Merit based scholarships in top 25 schools

[Anonymous]

I understand that many top 25 schools may not provide merit based since that is most of the students on campus or applicants. Still wanted to find out which of those schools provide merit based scholarships and typically how much aid? Do they bring down the tuition to match VA in-state tuition to attract students?

[Anonymous]

Duke, Vanderbilt, Rice, USC and U Chicago give some merit scholarships, some of which cover half to full tuition.

However, getting these scholarships is much more difficult than getting admitted to any of these T20 schools. However, all T20 and top SLAC are very generous with financial aid, specially for families with income lower than $200K.

[Anonymous]

Most students who get these scholarships are ones who get admitted to Ivies and other T20s as well and merit offers are used to lure such students.

[Anonymous]

OP - I dont think (?) you understand that top schools dont offer merit because they dont have to. you need to drop to T50 to start sparking interest

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most students who get these scholarships are ones who get admitted to Ivies and other T20s as well and merit offers are used to lure such students.

So you can take offer from Ivy and negotiate for scholarship in other T20 schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - I dont think (?) you understand that top schools dont offer merit because they dont have to. you need to drop to T50 to start sparking interest

+1. neither of my kids got any merit from GMU and UVA which are already discounted for In-state

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duke, Vanderbilt, Rice, USC and U Chicago give some merit scholarships, some of which cover half to full tuition.

However, getting these scholarships is much more difficult than getting admitted to any of these T20 schools. However, all T20 and top SLAC are very generous with financial aid, specially for families with income lower than $200K.

And Emory and WashU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most students who get these scholarships are ones who get admitted to Ivies and other T20s as well and merit offers are used to lure such students.

So you can take offer from Ivy and negotiate for scholarship in other T20 schools?

Very rarely as they already know at admission whom to give merit, often ones who are more likely to be leaders or contribute to campus in different ways like research, clubs, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most students who get these scholarships are ones who get admitted to Ivies and other T20s as well and merit offers are used to lure such students.

It’s all the same applicant pool. Virtually everyone who applies to Duke or Chicago through RD is also applying to and perhaps will be admitted to other top 20 schools. So limited merit aid from UChicago and Duke etc., is sometimes offered to students admitted through RD to sway their decisions. A student who needs/wants merit aid from a top 20 school should plan on getting in through RD, not early decision. Not gonna get a merit aid offer if you do ED.

[Anonymous]

Top colleges know that affording their exuberant cost isn't an issue for wealthy or poor, parents or aid covers it. Its only an issue for upper middle class families and these colleges don't really care to help them out, they want these families to take loans or sell assets to cover the cost. For one who can't, there are 20 in line who would or seat would go to a donor's child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most students who get these scholarships are ones who get admitted to Ivies and other T20s as well and merit offers are used to lure such students.

It’s all the same applicant pool. Virtually everyone who applies to Duke or Chicago through RD is also applying to and perhaps will be admitted to other top 20 schools. So limited merit aid from UChicago and Duke etc., is sometimes offered to students admitted through RD to sway their decisions. A student who needs/wants merit aid from a top 20 school should plan on getting in through RD, not early decision. Not gonna get a merit aid offer if you do ED.

Not necessarily but yes more merit scholarships go to RD.

[Anonymous]

If your top student is full pay, it makes complete sense to show high interest to T20 with merit, even send emails stating your high interest but preference for merit to make it affordable so they know they can sway you with money.

[Anonymous]

If your student is national merit scholar, name targeted T20 as your first choice so they get notified and know that you'll get merit money from many schools.

Obviously odds are low as there aren't that many merit scholarships but totally worth trying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Top colleges know that affording their exuberant cost isn't an issue for wealthy or poor, parents or aid covers it. Its only an issue for upper middle class families and these colleges don't really care to help them out, they want these families to take loans or sell assets to cover the cost. For one who can't, there are 20 in line who would or seat would go to a donor's child.

Umc can save and pay. You act like they are living in poverty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most students who get these scholarships are ones who get admitted to Ivies and other T20s as well and merit offers are used to lure such students.

Agree with this. The kid we know who got full tuition merit from Vanderbilt this year also got into Ivy league schools and received Banneker-Key from UMD.