Elite 20 College with merit scholarship

[Anonymous]

My niece is a high achiever who wants to attend a hard to get in college like most other applicants. She won’t qualify for need based scholarships and her parents won’t pay because she can get free ride at state school as a national merit finalist. They want to be able to pay for education of her younger sisters and their own retirement. They’ve agreed to pay as much as they would’ve at state school if she wasn’t getting a free ride but that only covers half at private colleges. Which top schools offer scholarships to cover full or half cost of attendance. This is causing severe stress for her and rift in family.

[Anonymous]

MYOB.

[Anonymous]

Rice

[Anonymous]

Your niece is being ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

None of the top schools are handing out money to people like your niece. If you’re not offering to contribute the difference, stay out of it.
- mom of National Merit Scholar

[Anonymous]

They don't. Except for some schools that have 1-2 extremely competitive merit awards for really extraordinary kids.

If she's open to LACs, I think the highest ranked one that does give significant merit aid is Grinnell.

But, really, I'd encourage her to find things to love about the school giving her a full ride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They don't. Except for some schools that have 1-2 extremely competitive merit awards for really extraordinary kids.

If she's open to LACs, I think the highest ranked one that does give significant merit aid is Grinnell.

But, really, I'd encourage her to find things to love about the school giving her a full ride.

Which schools offer the 1-2 extremely competitive merit awards?

[Anonymous]

Does she have to get the money from the university? Corporations offer scholarships to NM finalists

[Anonymous]

Hard to get but: Davidson, UVA, W&L, Emory, USC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They don't. Except for some schools that have 1-2 extremely competitive merit awards for really extraordinary kids.

If she's open to LACs, I think the highest ranked one that does give significant merit aid is Grinnell.

But, really, I'd encourage her to find things to love about the school giving her a full ride.

Which schools offer the 1-2 extremely competitive merit awards?

Duke. I imagine it's extremely difficult to land. The Ivy's are out as are most of the top 20. You might be surprised at how much financial aid you can qualify for at these schools though. Worth a look anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does she have to get the money from the university? Corporations offer scholarships to NM finalists

Only if your parents or grandparents are working for one of the participating corporation, otherwise it’s through participating colleges. National Merit Foundation only gives a token scholarship to only a handful of finalists who qualify as top scholars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MYOB.

What’s MYOB?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rice

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hard to get but: Davidson, UVA, W&L, Emory, USC

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anyones chances are getting in to a top 20 school are very slim. You want her to get in and then get aid that she does not need...