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pencilnpaper
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| Joined: | Wed Mar 8th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 64 |
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Posted: Wed Dec 20th, 2006 02:46 pm |
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Two EA or rolling acceptances before Christmas!!! We're thrilled. They are both "safety / match" schools, but ones she definitely would like to attend. Both are offering merit scholarships of differing degrees, and one requires that she accept the award in writing (or by web). In addition they require registration on student sites, and one even requests additional essays for potential honors program (no additional merit money, but a few perks). This is new to us. I don't remember any such post-acceptance requirements when my son applied to colleges. I definitely do not remember extra essays (except for potential scholarships).
She will not know her final choices until April, when the RD decisions are due, and her final decision will definitely be impacted by financial aid awards. The acceptance of the merit award this early does not obligate her to attend, but it feels a strange requirement at this point in the game. At this point, both schools are high on her list (Actually they are the ONLY choices at this point, but would probably be the highest choice, if she were admitted everywhere else without any aid).
Both schools clearly state that her admissions acceptance and deposit are not due until May 1, but one requires that she needs to accept the merit award now. Why is there a requirement to accept the financial award in writing this early? Is it a way to mentally commit the student before the May 1 deadline? Is it to get a better feel for the student's commitment, so that they can redistribute any dollars to RD students? Are there any reasons, she should not accept the awards this early?
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mackinaw
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Michigan |
| Posts: | 786 |
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Posted: Wed Dec 20th, 2006 02:58 pm |
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First of all, congratulations to your daughter! An awesome way to move into the New Year.
It's my understanding that if she turns down those merit awards they will be recycled to the next most qualified person as soon as possible. That's the main reason they would like an early response.
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3309 |
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Posted: Wed Dec 20th, 2006 05:28 pm |
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NO! Your daughter does not have to accept the merit offer now. The standards of good practice established by the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) says that colleges MUST allow students who request it in writing until May 1 to consider all merit scholarship offers. (The exception is ED offers). Here is a link to the NACAC students rights & responsibilities brochure which clearly states this - your daughter can refer to it in her letter. If they refuse to grant the extension, let me know. http://www.nacacnet.org/NR/rdonlyres/32AC7935-7A99-40FE-A9C2-019AB11E498D/0/StudentsRtsNEW.pdf
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CarolynLawrence
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
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Posted: Wed Dec 20th, 2006 05:32 pm |
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I wanted to clarify: the NACAC defines "financial aid" as grants, loans, work study AND scholarships. Just in case you need it, here's the link to the admissions standards of good practice:
http://www.nacacnet.org/NR/rdonlyres/455EC4FE-05A0-43BC-8D26-7D6343B87F36/0/SPGP10_30_06_BW.pdf
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Northeastmom
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 514 |
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Posted: Wed Dec 20th, 2006 06:46 pm |
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| Perhaps there is a mistake, or a typo on the school's part about the merit award. My son was accepted to a wonderful school with a merit scholarship. We were stunned to read that he needed to accept his merit award within about a week! The award came months before decision time. We called our gc, and she could not understand it. I called the admissions rep for our area, and she inquired. They sent a letter apologizing for the error and explained the award and the correct deadlines. It was simply a clerical error where admissions inserted the wrong deadline date, and we did have until May 1. Mistakes happen.
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Thumper
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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Posted: Wed Dec 20th, 2006 10:06 pm |
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| Last year, DD also got a letter from one of her EA schools saying that she had to accept her merit award. This was in February. It was a very simple phone call to them...simply saying that DD was not yet accepting enrollment at the school. They said fine...she didn't have to accept the award unless she decided to enroll...May 1. I remembered Carolyn's advice last year, and mentioned that I understood that DD didn't have to make either a finaid OR merit aid award commitment until May 1. That is true (except for ED).
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