Selective schools with decent merit

[Anonymous]

Can you help a junior parent out?

Looking for selective colleges that offer merit.

High stats student who has a great safety that is also a financial safety. They'll know about admissions to this one early. So it's likely much of the rest of the list will be reaches -- I'm just trying to add some reaches that also have merit. We won't receive any financial aid.

So far I have Duke, Vandy, Emory, BU, Wash U, Case Western, Grinnell, Mac, Kenyon, Oberlin, USC.

Keeping it wide right now. Not a VA res.

[Anonymous]

If Duke is a reach, Duke with merit isn’t happening. The same goes for the rest of your list

[Anonymous]

Denison

[Anonymous]

OP, depending on your DC's stats, CWRU, Grinnell, Kenyon, Mac, and Oberlin are possibilities. The remainder seem a stretch, especially Duke and Vandy.

[Anonymous]

A stretch based on what? Duke is a reaches for every single kid. To say otherwise is crazy.

[Anonymous]

I think OP is saying schools that are a reach for even high stats kids just because the odds are so low. OP, is that right? I think some PPs are interpreting reach in its traditional sense, which means your kid's stats are low for the school, which I agree, makes no sense coupled with hopes for merit.

[Anonymous]

DS is going to his safety/target, George Washington, who offered him 20K in merit aid. It's still about 65K, and you probably wouldn't consider it selective. But then again, reaches won't feel the need to entice your kid.

[Anonymous]

W&L, Richmond

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think OP is saying schools that are a reach for even high stats kids just because the odds are so low. OP, is that right? I think some PPs are interpreting reach in its traditional sense, which means your kid's stats are low for the school, which I agree, makes no sense coupled with hopes for merit.

Same thing - merit won't be forthcoming.

[Anonymous]

Connecticut College, an underrated NESCAC school with excellent academics, can be very generous to top students. They've had some controversies lately, but I think they are handling them well. Clark University is quite generous as well, and also has a kind, caring culture.

[Anonymous]

I know high-stats HS students who are now at Macalester and Oberlin with merit aid. I think their parents certainly see it as helpful -- anything helps! -- but it isn't enough to make a huge dent in tuition. It might be good to keep expectations modest, depending on your kid's qualifications. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think OP is saying schools that are a reach for even high stats kids just because the odds are so low. OP, is that right? I think some PPs are interpreting reach in its traditional sense, which means your kid's stats are low for the school, which I agree, makes no sense coupled with hopes for merit.

I'm OP and this is correct. From HS that sends a lot of kids to top colleges, looking in the mix for reach schools on (outdated) Naviance based on scores and GPA (already has a 36 ACT, won't do more). Top 3 (sometimes first) in nationally ranked but not usually recruited EC. But it's all a reach these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think OP is saying schools that are a reach for even high stats kids just because the odds are so low. OP, is that right? I think some PPs are interpreting reach in its traditional sense, which means your kid's stats are low for the school, which I agree, makes no sense coupled with hopes for merit.

Same thing - merit won't be forthcoming.

God has entered the chat. Or the person who thinks they know all anyway. (why post at all?)

[Anonymous]

DS, Virginia resident, received merit offers this admissions cycle from BU, CWRU, Lehigh, Ohio St., UMN and UMD. No merit, but admitted to WM and Pitt. CS major. No hooks.

[Anonymous]

Davidson, W&L