Contact Me
I welcome your questions, comments, and feedback on my site or anything related to the college choice process!
Do you have a college acceptance or merit scholarship success story to share? I love to hear about what worked for you and your student!
Additionally, I am available for the following:
- Writing college-related guest posts and articles
- One-on-one parent/child consultation
- Webinars, Facebook Lives and other opportunities to teach parents and their college-bound students about the college search process
Please use the form below to contact me.
29 Comments
Lisa P · November 25, 2014 at 6:18 pm
Hi, I’m interested in ordering your list, as our scholarship research is completely overwhelming! On the up-side, my son is quite gifted, but on the down-side, I am a single mom with a very low income so we will need all the financial help we can find. My son is a senior, his GPA is 4.18. He has been named a National Merit Semi-finalist, but won’t find out if he makes finalist until february. He got a 35 on his ACT, and 2340 on his SAT. Will your list benefit us? Thank you for your help.
Wendy Nelson · November 26, 2014 at 10:11 am
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your comment and congratulations to your son! The list will help you pinpoint schools that offer major scholarships for national merit semi-finalists as well as finalists. You can filter down to look at applicable scholarships. You can also filter for scholarships that are available for ACT scores of 35 and lower – there are lots of those too. I would also recommend looking at need-based scholarships and scholarships that look at merit and need combined. Definitely check into the Stamps scholarships, http://www.stampsfoundation.org/. My list focuses on merit based scholarships primarily, although there are a few on the list that include a need-based component. Let me know if I can help further.
Wendy
ron · March 8, 2018 at 7:16 pm
My gosh, your son just needs to apply to 16 colleges and someone will offer a full ride. Then he can go for his graduate degree and really get offers that will make his future. As long as he’s not begging to go to Harvard (but give that a shot also, he can get a good undergraduate degree and then go from there. Wendy’s full ride list is the place to start. But need based aid is right there also.
Madeleine · August 14, 2019 at 3:44 pm
If your son is awarded finalist status, there are 8 schools in Florida that offer a full ride.
It is called the BENEQUISTO SCHOLARSHIP. He would need to decide which of the 8 schools he wants and then notify NMSC that that school is his first choice. It is an awesome scholarship worth over $176,00 dollars at the University of Florida. Our granddaughter won it and will be a freshman there next week.
Kim · September 9, 2017 at 3:08 pm
I paid for your list last year sometime during the school year. How do I get this update without having to pay again if it says that we get updates for a year? Thanks
Wendy Nelson · September 16, 2017 at 11:31 am
Hi Kim,
Thanks for asking. An email went out on 9/3/17 to everyone who purchased the list between 8/31/2016 and 9/2/2017 with a link to the updated version. I verified that it did go out to you. I will resend a link to that version to your email address now.
Wendy
Judy Goetz · September 13, 2017 at 7:32 am
I am interested in your list but I do not see anywhere that tells me the price before I put in my credit card number. That concerns me and I do not want to enter my info without knowing the cost.
Wendy Nelson · September 16, 2017 at 10:46 am
Hi Judy,
On this page, you will see all details including price: Full Scholarship List. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Wendy
Barb · September 16, 2017 at 3:04 pm
Ditto to what Judy said–I’m interested in the list, but I don’t see the price on any of your pages, including the Full Scholarship List link posted above. I don’t know if that’s just a glitch on my screen, but, Can you just tell me the price before I commit to entering my credit card number? Thanks!
Wendy Nelson · September 17, 2017 at 8:41 am
Hi Barb,
The price of the list is $7.99.
Wendy
Wendy Nelson · September 17, 2017 at 9:09 am
For everyone wondering about the price – If you are starting from the home page where the blue button shows “Get the List Now” it will take you to the Full Scholarship List details page. If you scroll down, the price is shown above the orange “Buy It Now” button. Also, after you hit that button, the price is shown on the top of the PayPal checkout screen before you check out. You do not need to have a PayPal account to check out.
Wendy
Andrea Buchanan · September 16, 2017 at 3:56 pm
I purchased the full list a few hours ago and now what do I do? I have not received any confirmation or emails from you. Where do I find the list?
Thank you
Wendy Nelson · September 17, 2017 at 8:44 am
Hi Andrea,
An email with a link is sent out to the email address used when purchasing through PayPal. It is sent out immediately after you pay. Please check your spam or junk folder as it does land there occasionally with some email providers. I will go look for your sale and what email address it was sent to and follow up with you directly.
Wendy
Wendy Nelson · September 17, 2017 at 9:04 am
Hi Andrea,
This is my second comment – I attempted to follow up with you directly and the emails are bouncing back as “invalid recipient”. Please let me know if you received the email with the link or provide another way I can get a hold of you to make sure you have received the list.
Wendy
Andrea Buchanan · September 17, 2017 at 9:22 am
Hi Wendy, I just looked at my paypal receipt and I typed my email incorrectly. Ugh.
How can I send you my correct email?
Or…can you see it here from this communication with you?
Wendy Nelson · September 17, 2017 at 9:44 am
Got it, Andrea! I will send out a new link to the correct address shortly.
Andrea Buchanan · September 17, 2017 at 9:48 am
Thanks so much, Wendy!
gina · September 18, 2017 at 1:59 pm
HI wendy
thanks so much for the research. I was just having huge meeting with our HS counseling dept telling them this is a huge need for parents in our upper income area. “too rich for need based aid, too poor for college”!! especially those kids that are high achievers but can’t afford $65K for the Harvards of the world. (Don’t look here, there is no merit aid)
I REALLY think a valuable resource would be to provide a list of those next top tier schools that do provide merit for smart kids, a guide for parents to move away from those elite Ivys and NESCAC schools into a next tier.
I’m also aways so surprised by the number of posters that say “Im a single parent, I have low income how can I afford school??” Well, a little secret folks… the schools will give you almost every dime you need!! You won’t pay sticker price, ever. The sticker price aka “rich persons tuition tax” is only for those that don’t qualify for need-based aid, it pays for the financial aid.
now for my question… how could a “school” purchase your list? what rights would they have to distribute to parents? do you have an option for that?
Wendy Nelson · September 20, 2017 at 7:38 pm
Hi Gina,
Thanks for your comment and ideas! I will email you regarding your question. I do have an option to offer.
Wendy
Michelle Walters · September 19, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Hi. I purchased your spreadsheet. Thank you. I’m afraid I don’t understand the SAT column. Are you using the old SAT on a 2017 updated list?
Wendy Nelson · September 20, 2017 at 7:36 pm
Hi Michelle,
The colleges have not all switched over to the New SAT format. That’s why column M, SAT Score Type, has either EBRW+M, CR+M, CR+M+W, or in some cases blank if it just really isn’t clear on the college’s website which SAT value the minimum score shown applies to. I am surprised that the colleges haven’t all switched over to the New SAT scores when listing minimums for scholarships, but clearly many have not yet. However, there are some good score converters found online.
Wendy
Lori McLeod · September 26, 2017 at 10:47 am
Hi. I have purchased this in the past but am unable to find. Can you please help?
Wendy Nelson · September 29, 2017 at 7:57 pm
Hi Lori,
You purchased in December of 2016. An email went out to you on 9-3-17 with a link to the 9-2-17 update for the list. It was sent to all subscribers since 9-1-16. I will resend that email to you now.
Thanks for reaching out,
Wendy
NP · October 3, 2017 at 2:07 pm
Hi,
My daughter has a 4.5 gpa but only scored 1230 on the SAT. Are all merit scholarships based on high gpa and high test scores?
Wendy Nelson · October 7, 2017 at 9:12 am
Hi,
Some merit scholarships are based solely on GPA and SAT or ACT score. Others look at wider factors including leadership experience, community service, class rank, academic rigor and more. Take a look at the scholarship criteria listed for each scholarship.
Wendy
KL · October 17, 2017 at 9:24 am
Hi. I purchased list with my Visa this AM. When will I receive the link?
Wendy Nelson · October 18, 2017 at 7:41 pm
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for your purchase! An email goes out directly after you pay through PayPal. The email is titled “Full Scholarship List Purchase”. I always recommend checking your spam or junk folder as sometimes they land there with certain email providers. I sent you an email . I want to make sure you get your list.
Wendy
Roz · April 1, 2018 at 8:50 pm
For schools such as the IVY league and others that only offer need based scholarships, are there 3rd party options that offer full rides that do not come through the school.
Wendy Nelson · April 8, 2018 at 7:43 pm
Hi Roz,
There are a few out there. Check the larger-dollar private scholarships I list in Finding and Winning Private Scholarships. The Stamps Foundation scholarship would be the first one that comes to mind.
Wendy