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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, my high stats kid with great ECs and awards got enough aid at schools like Oberlin ($75,000 plus) and Kenyon to bring the cost down to about $45,000 (not including personal expenses).  I haven’t heard of a higher merit award this year there. Now, I have a friend whose kid got merit awards at much lower tier SLACs (like the Wesleyan in Louisiana) that brought cost down to $30,000.  That kid did not have top stats or ECs (and in general struggles with academics.)  I think your daughter presents ON PAPER more like the latter kid.  UMD is one of the cheaper flagship state schools.  You will be hard pressed to find cheaper.  Lots of brilliant kids there.  Probably less brilliant kids at the lower tier SLACs that you can maybe afford.  I’d go to instate public unless you think your kid really needs the small school to thrive.  I know this wasn’t precisely your question but I hope done of my answer was helpful.[/quote]

I agree that without good stats it would be difficult to get substantial merit aid at a mid tier slac   
In fact it might be difficult to get into the honors college at your state flagship. At UMD it is a holistic process but some honors programs like ILS and Gemstone admit students with SATs around 1550. You still have not told us which state you live in. If it is MD I still think UMD is a fantastic option. Even if your child does not get into one of the honors programs as a freshman, she could still take honors classes and earn the honors designation. UMD also has a scholars program which is easier to get into but also offers a great peer group You should be researching your in state school and trying to get your child excited about what they have to offer. As I mentioned in an earlier post if you live in Virginia, William and Mary would be a fantastic option for your child.  
I would also encourage you to look at the Colleges that Change lives list. Many lower ranked slacs on there that offer a quality experience. Many seem ideally suited for students who are bright and want an intellectual experience but don’t have high stats or need more academic support to succeed. I am not sure how  many offer merit aid but you could check out the Common Data set for any college that seems like a good fit - they have information on the average number and amount of non need based aid. Do your due diligence. Someone I know found a couple of them (Goucher and another one) to be a little angst-ridden and with lots of drug use when their child spent the weekend there to check it out. 
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