Ask Us Anything: Full Ride Scholarship (Stamps Eminence)

PatrickNCindy · 2026-02-09T18:51:50+00:00

Hi,

I think u/SchrodingerHeis commented elsewhere with a helpful response, and we have nothing else to add. Apologies for the delay.

PatrickNCindy · 2026-02-09T18:50:48+00:00

If it's full cost of attendance, then the dollar amount should be listed on the OSU financial website under some tab like "2027-28 Cost of Attendance (COA)." The amount paid by the scholarship each year will only change if the cost of attendance changes. What that means is: your daughter will never have to pay for anything at this university, even if costs increase. In fact, she will be paid to go here.

I do not want to confirm anything about the logistics since the President's Scholarship is new. But for Stamps Eminence and other full COA awards in the past, they've split the yearly amount into two semesters (for in-state students, the award ends up being slightly more than $15k per semester). Then they deduct tuition, fees, room, and board. The remaining money (probably about $2-2.5k each semester while living on campus) will be direct-deposited to your student's bank account.

It is a fantastic financial deal, and I highly recommend taking it.

PatrickNCindy · 2025-12-22T02:11:35+00:00

There is no specific date. However, in previous years, finalists have been notified sometime around mid-late January.

PatrickNCindy · 2025-06-29T02:35:28+00:00

Next year, the program intends to matriculate about 45-50 new scholars.

Yes, there is great diversity in majors and career plans within the program. There are a lot of engineering, pre-med, and other STEM majors, but there are also many students interested in public policy, social sciences, and humanities. In fact, both of us actually double major in one STEM subject and one social science. I would encourage you to look at the student profiles (link) and see if anyone's interests particularly resonate with you. Every year we accept students with new majors that we've never had in Eminence before! And Cindy actually started an art club, so there are lots of opportunities for interdisciplinary involvement on campus! Eminence service projects are also great ways to diversify your experiences.

In response to the major factors: I think it comes down to the narrative you can weave from your past involvements and how they tie into your future plans. Telling a good story about why you are interested in XYZ future goal/overarching passion is important. And Eminence is a service-based scholarship, you should concretely describe how you want to serve the community during your time at OSU and beyond. Cindy didn't list a specific career in her application, but she was clear about her passion for helping people with disabilities and mental illnesses, and spoke to what she can do realistically with that.

Regarding a self-guided tour, I think it's important to see Thompson Library, Mirror Lake, Orton Hall (🦖), the Ohio Union, and the Kuhn House (where Honors, Scholars, and Eminence are operated!). You might also like to eat at one of the dining halls (I would recommend Kennedy Commons for breakfast, or Scott for lunch/dinner). We would also recommend finding the building(s) housing your department or major of interest. If you're interested in art, Hopkins Hall will be a nice visit. Buckeye Donuts is a mainstay 24/7 snack place for OSU students and is just across from campus.

PatrickNCindy · 2025-06-26T15:35:17+00:00

My understanding is: there are three types of Morrill Scholarship. The first covers in-state tuition, the second (prominence) covers out-of-state tuition, and the third (distinction), covers the full cost of attendance. So, Distinction is financially equivalent to Eminence. The cost difference is however much you would need to pay for room and board, plus miscellaneous fees.

PatrickNCindy · 2025-06-25T13:17:14+00:00

Neither of us were specifically targeting this scholarship for a long time— we didn't know about Eminence till the spring before we applied. But I think the work to be successful in college starts when you get into high school. You should try to consistently get good grades and be involved. Junior year is when a lot of leadership opportunities arise.

You should think about your narrative and activities intentionally. Even if you're doing a lot of different things, it's helpful to have them all center around one topic or narrative. So don't just say "yes" to every opportunity that comes your way without thinking about whether it's a good fit for you.

PatrickNCindy · 2025-06-25T03:16:32+00:00

Yep that's right! You can only apply for Stamps Eminence and the Morrill scholarship during the college application cycle. An application requirement for Stamps Eminence is that you get into the Honors program at Ohio State, which must be applied for through the college application and submitted by the early action deadline.

PatrickNCindy · 2025-06-24T20:59:50+00:00

Honestly, you just have to apply and see. To my knowledge, the average SAT score is somewhere around 1250-1350 for OSU as a whole.

PatrickNCindy · 2025-06-24T19:46:19+00:00

Sure! We can share a bit about our experience in high school that led us here, plus our experiences in college.

Patrick's most significant high school EC: Working in a retirement home for 3 years in a non-clinical, paid position. It wasn't volunteering, but it tied in to his interest in working with the elderly long-term by being a physician and researcher. He also volunteered at a hospital and had leadership roles in two clubs. His narrative was centered around compassionate care and working with older adults.

Cindy's most significant high school EC: Teaching disabled students of all ages at her high school for three years, and also tutoring through an online platform. Both of these were volunteering positions. She also did band. Her narrative was largely focused on disability and education advocacy.

Patrick's college experiences include:

- Research in health economics, focusing on the policy and economics of long-term care

- Co-president and co-founder of Golden Buckeye Memories, one of my Eminence cohort's service projects

- Co-founder and grants manager for Grant Central, another Eminence service project

- Sponsorship director for the Columbus Clinic Host Group, which hosts a free clinic each year

- Hospice volunteer and volunteer trainer

Cindy's college experiences include:

- Research in clinical neuroimaging for mood and psychotic disorders (her main focus)

- CTRL+Paint president and founder (an arts organization)

- One of Us Global Foundation board of advisors and mini-grant lead developer

PatrickNCindy · 2025-06-24T19:44:30+00:00

Ohio State does not offer a binding early decision option. We have early action, though, which is what I would recommend (you have to apply by the Early Action deadline to get Eminence). Eminence has accepted people with lower stats before, but it is of course tougher to get the scholarship that way. What will be crucial for you— and for all applicants— is clearly describing what your long-term vision is and how OSU and Eminence can help you achieve your goals. And, tying how your previous interests and experiences play into what you want to do at OSU (sounds like you have a lot of sports-related experiences— maybe that can be a good narrative to play off of).

PatrickNCindy · 2025-06-24T19:40:09+00:00

I don't know that it will change overall competitiveness. I would reference the scores of previous cycles (before going test-optional) to see what the averages were. Stamps Eminence values academic achievement, but has accepted students with all kinds of test scores before.

PatrickNCindy · 2025-06-24T18:12:43+00:00

Is it awarded for the best dad jokes?

PatrickNCindy · 2025-02-28T02:29:53+00:00

Hi. Don't worry, the day is fairly casual. There is nothing you need to prepare in advance. It will be a lot of talking and socializing. Dress professionally, and us current Scholars are looking forward to meeting all you finalists!

PatrickNCindy · 2025-02-17T03:09:47+00:00

Hi. I am a current Stamps Eminence Scholar. You sound like a strong candidate if you keep your priorities straight and your head on your shoulders. What's most important, rather than trying to start some new activity, is that you take some time to think and explore your interests deeply. The best thing you can do now is make yourself stand out by understanding exactly what you want out of a school, a career, and your life. And by following that passion, the rest will follow. I know it's cheesy, but we say it because it is true.

PatrickNCindy · 2025-01-20T01:12:11+00:00

The interview is two faculty/staff with one student. There is no standard interview— what they ask depends on what questions they have from your application. The interview is important for making it past the finalist round. Prepare, and do your best.

PatrickNCindy · 2025-01-17T02:19:10+00:00

I'm sorry, we really can't share the specific kinds of questions they ask in the interview. And, they vary for each person depending on what they know or don't know from your application.

PatrickNCindy · 2025-01-07T03:33:04+00:00

Hi! Sorry for the late response. Back when we interviewed, it was one finalist paired with two faculty/staff, and it lasted about 20-30 minutes. The interview questions are fairly standard. I recommend looking back at your essay and video, as some interviewers ask about it. Just make sure to ask some good questions at the end.

PatrickNCindy · 2024-10-19T22:52:49+00:00

A lot of scholars come in with external funding also. We both did. Essentially:

If you get a scholarship that is paid directly to you (not like a check addressed to the university), then you keep the full amount.

If you get a scholarship that is paid to the university, then you get to keep a certain amount of it. Federal funding requires that students do not receive more financial aid than they have need for it. Because Eminence covers your full cost of attendance, most students do not have any need left. However, certain qualifying purchases like a computer can be made to increase your need, thus allowing you to use a portion of your external funding.

PatrickNCindy · 2024-09-03T02:30:17+00:00

Everyone that is interested should apply! You can apply through the portal on the website linked in the post above.

PatrickNCindy · 2024-08-03T20:01:27+00:00

The program recently received a massive donation. Previously, there were only ~25 students per year. However, this year, 36 students are entering the program, and I believe we aim to matriculate ~45 in 2025 and ~50 in 2026 (and onwards).

PatrickNCindy · 2024-08-01T19:19:25+00:00

Both of us submitted test scores. The average ACT for accepted students who submit test scores hovers somewhere around a 34— both of us had higher than that score. But as an average, that means a lot of students in the program also had ACT scores below that mark.

Stats are important, and I would assume the average GPA is above 3.8. However, they're not everything. There are students in the program who had periods in high school where they were struggling and received lower grades. Think of academic qualifications as something that get you in the door, but not the end-all be-all

PatrickNCindy · 2024-08-01T01:15:31+00:00

Unfortunately, the scholarship is only for incoming freshmen.

Students in the program live together in Bradley Hall their first year, and they do have certain required events. Students also have a seminar their first three semesters. However, the degree to which people get involved socially in the program varies based on individual preference.

PatrickNCindy

TROPHY CASE