2010 Illinois Full-Ride

[scienceolympiadist]

The kid above is right---UIUC is a great school. Nothing in the top 50 is laughable, especially with today's college admissions. SATs and Grades don't mean everything---and with many schools, they barely mean anything. It's a much different process than you'd expect, and if anybody that was a sophomore or junior and managed to win a gold at nats got the scholarship they should seriously consider UIUC, especially if going to an ivy-type school would be a burden on your family financially.

hey, seniors can seriously consider it too. that's what we've been discussing here!

[Deeisenberg]

I will be a senior, and while I will definitely apply, and hope for the scholarship, I will try to weasel my way into getting it for multiple past national firsts in order to ensure I get it. I highly doubt it will work, but I know someone on our team who was an alternate when we got a team first, and even though she didn't compete they extended the offer. I would have to be very lucky for that to work. At any rate, while I think any senior without a problem with the UIUC should certainly apply, the offer is much more practical and especially more convenient for underclassmen and juniors.

[scienceolympiadist]

I will be a senior, and while I will definitely apply, and hope for the scholarship, I will try to weasel my way into getting it for multiple past national firsts in order to ensure I get it. I highly doubt it will work, but I know someone on our team who was an alternate when we got a team first, and even though she didn't compete they extended the offer. I would have to be very lucky for that to work. At any rate, while I think any senior without a problem with the UIUC should certainly apply, the offer is much more practical and especially more convenient for underclassmen and juniors.

It'll definitely be more convenient for them. If they do win, they'll save themselves so much trouble by not having to live through the pain of college application process in their senior year. All they would need to do is apply to Illinois, and be done.

[fmtiger124]

I will be a senior, and while I will definitely apply, and hope for the scholarship, I will try to weasel my way into getting it for multiple past national firsts in order to ensure I get it. I highly doubt it will work, but I know someone on our team who was an alternate when we got a team first, and even though she didn't compete they extended the offer. I would have to be very lucky for that to work. At any rate, while I think any senior without a problem with the UIUC should certainly apply, the offer is much more practical and especially more convenient for underclassmen and juniors.

It'll definitely be more convenient for them. If they do win, they'll save themselves so much trouble by not having to live through the pain of college application process in their senior year. All they would need to do is apply to Illinois, and be done.

not necessarially--they still have to go visit the campus for an official tour--and who knows they might not like it or it could be too far away for them--there are a number of factors that would make them not take it

[binary010101]

It's still worth a lot, especially if you live outside of Illinois. Why wouldn't you take free money?

[Aia]

Just a few thoughts about this, numberwise:

There are 23 events, so you could have at most 48 gold medalists (including Picture This and Experimental Design as 3 person events). Again ,this is assuming none of the medalists received multiple gold medals. Realistically, how many C division gold medal winners are seniors? Perhaps half? Or maybe even more like 60%? I would imagine that a significant number of these seniors would stick with original college plans.

The underlying thought here is this: how many students actually accept the scholarship? I believe the scholarship is a wonderful incentive, but I'm estimating only 50% of gold medalists take the scholarship in the long run. Not to mention, if you are winning gold medals at the national competition, you may have your sights set on even more prestigious colleges.

Then again, given the shape of the economy, who knows how many will accept the scholarship. This question is a tough one to pin down!

[andrewwski]

I'd think that would sound about right. I received a full ride to one of the schools I applied to for next year (which I accepted), and while talking to somebody involved with that scholarship afterward, he said that on average about half of those awarded the scholarship actually use it, and about half still decide to go elsewhere. Given how late it's given, I could see the actual percentage being less.

[gyourkoshaven]

I have much less knowledge and experience about this type of thing than the high schoolers, but I figure I'll throw in my two cents. If I were looking for an engineering major, then I would have a tough time turning down a free offer to attend one of the nation's top engineering institutions, regardless of my age. But I would actually be less likely to accept this if I was a sophomore. I mean what if you completely change your mind about what you want to do? If I was a junior, I'd have to figure out soon what I wanted to do and might just accept based on the fact that it's a pretty good university. And when you're a senior, obviously you're in big trouble if you don't know where you want to go to school by late May. Obviously everyone's unique economic situation will play a factor, as parents are less likely to say "We'll pay for wherever your talents take you" than "We'll pay for wherever your talents take you to a state school" in the recession.

[andrewwski]

In essence, that makes sense. However, without knowing the details of the offer, I doubt you'd actually be committed to that school when the scholarship is awarded. I don't see why you couldn't still apply and enroll elsewhere.

[scienceolympiadist]

of course upcoming seniors like myself will apply to other pretigious schools. but I'll keep Illinois as a viable option open to the very end. this way, you have other schools to go to, if you don't win 1st