SLACs that offer merit aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dd is going to Wooster next year and got a lot of merit aid. Here are some schools where I know of people getting a lot of merit: Ohio Wesleyan provides automatic merit if you have minimum stats, Susquehanna, Case Western, Duquesne, University of Hartford, Muhlenberg, Chapman University, John Carroll University, Roanoake College. Obviously, there are others - this isn't an exhaustive list. Plus, who knows where your kid will get in and what things will look like in several years. I'm amazed at the rejections/deferrals that some of my dd's classmates are receiving.

Hi fellow (potential) Fighting Scot! My DS just got a $37,000 College Scholar offer from Wooster EA. We’ll have to see how RD falls out in March and if he is admitted to WM, but Wooster is a very real possibility. We were very impressed with the school and he loved it. We may see you in August.

I really wanted my DD to apply to Wooster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dd is going to Wooster next year and got a lot of merit aid. Here are some schools where I know of people getting a lot of merit: Ohio Wesleyan provides automatic merit if you have minimum stats, Susquehanna, Case Western, Duquesne, University of Hartford, Muhlenberg, Chapman University, John Carroll University, Roanoake College. Obviously, there are others - this isn't an exhaustive list. Plus, who knows where your kid will get in and what things will look like in several years. I'm amazed at the rejections/deferrals that some of my dd's classmates are receiving.

Hi fellow (potential) Fighting Scot! My DS just got a $37,000 College Scholar offer from Wooster EA. We’ll have to see how RD falls out in March and if he is admitted to WM, but Wooster is a very real possibility. We were very impressed with the school and he loved it. We may see you in August.

I really wanted my DD to apply to Wooster.

Congrats to your kid! Just out of curiosity, what is the typical Wooster student from this area like? The reason why I couldn't get DD to apply is that she knows no one there. I've read very good things about it, however, and know one grad, a PhD in biology.

[Anonymous]

My kid got a substantial merit aid offer from Wooster but a sizeable offer from Grinnell as well. And since Grinnell is obviously a much better school, she chose Grinnell. In the end it came down to Carleton, which does not offer merit aid, Grinnell, and William & Mary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dd is going to Wooster next year and got a lot of merit aid. Here are some schools where I know of people getting a lot of merit: Ohio Wesleyan provides automatic merit if you have minimum stats, Susquehanna, Case Western, Duquesne, University of Hartford, Muhlenberg, Chapman University, John Carroll University, Roanoake College. Obviously, there are others - this isn't an exhaustive list. Plus, who knows where your kid will get in and what things will look like in several years. I'm amazed at the rejections/deferrals that some of my dd's classmates are receiving.

Hi fellow (potential) Fighting Scot! My DS just got a $37,000 College Scholar offer from Wooster EA. We’ll have to see how RD falls out in March and if he is admitted to WM, but Wooster is a very real possibility. We were very impressed with the school and he loved it. We may see you in August.

I really wanted my DD to apply to Wooster.

Congrats to your kid! Just out of curiosity, what is the typical Wooster student from this area like? The reason why I couldn't get DD to apply is that she knows no one there. I've read very good things about it, however, and know one grad, a PhD in biology.

I’m the PP. My kid is nerdy and introverted. Wants to get a science PhD. Preference for LACs with small class size, good undergrad science research opportunities, good science grad school admissions and a thriving non-major music community. Really wants to find a student body where kids are smart, nice, and down to Earth. High stats kid so Wooster was one of two safeties. Other schools that meet these criteria are Oberlin, Macalester, St. Olaf and maybe Kenyon. Going a bit bigger, Rochester, Case, Pitt (the other safety) and WM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dd is going to Wooster next year and got a lot of merit aid. Here are some schools where I know of people getting a lot of merit: Ohio Wesleyan provides automatic merit if you have minimum stats, Susquehanna, Case Western, Duquesne, University of Hartford, Muhlenberg, Chapman University, John Carroll University, Roanoake College. Obviously, there are others - this isn't an exhaustive list. Plus, who knows where your kid will get in and what things will look like in several years. I'm amazed at the rejections/deferrals that some of my dd's classmates are receiving.

Hi fellow (potential) Fighting Scot! My DS just got a $37,000 College Scholar offer from Wooster EA. We’ll have to see how RD falls out in March and if he is admitted to WM, but Wooster is a very real possibility. We were very impressed with the school and he loved it. We may see you in August.

I really wanted my DD to apply to Wooster.

Congrats to your kid! Just out of curiosity, what is the typical Wooster student from this area like? The reason why I couldn't get DD to apply is that she knows no one there. I've read very good things about it, however, and know one grad, a PhD in biology.

I’m the PP. My kid is nerdy and introverted. Wants to get a science PhD. Preference for LACs with small class size, good undergrad science research opportunities, good science grad school admissions and a thriving non-major music community. Really wants to find a student body where kids are smart, nice, and down to Earth. High stats kid so Wooster was one of two safeties. Other schools that meet these criteria are Oberlin, Macalester, St. Olaf and maybe Kenyon. Going a bit bigger, Rochester, Case, Pitt (the other safety) and WM.

I think that your kid sounds great! Best wishes!

[Anonymous]

What is the area around CoW like? Are there things to do? I got turned off by CWRU’s crime reports so that’s off the list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dd is going to Wooster next year and got a lot of merit aid. Here are some schools where I know of people getting a lot of merit: Ohio Wesleyan provides automatic merit if you have minimum stats, Susquehanna, Case Western, Duquesne, University of Hartford, Muhlenberg, Chapman University, John Carroll University, Roanoake College. Obviously, there are others - this isn't an exhaustive list. Plus, who knows where your kid will get in and what things will look like in several years. I'm amazed at the rejections/deferrals that some of my dd's classmates are receiving.

Hi fellow (potential) Fighting Scot! My DS just got a $37,000 College Scholar offer from Wooster EA. We’ll have to see how RD falls out in March and if he is admitted to WM, but Wooster is a very real possibility. We were very impressed with the school and he loved it. We may see you in August.

I really wanted my DD to apply to Wooster.

Congrats to your kid! Just out of curiosity, what is the typical Wooster student from this area like? The reason why I couldn't get DD to apply is that she knows no one there. I've read very good things about it, however, and know one grad, a PhD in biology.

I’m the PP. My kid is nerdy and introverted. Wants to get a science PhD. Preference for LACs with small class size, good undergrad science research opportunities, good science grad school admissions and a thriving non-major music community. Really wants to find a student body where kids are smart, nice, and down to Earth. High stats kid so Wooster was one of two safeties. Other schools that meet these criteria are Oberlin, Macalester, St. Olaf and maybe Kenyon. Going a bit bigger, Rochester, Case, Pitt (the other safety) and WM.

I think that your kid sounds great! Best wishes!

Thank you! Since he’s a senior I’m caught between being so proud and wanting to throttle him as he does the separation from the family thing. And crying when I’m alone because it will suck to have him gone and I will miss him like crazy. Best of luck to your kid(s) too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the area around CoW like? Are there things to do? I got turned off by CWRU’s crime reports so that’s off the list.

A decent-sized town but it’s a little scruffy. Major employer (Rubbermaid) left within the last decade and it shows. Nice to have but not a great town. I’m a fan f CoW though. Everyone there seems to love the place almost fanatically.

[Anonymous]

I went to Wooster in the later 80s. It was pretty scruffy back then too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in 7th grade, so admittedly I'm thinking ahead here, trying to get a sense of what the financial picture will be for college in 5 years.

We have a HHI of about $130k and hope to have about $200k saved for college by the time she heads off. Beyond that, we have enough investments so that I don't think we will be eligible for any need-based aid. I'm expecting to be able to cover in-state tuition (MD), but I'm wondering if SLACs like Oberlin, Haverford, Swarthmore offer any merit aid -- or maybe they don't have to because there are so many smart kids who are willing and able to pay full price?

7th grade and you're talking about merit aid at the top liberal arts colleges in the country??? I've seen everything. Parents in this area are certifiably nuts.

Op here. I'm trying to understand the financial landscape for folks in our shoes. I have no idea if my kid could get into these schools or be eligible for merit aid, but as I said, we're not likely to qualify for need bases aid and she's no athlete, so that's where things stand. I'd rather ask the questions early than deal with painful sticker shock later on.

You may not need merit aid. Davidson and Amherst and many other top LACs offer need based aid that is equivalent or similar to the type of need based aid that the Ivies offer. You need to spend some time with the schools' net price calculators to find schools that will work for your family.

[Anonymous]

Ursinus offers significant merit aid. Nice campus, close enough to a major city (Philadelphia).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dd is going to Wooster next year and got a lot of merit aid. Here are some schools where I know of people getting a lot of merit: Ohio Wesleyan provides automatic merit if you have minimum stats, Susquehanna, Case Western, Duquesne, University of Hartford, Muhlenberg, Chapman University, John Carroll University, Roanoake College. Obviously, there are others - this isn't an exhaustive list. Plus, who knows where your kid will get in and what things will look like in several years. I'm amazed at the rejections/deferrals that some of my dd's classmates are receiving.

Hi fellow (potential) Fighting Scot! My DS just got a $37,000 College Scholar offer from Wooster EA. We’ll have to see how RD falls out in March and if he is admitted to WM, but Wooster is a very real possibility. We were very impressed with the school and he loved it. We may see you in August.

I really wanted my DD to apply to Wooster.

Congrats to your kid! Just out of curiosity, what is the typical Wooster student from this area like? The reason why I couldn't get DD to apply is that she knows no one there. I've read very good things about it, however, and know one grad, a PhD in biology.

I’m the PP. My kid is nerdy and introverted. Wants to get a science PhD. Preference for LACs with small class size, good undergrad science research opportunities, good science grad school admissions and a thriving non-major music community. Really wants to find a student body where kids are smart, nice, and down to Earth. High stats kid so Wooster was one of two safeties. Other schools that meet these criteria are Oberlin, Macalester, St. Olaf and maybe Kenyon. Going a bit bigger, Rochester, Case, Pitt (the other safety) and WM.

Hi PP - I have a DC currently applying for research science PhD programs. Perhaps you've already looked into this, but make sure that graduates of the LACs you're looking at are getting into top-quality grad programs from your DC's chosen field. My DC ended up working in a lab with a highly-respected scientist so he's getting a lot of attention from various PhD programs, while his friends who also did research at other colleges are having a tougher time. Just FYI. Congrats on the scholarship - that's got to ease the pressure a bit on your kid during this stressful time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SLACs are changing enough so that when your 7th grade daughter is applying to colleges, current info will likely be out of date. My guess is some need-based aid only schools will start offering merit to attract students

+1. This. The aid landscape is shifting. But, for my kid this year, merit only, no application for need based aid) this is what is possible (not at all saying my kid will be offered this)

Davidson up to full tuition (but that’s very, very tough)

Max for other schools:

St. Olaf (1/2 tuition)
Wooster ($40,000)
Juanita (same range as Wooster)
Oberlin (about $30,000– they don’t publish clear numbers)
Kenyon, Grinnell and Macalester ($25,000)

Carleton, Reed and the NEASC schools do nothing, except maybe $2000 for NMSF. So, Amherst, Williams, Bowdoin, Bates, Colgate, Hamilton, Swathmore, Haverford, etc all zilch.

St. John’s does good merit and cut tuition to $35,000– but it has a very specific program.

Sewanee and Denison are supposed to do good merit aid, but my kid wasn’t interested.

I have a boy, but I believe Smith does merit aid. Next up for me is a girl, so would be interested to know if any of the women’s colleges do merit— Mt. Holyoke, Wellesley, Barnard, etc.

If you look at the common data set, it breaks out the number of kids who get merit aid, and the average amount per kid. That’s the best place to get real data.

Also, look at small universities. Rochester and Case Western both do good merit aid.

Fantastic post, PP--thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dd is going to Wooster next year and got a lot of merit aid. Here are some schools where I know of people getting a lot of merit: Ohio Wesleyan provides automatic merit if you have minimum stats, Susquehanna, Case Western, Duquesne, University of Hartford, Muhlenberg, Chapman University, John Carroll University, Roanoake College. Obviously, there are others - this isn't an exhaustive list. Plus, who knows where your kid will get in and what things will look like in several years. I'm amazed at the rejections/deferrals that some of my dd's classmates are receiving.

Hi fellow (potential) Fighting Scot! My DS just got a $37,000 College Scholar offer from Wooster EA. We’ll have to see how RD falls out in March and if he is admitted to WM, but Wooster is a very real possibility. We were very impressed with the school and he loved it. We may see you in August.

I really wanted my DD to apply to Wooster.

Congrats to your kid! Just out of curiosity, what is the typical Wooster student from this area like? The reason why I couldn't get DD to apply is that she knows no one there. I've read very good things about it, however, and know one grad, a PhD in biology.

I’m the PP. My kid is nerdy and introverted. Wants to get a science PhD. Preference for LACs with small class size, good undergrad science research opportunities, good science grad school admissions and a thriving non-major music community. Really wants to find a student body where kids are smart, nice, and down to Earth. High stats kid so Wooster was one of two safeties. Other schools that meet these criteria are Oberlin, Macalester, St. Olaf and maybe Kenyon. Going a bit bigger, Rochester, Case, Pitt (the other safety) and WM.

Hi PP - I have a DC currently applying for research science PhD programs. Perhaps you've already looked into this, but make sure that graduates of the LACs you're looking at are getting into top-quality grad programs from your DC's chosen field. My DC ended up working in a lab with a highly-respected scientist so he's getting a lot of attention from various PhD programs, while his friends who also did research at other colleges are having a tougher time. Just FYI. Congrats on the scholarship - that's got to ease the pressure a bit on your kid during this stressful time.

Oh yes. While your kid interviews, you can ask admissions staff for all placements from Department X over the last 5 or 7 years and see exactly where grads are ending up. If they don’t have it, they can get it for you. it embarrasses my kid. Which is why I ask while he interviews.

[Anonymous]

More and more colleges are offering merit scholarships. This enables them to secretly price tuition the way airlines price airfares. They give some merit aid to students who do not qualify for need based aid but still might be drawn to a college that's 25 or 50 percent cheaper than the competition.

Many colleges in the book Colleges that Change Lives" do this and have done it for years. More colleges are doing it every year.