Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check Davidson

Davidson would be very hard with a 29 to get in, period

Davisdon's middle ACT is 30-33. It gives about 10% of students merit based aid. Merit based aid for a 29 ACT with weighted GPA below a 4.0 is not realistic. Davidson is a reach school with those stats-- at best. Smaller, private, NC, merit aid possible-- think Elon or Guilford college.

I'm the OP. DD wants to be in the mid-atlantic or midwest. We're in Maryland and think she has a decent shot at College Park. She started taking APs junior year, which allowed her to get over a 4.0, and did well on her AP tests (a 3,4, & 5). But she's more interested in small schools. She's not sure what she wants to study, basically anything except humanities is on the table.

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?

Lake Forest College if you can bear a beautiful location walking distance to the Lake Michigan beach in the flyover country DCUM mocks.

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.

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.

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

Kid is top student at top private school taking tough classes. Not valedictorian but will come highly recommended (maybe a few from top)
I ask because school is mostly rich kids who don't need aid so this isn't a big focus on their college counseling..

Girl wants to study a science possibly , not sure.

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.

Anonymous wrote:Check Davidson

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

Juniata
Allegheny
Ursinus

Anonymous wrote:Check Davidson

Davidson would be very hard with a 29 to get in, period

Check Davidson

Smaller LACs will have need based aid. Do you think you would qualify? Complete the net price calculator for each school. A 29 ACT seems a little low for merit. Your own state schools will be the best price. What state are you in?

15K is pretty standard for good grades/good ACT

Consider your public options. I don't know your state, but Mary Washington and SMCM might be nice alternatives to the schools that would provide merit at that level.

Does anyone know any colleges that are notoriously good with merit aid? DD has a 3.6 unweighted/3.8 weighted and a 29 ACT a decent suburban public. I want to point her to schools that she has a reasonable chance of getting aid. We're okay spending around 40k a year for tuition + room & board, but not 60k+. She's looking for an undergrad student body of less than 5,000 students.