Private Schools in VA for this kid - suggestions?

[Anonymous]

My DD is a rising senior with a 4.2 (weighted) w/ a fair number of AP classes and 1300 SAT. We are in VA and she plans to apply to CNU & JMU. Unsure what she wants to study but is strong in English/History/Arts. DH thinks she should apply to at least one private school and thinks she will get scholarship/merit money that will make the cost negligible with in-state publics. Do you agree? If so, any suggestions of places to consider that are: w/in 4 hours drive from NOVA and would be a good fit for her stats? TIA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is a rising senior with a 4.2 (weighted) w/ a fair number of AP classes and 1300 SAT. We are in VA and she plans to apply to CNU & JMU. Unsure what she wants to study but is strong in English/History/Arts. DH thinks she should apply to at least one private school and thinks she will get scholarship/merit money that will make the cost negligible with in-state publics. Do you agree? If so, any suggestions of places to consider that are: w/in 4 hours drive from NOVA and would be a good fit for her stats? TIA!

Many lesser known LACs will give significant merit aid for a kid with your stats. But even with the largest merit aid package, don't expect the cost to come down to your in-state costs. Most of these will probably give merit but will still be in the $32-$35K range:

Randolph-Macon
McDaniel
Goucher
Juniata

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is a rising senior with a 4.2 (weighted) w/ a fair number of AP classes and 1300 SAT. We are in VA and she plans to apply to CNU & JMU. Unsure what she wants to study but is strong in English/History/Arts. DH thinks she should apply to at least one private school and thinks she will get scholarship/merit money that will make the cost negligible with in-state publics. Do you agree? If so, any suggestions of places to consider that are: w/in 4 hours drive from NOVA and would be a good fit for her stats? TIA!

Many lesser known LACs will give significant merit aid for a kid with your stats. But even with the largest merit aid package, don't expect the cost to come down to your in-state costs. Most of these will probably give merit but will still be in the $32-$35K range:

Randolph-Macon
McDaniel
Goucher
Juniata

Thank you! Anyone agree/disagree with this? I hate to have DD waste her time applying for privates if the cost is still going to be higher.

[Anonymous]

Have you thought about Pitt? I know its not a private but I understand they readily give out merit aid. It will depend on how much you need. My friend's DS was offered $10k in aid and his stats were no where near as good as your DD's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you thought about Pitt? I know its not a private but I understand they readily give out merit aid. It will depend on how much you need. My friend's DS was offered $10k in aid and his stats were no where near as good as your DD's.

Hadn't considered Pitt - wasn't even on her radar. But will certainly look into it, thanks! Anyone else have any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Not in VA but w/in 4 hours: Franklin & Marshall, Dickinson and Gettysburg

[Anonymous]

Sweetbriar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you thought about Pitt? I know its not a private but I understand they readily give out merit aid. It will depend on how much you need. My friend's DS was offered $10k in aid and his stats were no where near as good as your DD's.

Hadn't considered Pitt - wasn't even on her radar. But will certainly look into it, thanks! Anyone else have any thoughts?

That SAT isn't going to get merit aid at Pitt, unless perhaps the student is a first-generation college student.

[Anonymous]

I'd definitely look at Bryn Mawr College. A truly great school. All-women, which makes it less popular than it once was (and a little easier to get into than it used to be), but it has close relationships with nearby coed Haverford and Swarthmore. I have no idea on merit aid---my guess is it is more focused on financial aid, but worth applying.

For VA public colleges, are you underselling with CNU and JMU?

[Anonymous]

Colleges that give a lot of merit aid, are usually hoping to pay their test score averages. Is she planning to take it again?

[Anonymous]

Pad (not pay)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not in VA but w/in 4 hours: Franklin & Marshall, Dickinson and Gettysburg

I don't see admit into F&M, and Dickinson and Gettysburg are maybes on admittance. I don't see merit unless URM to counter-balance your DD being a DD (female). If your DD is white, then definitely not happening as they (white females) are over represented in the LACs.

[Anonymous]

You will not see merit from Pitt with a 1300. I think you need a 1400.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is a rising senior with a 4.2 (weighted) w/ a fair number of AP classes and 1300 SAT. We are in VA and she plans to apply to CNU & JMU. Unsure what she wants to study but is strong in English/History/Arts. DH thinks she should apply to at least one private school and thinks she will get scholarship/merit money that will make the cost negligible with in-state publics. Do you agree? If so, any suggestions of places to consider that are: w/in 4 hours drive from NOVA and would be a good fit for her stats? TIA!

Many lesser known LACs will give significant merit aid for a kid with your stats. But even with the largest merit aid package, don't expect the cost to come down to your in-state costs. Most of these will probably give merit but will still be in the $32-$35K range:

Randolph-Macon
McDaniel
Goucher
Juniata

Thank you! Anyone agree/disagree with this? I hate to have DD waste her time applying for privates if the cost is still going to be higher.

The two Virginia privates that offered merit money to DS because they wanted his ACT score each offered $26,000. But when you subtracted that from the total fee, they were still more expensive than UVA and W&M.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not in VA but w/in 4 hours: Franklin & Marshall, Dickinson and Gettysburg

Very expensive. Dickinson is almost $70K a year.