The EDUFAX Educational FAQ

Question #99:

I have a SAT score of 1460 and a 3.98/4 GPA. I take the hardest courses at school, run Varsity Cross Country, am president of the National Honor Society, a member of several clubs, have 50+ community service hours and have earned many academic awards. I come from a low income family and wish to go to an Ivy League school. The Ivies have sent me information - does that mean anything? What can I do to improve my chances of getting into a selective school and making myself more desirable to the scholarship committees?

Answer #99:

Your activities and grades seem appropriate for the schools you are considering. Unfortunately, it means very little that the schools are sending you information. Even when Harvard solicits a student (as they do any student who receives a score of 800 on a standardized test), there is no guarantee of admission. If you are truly in financial need, you should look at the September 1999 edition of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine (your public library will probably have a copy), which lists the 100 best values in private colleges, and tells which institutions have more money for scholarships and grants. When all your acceptances are in, you should have a range of amounts which the schools are offering. Part of your aid package is determined by federal law, but in addition to that, private schools have the freedom to dispense their own funds as they choose. It is also appropriate to ask one school to meet another's financial aid package. It seems as though you are doing everything you can to make yourself attractive to a highly competitive school. Ask your guidance counselor to keep you updated on all available scholarships and make sure that you remain an active participant in the search. Sometimes money from outside scholarship sources can put you over the top. Keep up your impressive academic and extracurricular schedule through your senior year and I'll be happy to congratulate you when you achieve your goal. For more information, check out the EDUFAX Scholarships Resource site. EDUFAX provides services for the Collegebound High School Student.

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