment.  A lot of this is new to her, so I has happy to see her think on her feet.  Then, he again said she'd receive an email by May 1. She has had many situations like this with her applications this year.  She is learning to speak up for herself, but it hasn't been fun.  

 

Unfortunately, if she gets this scholarship, this school would be the least expensive by far.  But, we're all realizing it may not be the best choice.  Think she'll visit the last few in the next week or so then she should be able to make a confident choice.

 

Thanks!

 

 

[Corraleno]

Thanks, FaithManor.  I agree.  Schools should not do this to the kids.  They are trying to make a decision for the next 4 years of their lives.  Plus, she wouldn't be giving a deposit over the phone, that would come from us.  And who would give a deposit before the financial aid had been determined?

 

She just called again to see if the decision would be made before May 1.  At first, the man told her the scholarship money was all used.  Nice, huh?  She had a good response right away for that comment.  A lot of this is new to her, so I has happy to see her think on her feet.  Then, he again said she'd receive an email by May 1. She has had many situations like this with her applications this year.  She is learning to speak up for herself, but it hasn't been fun.  

 

Unfortunately, if she gets this scholarship, this school would be the least expensive by far.  But, we're all realizing it may not be the best choice.  Think she'll visit the last few in the next week or so then she should be able to make a confident choice.

 

Thanks!

 

It sounds like they have already made their scholarship offers, and they are waiting to see if anyone turns it down, in which case they might offer it to your daughter — hence the May 1st date, since that's when they'll know which of the scholarship recipients (if any) are not coming.

 

I would put down a deposit on your 2nd choice, and then if the scholarship does materialize at the last minute your DD can decide if that's the school she really wants. If there's a really big difference in cost, it may be worth losing the deposit.

 

So sorry your DD is going through this, it must be so stressful.   :sad:  

[Kareni]

I can sympathize as I remember that College of the Holy Cross waited until about mid-April before finally coming through with their financial aid offer.   (My daughter was in the running for a scholarship; I can't help but wonder if they were waiting for their first choice to give a yea or nay.)

 

Regards,

Kareni

[mckive6]

Corraleno, I think you are probably right.  They haven't said she isn't accepted to the honors program, but she is qualified for the NMS commended scholarship, and they must be out of money.  I think it's time to pick her second choice.  

 

I will be very glad when this process is over, and she can celebrate and look forward to the fall.

 

Thanks Kareni.  Nice to know we're not alone :closedeyes:

[katilac]

Now I feel bad bc I just realized dd has a couple of scholarships she hasn't declined yet! 

 

Off to do that, and hopefully make someone's day. 

[FaithManor]

Ds has two schools yet to notify. I think that because he is sensitive to the money situation, and both of those schools are cheaper, he may have been hesitating to close those doors. We need to talk to him about that and assure him we are committed to the specialty degree at WMU so he can get going on those notifications.