MONROE — She’s received college scholarship offers worth close to a million dollars, and there are likely to be more.
Chloe Cook, a senior at Monroe High School, applied to 17 private colleges and universities. So far, nine schools have responded, each offering her merit scholarships that range from $76,000 to $112,000.
Chloe, 17, was counting on narrowing her college choices depending on which schools offered her money. But with so many offers, that choice will be harder than she expected.
Chloe’s mother, Cindy Cook, of Maltby, said a scholarship can make a private institution as affordable as a public university. “That’s the dirty little secret,” Cindy Cook said.
But even with a scholarship, Chloe expects to pay for about half of the cost of her education out of pocket. The cost of her chosen private universities start at $45,000 a year, so she’s counting on money from family and a job on campus to pay the difference. She hopes she won’t have to take out student loans. Her father, Paul Cook, is a financial adviser.
And after this experience, making college more affordable for everyone is one of Chloe’s career goals.
Chloe has been volunteering at Frank Wagner Elementary School for the past three years. She spends afternoons helping in third-grade classrooms. She reads with students and helps them with homework and art projects.
Chloe had wanted to become a teacher. But after volunteering, she has decided she would like to reform the whole public school system. She plans to study political science.
“I want to do it for the kids in those classrooms,” Chloe said. “Not everyone has someone at home to help them, so I want to be that person.”
She’d like to see changes in standardized testing. At Frank Wagner, she saw native Spanish speakers struggle with taking tests in English.
“Chloe has integrity,” said Lisa Woodard, a counselor at Monroe High. “She takes a stand on issues that aren’t always popular. That’s going to take her far.”
Chloe has also worked to increase student interest in higher education. She spent her summer vacation collecting pennants, posters and paraphernalia from universities around the country and put some 250 of those items up around her high school.
“I did it because I wanted to,” Chloe said. “But it turned out that a lot of the schools I applied to thought it was great.”
After she took the PSAT during her sophomore year, Chloe started receiving emails from universities that encouraged her to apply.
Joshua Allen was the teacher who helped Chloe write her college essay.
When he met her during her freshman year, Chloe knew exactly where she was going — unlike most ninth-grade students. Allen credits the unusual amount of money she’s earned in scholarships to her drive.
“She is very clear about wanting to make a difference,” he said.
Furman University in South Carolina is Chloe’s top choice, but she hasn’t received a scholarship to that school yet. She’s toured more than a dozen colleges across the country and is planning to see at least 10 more before making a decision.
“I want to make the right choice the first time,” she said.
After tagging along during several of those college visits, Chloe’s brother, Jackson, 12, has his sights set on Tulane University in New Orleans. That’s if he doesn’t study robotics at Santa Clara University in California.
With her 4.0 grade-point average, Chloe is in the running to be the class valedictorian at Monroe High. She scored 1900 on the SAT. She’s also involved in the National Honor Society and is on the varsity swim team.
For fun, Chloe enjoys reading fantasy fiction and teen romance novels. She bags groceries at Safeway.
Monroe High School Principal John Lombardi said Chloe’s commitment to her community and her school sets her apart from other students.
Lombardi says Chloe personifies his view of high-achieving students.
“They don’t deserve the honor — they’ve earned it,” Lombardi said. “She’s earned all of this.”
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @AmyNileReports.
Chloe Cook’s scholarship offers
Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio: $112,000
College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio: $96,000
California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California: $96,000
Willamette University, Salem, Oregon: $92,000
University of Redlands, Redlands, California: $88,000
Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana: $80,000
Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio: $80,000
Salve Regina University, Newport, Rhode Island: $80,000
Eckerd College, Petersburg, Florida: $76,000
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