Do I nudge DS towards safe school and better chance of Merit Aid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi All,

We have a Junior and he's our oldest, so we're learning our way through the college process. We met with a college advisor, and she suggested a few safe, target, and reach schools to consider. We are a Fed family and so finances are a concern. DS isn't interested in large schools like VA Tech, Pitt, Michigan, etc, and instead wants the smaller schools. The advisor suggested that merit aid is unlikely for any target or reach school, but that DS could likely receive merit aid for his supposed safety schools, based on his ACT 33 score and 4.6 GPA. She suggested Richmond and Case Western (and UMD, which even though it's large, she said it has a place for everyone and he has the grades and score to likely get in).

I'm torn about how strongly to nudge DS towards a school where he'll have a better chance to get aid (which seems to mean going to a less highly vaulted school), or that's more reasonably priced. I'm curious how other parents navigate these discussions and decisions. Thank you.

Your DS stats are better than Case and Richmond. I think Emory and Brown are similar schools but more prestigious.

That's the point. The very point is to be at the top of the range for the school in question, in order to get maximum merit scholarship money.

https://case.edu/admission/academics/facts-figures

The 75th percentile for the ACT composite at Case is 34. OP's DC's score is 33. Therefore he is positioned for merit scholarship money, but not necessarily the maximum award.

FWIW, Case gave my DC $30K/year merit scholarship money. DC's stats were 1600 SAT, 4.8 weighted GPA from the Blair math/science magnet. Some of DC's friends with similar stats were rejected outright.

FYI, Case weighs demonstrated interest heavily, I assume.

Case rejected applicants with close to 1600 SAT? That sounds weird. You would think they would be enthusiastic about applicants from a science Magnet

That's the whole point about demonstrated interest. Case wants to rise in rankings, they care a lot about yield. If the magnet kid with a 1600 didn't bother to visit, attend info sessions, respond to emails, spend time on their website, they know he'll get into better schools and turn them down. So, they don't waste an admit on that student. You need to show the love to your safeties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi All,

We have a Junior and he's our oldest, so we're learning our way through the college process. We met with a college advisor, and she suggested a few safe, target, and reach schools to consider. We are a Fed family and so finances are a concern. DS isn't interested in large schools like VA Tech, Pitt, Michigan, etc, and instead wants the smaller schools. The advisor suggested that merit aid is unlikely for any target or reach school, but that DS could likely receive merit aid for his supposed safety schools, based on his ACT 33 score and 4.6 GPA. She suggested Richmond and Case Western (and UMD, which even though it's large, she said it has a place for everyone and he has the grades and score to likely get in).

I'm torn about how strongly to nudge DS towards a school where he'll have a better chance to get aid (which seems to mean going to a less highly vaulted school), or that's more reasonably priced. I'm curious how other parents navigate these discussions and decisions. Thank you.

Your DS stats are better than Case and Richmond. I think Emory and Brown are similar schools but more prestigious.

That's the point. The very point is to be at the top of the range for the school in question, in order to get maximum merit scholarship money.

https://case.edu/admission/academics/facts-figures

The 75th percentile for the ACT composite at Case is 34. OP's DC's score is 33. Therefore he is positioned for merit scholarship money, but not necessarily the maximum award.

FWIW, Case gave my DC $30K/year merit scholarship money. DC's stats were 1600 SAT, 4.8 weighted GPA from the Blair math/science magnet. Some of DC's friends with similar stats were rejected outright.

FYI, Case weighs demonstrated interest heavily, I assume.

Case rejected applicants with close to 1600 SAT? That sounds weird. You would think they would be enthusiastic about applicants from a science Magnet

That's the whole point about demonstrated interest. Case wants to rise in rankings, they care a lot about yield. If the magnet kid with a 1600 didn't bother to visit, attend info sessions, respond to emails, spend time on their website, they know he'll get into better schools and turn them down. So, they don't waste an admit on that student. You need to show the love to your safeties.

Yield is not part of the USN calculation. Nor is acceptance rate (although you did not claim that one was, just to be clear).

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings

[Anonymous]

Many many privates offer generous merit aid.

I don't know why everyone on this board seems to think in-state publics are the only affordable option.

Not top tier, but great schools. Do you homework (right on this website).

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

You don't nudge. You have a frank convo.

We said "you can go to any on your list, but if you attend one of the less expensive options, we will have more financial freedom if you want to go abroad or need an extra semester if you decide to switch majors or things don't go as planned."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't nudge. You have a frank convo.

We said "you can go to any on your list, but if you attend one of the less expensive options, we will have more financial freedom if you want to go abroad or need an extra semester if you decide to switch majors or things don't go as planned."

This. Ours was equally frank but possibly more disappointing for DC: "You will not be able to attend wonderful reach colleges x, y, and z, even if you get in. Those colleges only award financial aid, and you won't qualify for enough to make them affordable for us. It is a waste of time and money to apply. Let's find some alternatives that offer merit aid to students with stats like yours."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't nudge. You have a frank convo.

We said "you can go to any on your list, but if you attend one of the less expensive options, we will have more financial freedom if you want to go abroad or need an extra semester if you decide to switch majors or things don't go as planned."

This. Ours was equally frank but possibly more disappointing for DC: "You will not be able to attend wonderful reach colleges x, y, and z, even if you get in. Those colleges only award financial aid, and you won't qualify for enough to make them affordable for us. It is a waste of time and money to apply. Let's find some alternatives that offer merit aid to students with stats like yours."

+1

I hated seeing this to my high-performing DC, but it was a necessary message.

[Anonymous]

^^^ *saying

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Case western is very expensive and even with aid not worth it.

My kids applied a lot of schools. For safety with good grades and GPAs. JMU and Binghamton give in state tuition to out of state students. Loyola MD will toss out 25-30k off.

Case is indeed expensive, but with my kid’s $30,000 scholarship, the net price is in the high 30s. I think that’s pretty reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't nudge. You have a frank convo.

We said "you can go to any on your list, but if you attend one of the less expensive options, we will have more financial freedom if you want to go abroad or need an extra semester if you decide to switch majors or things don't go as planned."

This. Ours was equally frank but possibly more disappointing for DC: "You will not be able to attend wonderful reach colleges x, y, and z, even if you get in. Those colleges only award financial aid, and you won't qualify for enough to make them affordable for us. It is a waste of time and money to apply. Let's find some alternatives that offer merit aid to students with stats like yours."

+1

I hated seeing this to my high-performing DC, but it was a necessary message.

So much better than what happened to a friend of mine when I was in school. "apply where you want, honey" followed by "surprise! rutgers is where you are going!" there's nothing wrong with Rutgers, but what a disappointment to my friend to have gone through a pointless effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Case western is very expensive and even with aid not worth it.

My kids applied a lot of schools. For safety with good grades and GPAs. JMU and Binghamton give in state tuition to out of state students. Loyola MD will toss out 25-30k off.

Case is indeed expensive, but with my kid’s $30,000 scholarship, the net price is in the high 30s. I think that’s pretty reasonable.

Congrats on your kid - Case was my first choice for my kid.

And the bolded sentence makes no sense, since with aid like that it is cheaper than a whole bunch of options. With aid like that it is most certainly affordable for many families who couldn't afford CWRU without it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Case western is very expensive and even with aid not worth it.

My kids applied a lot of schools. For safety with good grades and GPAs. JMU and Binghamton give in state tuition to out of state students. Loyola MD will toss out 25-30k off.

Case is indeed expensive, but with my kid’s $30,000 scholarship, the net price is in the high 30s. I think that’s pretty reasonable.

Congrats on your kid - Case was my first choice for my kid.

And the bolded sentence makes no sense, since with aid like that it is cheaper than a whole bunch of options. With aid like that it is most certainly affordable for many families who couldn't afford CWRU without it.

What kind of stats will get merit aid at Rochester and Case?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Case western is very expensive and even with aid not worth it.

My kids applied a lot of schools. For safety with good grades and GPAs. JMU and Binghamton give in state tuition to out of state students. Loyola MD will toss out 25-30k off.

Case is indeed expensive, but with my kid’s $30,000 scholarship, the net price is in the high 30s. I think that’s pretty reasonable.

Congrats on your kid - Case was my first choice for my kid.

And the bolded sentence makes no sense, since with aid like that it is cheaper than a whole bunch of options. With aid like that it is most certainly affordable for many families who couldn't afford CWRU without it.

What kind of stats will get merit aid at Rochester and Case?

PP with the DC who got $30K/year from Case last year (class of '20): DC's stats were 4.7 weighted GPA, 1580 SAT. TJ grad. Lots of APs.

On the other hand, U Rochester gave DC $7K in merit scholarship money. Much less than the NPC predicted, very disappointing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't nudge. You have a frank convo.

We said "you can go to any on your list, but if you attend one of the less expensive options, we will have more financial freedom if you want to go abroad or need an extra semester if you decide to switch majors or things don't go as planned."

This. Ours was equally frank but possibly more disappointing for DC: "You will not be able to attend wonderful reach colleges x, y, and z, even if you get in. Those colleges only award financial aid, and you won't qualify for enough to make them affordable for us. It is a waste of time and money to apply. Let's find some alternatives that offer merit aid to students with stats like yours."

Ditto. We were very clear about budget, explained need vs merit aid, taught him about net price calculators. As a result, his only reach is a school we know we can afford. Otherwise applying to a range of safeties and matches to maximize his budget and hopefully have some $$ left for grad school (we aren't otherwise contributing to that)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many many privates offer generous merit aid.

I don't know why everyone on this board seems to think in-state publics are the only affordable option.

Not top tier, but great schools. Do you homework (right on this website).

Good luck!

Link please.
Or some names for generous merit aid.