🍦 Today's Scoops: College collusion?! (Oct 18)

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. Link Lounge Refresh

2. School of the Day: IU Bloomington

3. Friday News Focus: Tuition inflation collusion

LINK LOUNGE REFRESH
New Resources & Scholarships!

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we will be updating the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships and tools during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

(NEW) Sprig by HackClub - Code a video game (in JavaScript) for a free console!

(NEW) CaliforniaColleges.edu - California’s official college and career planning platform with lessons to prepare parents and students for life after high school

Polygence - Get ahead on the competitive road to college with passion-fueled research opportunities

Cyber Patriot - Cyber education program and competition for high schoolers.

INFO ZONE
Upcoming Visits and Info Sessions

Why Princeton? Virtual Open House - Monday, October 21, 2024 at 4:00 PM until 5:30 PM (Pacific)

MIT Online Information Session - Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM (Pacific)

Leadership at Cornell Engineering - Monday, October 21, 2024 at 5:00 PM until 6:00 PM (Pacific)

Stanford University Virtual Visit - Thursday, October 24, 2024 at 3:30 PM until 5:30 PM

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
IU Bloomington

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: Bloomington, IN
🎓 Student Body: 36,833
📊 Acceptance Rate: 80%
💸 Tuition: $11,790 (in-state), $40,480(out-of-state)
📅 Admission Options: Early Action (November 1), Regular Decision (February 1)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Business (#9), Psychology (#23), Economics (#51) (US News)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Business (33%), Biological and Biomedical Sciences (9%), Communication (7%) (US News)

Some Positives

💼 Kelley School of Business Direct Admit – One of the best perks of IU is its Kelley School of Business direct admission program. If you meet the criteria, you can secure a spot in one of the top-ranked business schools right away, no secondary application needed. Learn more about Kelley Direct Admit here.

🌳 Beautiful Campus – IU’s campus is often listed among the most beautiful in the U.S. From Dunn’s Woods to Showalter Fountain, it’s full of scenic spots that create a perfect backdrop for your studies. Check out some photos of the IU Bloomington campus.

🎭 Strong Arts Programs – IU is home to the Jacobs School of Music, one of the best music schools in the country, and has top-tier programs in theater, art, and design. The arts scene here is active, so if you’re into performance or visual arts, IU has a lot to offer. Explore Jacobs School of Music.

📈 Affordable In-State Tuition – For Indiana residents, IU offers a high-quality education at a great price, making it an affordable choice with plenty of bang for your buck. See the cost breakdown here.

🎉 Big Ten Spirit – As part of the Big Ten Conference, IU has a strong athletics program and tons of school spirit. From basketball games at Assembly Hall to football at Memorial Stadium, you’ll never be bored. Get to know IU athletics here.

Some Negatives

🏙️ Small Town Location – While Bloomington is a lively college town, it’s relatively small and can feel isolated if you’re used to city life. Learn about life in Bloomington.

🌧️ Weather – Like much of the Midwest, Bloomington has chilly winters and unpredictable weather. Be prepared for everything from snow to heatwaves!

🚶 Large Campus – IU’s campus is big, and while that’s great for amenities, it can mean long walks between classes. If you prefer a more compact campus, this might be something to consider. Campus map here.

FRIDAY NEWS FOCUS
Tuition inflation collusion

A new lawsuit is making waves, accusing 40 top universities—along with the College Board—of conspiring to hike tuition for students by limiting financial aid. The suit, filed by a Boston University student and a Cornell alum, alleges these institutions agreed to require financial information from noncustodial parents (like those in divorced or estranged families) when determining aid packages, even if those parents weren’t contributing financially. This move reportedly made tuition higher and financial aid less generous for certain students.

At the heart of the complaint is the claim that these schools “artificially” raised tuition by reducing competition. Without this agreement, the plaintiffs argue, schools would have competed more aggressively to offer better financial aid to top students. It’s the second major antitrust lawsuit targeting elite colleges after a similar case in 2022 led to a $248 million settlement from 10 institutions.

This new lawsuit could have significant implications, particularly for children of divorced parents, who often get hit with higher tuition calculations. The schools involved deny any wrongdoing, with NYU calling the suit “meritless” and the College Board standing firm, saying it will “prevail” in court.

💡 Why It Matters: If the lawsuit succeeds, it could force colleges to rethink how they handle financial aid, making the process more transparent and possibly reducing the financial burden for families. With college costs already skyrocketing, the stakes in this case are high and could reshape how institutions approach aid and tuition. Realistically, change is not expected until years down the line, but keep an eye out—this case could affect financial aid policies across the board!

Read the full story (5-minute read)

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
UT and UNC materials due by Oct 23!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

University of Texas/UNC Chapel Hill Materials Deadline: October 23
Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: November 1

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
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