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MU to offer new full-ride merit scholarships in the fall

Beginning with the class of 2023, Miami University will offer the Presidential Fellows scholarship, which includes a full ride -- including all tuition, room and board and meal plan costs -- a one-time $5,000 stipend and educational and service programming for the cohort.

Based on the tuition and fees for the 2018 Miami cohort, the university will spend a minimum of $1,829,284.80 in scholarship dollars over the course of four years for the class of 2023 Presidential Fellows cohort.

Susan Schaurer, Miami's associate vice president for strategic enrollment, management and marketing, said the program aims to bring in higher-caliber students.

"We really want to recruit the brightest and best students across the country and the globe," Schaurer said. "Many of our competitor schools have full-ride scholarships, and we wanted to have something to offer to those students who are drawn to those offers."

The application rolled out in mid-fall 2018, and the deadline for interested students was Nov. 1, 2018. Schaurer said that despite the short application period, nearly 1,300 prospective students applied for the scholarship.

The prospective students had to apply to either or both the Honors and Academic Scholars programs and respond to an additional essay prompt tailored to the Presidential Fellows program. The essay prompt was posed by University President Greg Crawford. Prospective students were asked to explain how they see themselves contributing to the Miami community.

Of the nearly 1,300 students who applied, 75 were offered competitive spots for interviews over Presidents' Day weekend.

The interview weekend will entail individual interviews, an academic component involving a reading assignment the students have been provided and team-building exercises.

Ultimately, Miami plans to offer the scholarship to 15 accepted students.

brunnsj@miamioh.edu

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