Merit Aid

[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.

Yeah, but Wash U seems like a refuge for rich kids who don't make it to the Ivies? They're fine kids, it's who she is going to school with now, but I think she wants a different atmosphere. Apparently she might get a great deal at Notre Dame but that's not her crowd.
Back to the counselor, yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check Davidson

Stats aren't competetive to even get accepted, let along get merit aid.

Any tips for 3.9 goals on upward curve and 35 ACT for merit aid?
Kid has worked and volunteered too.

Pitt for sure. Aplly now. They are first come first served in terms of merit aid.

[Anonymous]

Rhodes
Sewanee
Denison
UVM

[Anonymous]

My kid got a half tuition scholarship from Lawrence in Wisconsin, so net cost is about $35K. She loves it there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rhodes
Sewanee
Denison
UVM

Does UVM give merit aid to OOS? I was looking at it for my son (lower GPA than anyone else has mentioned here, 30 ACT).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check Davidson

Stats aren't competetive to even get accepted, let along get merit aid.

Any tips for 3.9 goals on upward curve and 35 ACT for merit aid?
Kid has worked and volunteered too.

Pitt for sure. Aplly now. They are first come first served in terms of merit aid.

+1
My DC already applied to Pitt and was accepted. It is DC's safety school. Merit aid is given first come, first served at Pitt. If you wait too long to apply the funds are depleted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rhodes
Sewanee
Denison
UVM

Does UVM give merit aid to OOS? I was looking at it for my son (lower GPA than anyone else has mentioned here, 30 ACT).

They do. You should be able to get a quarter off with 30 act.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1. OP, My DD had similar scores as yours but higher GPA. We were looking for a school where the total cost of attendance would be around $30 or less. She applied to many of the Colleges That Change Lives type schools such as Juniata and Muhlenberg and was offered lots of merit aid which brought the COA down to around $30-35K in most cases but still more than we wanted to spend. The net price at SMCM was significantly lower as an in state student with some merit aid. Not sure what state you're in but I think SMCM offers good merit aid for out of state students as well which would make the COA competitive with other SLACs.

Other MD state schools that gave her merit aid to bring total COA to around $20K included UMBC and Salisbury. She did seriously consider UMBC but ultimately decided she wanted a smaller school so she ended up at SMCM and loves it there. Good luck in your search. I think you'll find lots of options, especially if you are willing to spend in the $40K range like you mentioned.

[Anonymous]

http://miamioh.edu/admission/merit-grid/

She would qualify for $11K/year, bringing cost of attendance to $35K ish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://miamioh.edu/admission/merit-grid/

She would qualify for $11K/year, bringing cost of attendance to $35K ish.

But OP said they wanted <5000 students. Not sure why people want to jump in with suggestions if they don't even read the question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://miamioh.edu/admission/merit-grid/

She would qualify for $11K/year, bringing cost of attendance to $35K ish.

But OP said they wanted <5000 students. Not sure why people want to jump in with suggestions if they don't even read the question.

UVM - 10K
Pitt - 19K
South Carolina - 34K
UCF - 56K

MOST of the suggestions on this thread aren't <5K

[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.

Yeah, but Wash U seems like a refuge for rich kids who don't make it to the Ivies? They're fine kids, it's who she is going to school with now, but I think she wants a different atmosphere. Apparently she might get a great deal at Notre Dame but that's not her crowd.
Back to the counselor, yes.

I don't know if this is true, but I do know that it is a great choice for "donut hole" families who cannot pay Ivy League or similar tuition, but whose DC is qualified to be admitted.

Given that, WashU seems like a logical choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15K is pretty standard for good grades/good ACT

it's called "token merit" aid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://miamioh.edu/admission/merit-grid/

She would qualify for $11K/year, bringing cost of attendance to $35K ish.

But OP said they wanted <5000 students. Not sure why people want to jump in with suggestions if they don't even read the question.

UVM - 10K
Pitt - 19K
South Carolina - 34K
UCF - 56K

MOST of the suggestions on this thread aren't <5K

OP will soon learn that chasing merit requires adjustment of expectations. And that includes school size.

[Anonymous]

Miami of OH looks private even though it is public and gives good merit aid. Not sure what scores are needed. A lot of kids from this area go there