Target lower tier schools for merit aid?

[Anonymous]

My DD is interested in sciences (biochem/engineering/pre-med?) and currently making a list with the usual suspects. She has good stats (35 ACT, 800 Math2, 800 BioM, high GPA). Curious if there are those who have targeted "lower-tier" schools to try to lots of merit aid? According to Naviance, she has a great shot at some great schools, but we have younger children to plan for as well. What schools would you add to your list with this in mind? TIA!

[Anonymous]

Do you have good in-state options, op? That's where I'd look first.

[Anonymous]

Yes, our highly-qualified kids attend lower-tier schools because they got great merit aid there. Lots of students make that choice.

For a student interested in science, consider Juniata, Denison, College of Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan, and Allegheny.

[Anonymous]

You can do biomedical at some schools like Tennessee and get in state tuition if you are in Maryland.

[Anonymous]

What state are you in?

[Anonymous]

If your family makes less than 150k and maybe even less than 200k, I would still look at some top tier schools. Your daughter has really impressive stats and some schools offer excellent financial aid. These tend to be schools with high endowments per student (HYPS, Amherst, Grinnell).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can do biomedical at some schools like Tennessee and get in state tuition if you are in Maryland.

How? Merit aid or something else?

[Anonymous]

Our DD has similar stats. Applied ED to a top school and Tulane. We were hoping she’d get offered merit aid from Tulane and then we’d decide based on how much was offered. Tulane deferred her which was a bummer. She got into the top school which was frankly shocking (& her first choice) and she went with that (with some aid).
Try Tulane and Boston U, but maybe apply either ED to the school with aid if she really wants to go there or just apply regular for all. Our friends kid did that and he is going free at Boston U.

[Anonymous]

OP here: We live in VA. We’re lucky to have great in-state schools. We estimate (if accepted): ~$30+ UVA, ~$28 W&M, and $20 something VT. We just don’t know what other options there are if she looked at another tier? She’s our oldest. We don’t qualify for need based aid. We’ve saved money for her (and siblings)- but just want to explore options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your family makes less than 150k and maybe even less than 200k, I would still look at some top tier schools. Your daughter has really impressive stats and some schools offer excellent financial aid. These tend to be schools with high endowments per student (HYPS, Amherst, Grinnell).

Some might offer, some might not. If it’s very top not much will be forthcoming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: We live in VA. We’re lucky to have great in-state schools. We estimate (if accepted): ~$30+ UVA, ~$28 W&M, and $20 something VT. We just don’t know what other options there are if she looked at another tier? She’s our oldest. We don’t qualify for need based aid. We’ve saved money for her (and siblings)- but just want to explore options.

Well, she has to want to go to those options and apply enthusiastically to them, otherwise it’s not happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DD has similar stats. Applied ED to a top school and Tulane. We were hoping she’d get offered merit aid from Tulane and then we’d decide based on how much was offered. Tulane deferred her which was a bummer. She got into the top school which was frankly shocking (& her first choice) and she went with that (with some aid).
Try Tulane and Boston U, but maybe apply either ED to the school with aid if she really wants to go there or just apply regular for all. Our friends kid did that and he is going free at Boston U.

Can I ask what Byour DD was offered in merit? Based on CC, it looks like some top private offer merit aid, but it would only cut down cost to about $40+K, which is still more expensive than in-state options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: We live in VA. We’re lucky to have great in-state schools. We estimate (if accepted): ~$30+ UVA, ~$28 W&M, and $20 something VT. We just don’t know what other options there are if she looked at another tier? She’s our oldest. We don’t qualify for need based aid. We’ve saved money for her (and siblings)- but just want to explore options.

If you don’t qualify for aid and you have saved some for her and she has worked this hard shouldn’t you support her in her goals? Are the other kids even good students? Maybe you should scrimp on the other kids and not the one who has worked her rear off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: We live in VA. We’re lucky to have great in-state schools. We estimate (if accepted): ~$30+ UVA, ~$28 W&M, and $20 something VT. We just don’t know what other options there are if she looked at another tier? She’s our oldest. We don’t qualify for need based aid. We’ve saved money for her (and siblings)- but just want to explore options.

Well, she has to want to go to those options and apply enthusiastically to them, otherwise it’s not happening.

We have tours booked and open houses. She’s not against going in-state, in fact, she’s not sure where she wants to go.

[Anonymous]

A STEM-focused female with those stats? Yes, she can get merit aid (ranging up to full tuition or even a full ride) lots of different places.

What is she looking for in a school? Size? Urban/rural? Distance from home? Ocean? Mountains? Big-time sports? Greek life? Key question here: engineering school?