Merit Aid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP. DD wants to be in the mid-atlantic or midwest. We're in Maryland and think she has a decent shot at College Park. She started taking APs junior year, which allowed her to get over a 4.0, and did well on her AP tests (a 3,4, & 5). But she's more interested in small schools. She's not sure what she wants to study, basically anything except humanities is on the table.

You should check out Denison University in Ohio. It's relatively small @ about 2500 students and in a really cute town in the Midwest, and yet less than 1/2 an hour to Columbus. My son had similar stats and did quite well with merit aid. My DW and I have been very impressed at every step of the way with the administration and the school so far. He is a freshman; they did a great orientation for students and parents in June and a really nice induction (spelling) ceremony in August.

I wish you and your DD good luck on your search.

[Anonymous]

Wow. A 3.8 weighted GPA and a 29 ACT is competitive for UMD? UVA is a reach unless you are above a 4.2 weighted and a 31 ACT, but higher out of NOVA. WM stats are very slightly lower. A would stand no chance at either school without a big hook.

Why are UMD's stats so low? Don't they have bright kids from MoCo, etc trying to get in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know any colleges that are notoriously good with merit aid? DD has a 3.6 unweighted/3.8 weighted and a 29 ACT a decent suburban public. I want to point her to schools that she has a reasonable chance of getting aid. We're okay spending around 40k a year for tuition + room & board, but not 60k+. She's looking for an undergrad student body of less than 5,000 students.

Check out some universities in Florida.

Also many universities in the Carolinas are pining for kids such as yours and might have aid.
High Point? U of South Carolina.
Florida southern college
U central Florida

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. A 3.8 weighted GPA and a 29 ACT is competitive for UMD? UVA is a reach unless you are above a 4.2 weighted and a 31 ACT, but higher out of NOVA. WM stats are very slightly lower. A would stand no chance at either school without a big hook.

Why are UMD's stats so low? Don't they have bright kids from MoCo, etc trying to get in?

30% admit rate at UVA vs. 48% admit rate at Maryland

[Anonymous]

Colleges That Change Liv s schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP. DD wants to be in the mid-atlantic or midwest. We're in Maryland and think she has a decent shot at College Park. She started taking APs junior year, which allowed her to get over a 4.0, and did well on her AP tests (a 3,4, & 5). But she's more interested in small schools. She's not sure what she wants to study, basically anything except humanities is on the table.

You should check out Denison University in Ohio. It's relatively small @ about 2500 students and in a really cute town in the Midwest, and yet less than 1/2 an hour to Columbus. My son had similar stats and did quite well with merit aid. My DW and I have been very impressed at every step of the way with the administration and the school so far. He is a freshman; they did a great orientation for students and parents in June and a really nice induction (spelling) ceremony in August.

I wish you and your DD good luck on your search.

+1 another happy Denison family here.

Consider as well Wooster, Allegheny, Clark, Juniata, Ursinus, U Mary Washington, St. Mary's College of Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP. DD wants to be in the mid-atlantic or midwest. We're in Maryland and think she has a decent shot at College Park. She started taking APs junior year, which allowed her to get over a 4.0, and did well on her AP tests (a 3,4, & 5). But she's more interested in small schools. She's not sure what she wants to study, basically anything except humanities is on the table.

She is not a shoo-in at UMD-CP.

[Anonymous]

The 29 ACT could be a challenge at UMD-CP, but it will depend on her major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The 29 ACT could be a challenge at UMD-CP, but it will depend on her major.

Challenging to get in and no way merit aid.

[Anonymous]

SMCM sounds like a great option for you. It is a terrific place. Check it out while the weathers nice. I doubt you will get the net price at the others down to the same range with merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of possibilities with that ACT. Be more specific about what they want and how much aid you're hunting. Big/Small, North/South, Public/Private, what sort of science? What net cost do you hope to get to? Be aware that merit aid and "prestige" will be inversely related.

Big, diverse, smart kids but not so much privileged kids? She does speak of the place where 'fun goes to die', for instance.

So, mostly a big school that attracts a lot of smart kids (like u of Chicago) has less merit aid? But a small private university in North Dakota or middle Florida might?

Your situation is harder than OP because you have so many more options. She might get some merit money at a number of schools that are relatively automatic. All the way up to possibly being competitive for large competitive awards (full ride) at places like American or even WashU depending on other parts of her application. I really would have a more extended conversation with her counselors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of possibilities with that ACT. Be more specific about what they want and how much aid you're hunting. Big/Small, North/South, Public/Private, what sort of science? What net cost do you hope to get to? Be aware that merit aid and "prestige" will be inversely related.

Big, diverse, smart kids but not so much privileged kids? She does speak of the place where 'fun goes to die', for instance.

So, mostly a big school that attracts a lot of smart kids (like u of Chicago) has less merit aid? But a small private university in North Dakota or middle Florida might?

Your situation is harder than OP because you have so many more options. She might get some merit money at a number of schools that are relatively automatic. All the way up to possibly being competitive for large competitive awards (full ride) at places like American or even WashU depending on other parts of her application. I really would have a more extended conversation with her counselors.

And, for Big/Urban/Strong Science/Diverse with some really smart kids/Not so privileged with a very likely shot at a significant merit award- consider Pitt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of possibilities with that ACT. Be more specific about what they want and how much aid you're hunting. Big/Small, North/South, Public/Private, what sort of science? What net cost do you hope to get to? Be aware that merit aid and "prestige" will be inversely related.

Big, diverse, smart kids but not so much privileged kids? She does speak of the place where 'fun goes to die', for instance.

So, mostly a big school that attracts a lot of smart kids (like u of Chicago) has less merit aid? But a small private university in North Dakota or middle Florida might?

Your situation is harder than OP because you have so many more options. She might get some merit money at a number of schools that are relatively automatic. All the way up to possibly being competitive for large competitive awards (full ride) at places like American or even WashU depending on other parts of her application. I really would have a more extended conversation with her counselors.

And, for Big/Urban/Strong Science/Diverse with some really smart kids/Not so privileged with a very likely shot at a significant merit award- consider Pitt

My 33 ACT/3.6 kid didn't get a dime from Pitt. They apparently hand out their merit in stages, starting at the top. 33 ACT was right on the cusp so we waited through the spring until we knew it wasn't forthcoming. Just FYI.

Pitt is a great value in-state and a reasonable value OOS, but still too high for us at full pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Consider your public options. I don't know your state, but Mary Washington and SMCM might be nice alternatives to the schools that would provide merit at that level.

Both are really great options for a student who wants that smaller community with really good academics.

[Anonymous]

So you are going to get a bunch of one-off responses here. There are a bunch of lists online that will give you more detailed info. Try going to Collegedata.com. Click on the money and finances tab. Scroll to "freshmen no need" and note the percentage. Your DC will need to be in the 75th percentile for test scores to get the most aid. Also check out the financial aid pages on College Confidential, I know there is a list of schools that offer merit there.