(Wow, that's a long title...)

Greetings from the busy Office of Admission at PC, where the operations staff is getting all of our Early Action applications ready to review! Today, though, I want to talk a little bit about some new Merit-Based Scholarships that are available to students applying to attend PC next fall.

Here's the scoop: Beginning with students applying for admission to the Class of 2014 (students entering in September, 2010), there are now three tiers of merit-based scholarships for which students may qualify:

1. Liberal Arts Honors Program
2. Academic Scholarships
3. Providence College Friar Scholarships

Students invited into the College's highly selective Liberal Arts Honors Program (find out more about LAH Program) will receive one of three levels of merit scholarship: St. Dominic Scholarship (full tuition excluding room and board); St. Thomas Aquinas (3/4 tuition); or St. Catherine of Siena (1/2 tuition). All of these scholarships are renewable for up to four years as long as students remain active members of the Liberal Arts Honors Program and maintain the required GPA. Merit scholars are typically at the top of their graduating class and have completed the most rigorous program of study possible during their high school career.

The second group are academic-based merit scholarships available to students who have demonstrated superior academic performance during their entire high school career, but were not selected for inclusion in the Liberal Arts Honors Program. These scholarships include the St. Joseph Scholarship ($14,000 annually), the Albertus Magnus Scholarship ($11,000 annually), and the St. Vincent Ferrer Scholarship ($8,000 annually). Students who have achieved consistent A- to A grades throughout high school in all subjects – and have taken a rigorous program of study – will be considered for these awards (note that an A-minus GPA is not a guarantee of a scholarship, but represents the performance required to be in consideration).

Finally, Providence College Friar Scholarships are merit awards intended to recognize high school seniors who not only have demonstrated the academic discipline necessary to succeed in the classroom, but display extraordinary commitment, leadership and responsibility in their extracurricular pursuits. While we do not have a prescription for the type of activity that warrants recognition, it is important to note that serious contributors to their pursuits are more attractive than those who have simply been members of a number of organizations. Students who have academic achievements that earn them admission to Providence College and also demonstrate a true commitment to their out-of-classroom activities will be recognized with awards ranging from $4,000 to $8,000 annually.

More information on these Merit-Based Scholarship opportunities can be found here. Also, you can see the letter sent to parents on October 15, 2009 announcing additional financial assistance availability for students applying to the Class of 2014 here.

As always, should you have questions about merit scholarships or need-based financial aid programs, please don't hesitate to call our office to speak with a counselor: (800) 721-6444.

Now, it's time to begin reviewing Early Action applications! Until next time...