It is only May. I would have your child determine which test he is stronger in (SAT or ACT) and retake, preferably by August. If you have $200,000 to spend on college, you can spend some of that on test prep.

Good luck getting a scholarship from UGA, even the out-of-state half-IS/OOS difference. My kid had unbelievable stats, Honors and didn't get anything. UGA is very competitive.

The OP's student needs to expand the net.

Anonymous wrote:Delaware would be a great option, but it’s around 52k for out of state

UNC Charlotte is about $39k

U of Delaware is good with merit for OOS, would definitely get the price below $40k with those stats and probably honors college admit

VA Tech seems like a fit too, although their admissions are really unpredictable

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The upside of wanting a kid with good grades who wants to go to a party school is he has a good shot at serious merit money.

The University of Michigan offers full ride scholarships for students from Virginia who major in engineering: https://scholarships.engin.umich.edu/gloria-wille-bell-and-carlos-r-bell-scholarship/

Iowa State also offers generous merit scholarships to out-of-state students: https://www.admissions.iastate.edu/scholarships/freshman/md

The University of Iowa is very fun party school, popular among Chicagoland residents. Nonstop flights from DC, lots of scholarships for students who can keep a 3.50 G.P.A. amid all that partying: https://clas.uiowa.edu/students/scholarships#Entering%20First-Time%20First-Year

It says in that link that 2-5 scholarships per year are awarded and Virginia residents got $20k/year. not sure where you're getting full ride. and this kid probably wouldn't even get into michigan, let alone get a scholarship that is only given to a tiny tiny silver of the incoming class

I knew people who got the scholarship. It used to be a full ride.

It's hard to think of this in the highly competitive atmosphere of this area, but there are a lot of state flagships that would be happy to have your kid and their superior academic achievement bringing up the averages. Lots of scholarships that basically give you in-state tuition at the University of Georgia (presidential waiver), etc. Just look outside the colleges like Michigan, Delaware, etc that have a long track record of attracting out of staters.

Delaware would be a great option, but it’s around 52k for out of state

UNC Charlotte is about $39k

If he wants to do STEM, a lot of the big state schools that have a lot of good sports teams also have great STEM programs (engineering, bio fields, chem, etc.). Some ideas:
UofF
UofAriz
Marquette
Not sure if he's competitive with those scores, but those are all good schools for STEM. Weather is obviously different between the three!

Anonymous wrote:Merit aid at Bama?

Yeah, where’s Roll Tide Parent?!

Anonymous wrote:UCLA is not looking at scores this year so it's a crapshoot with high grades. Depends on rigor. But don't expect any money.

UCLA test blind only for in state applicants.

Pitt and Penn State will both be in the $50-52K range. I would not expect merit with SATs in the 1300 range.

Anonymous wrote:The upside of wanting a kid with good grades who wants to go to a party school is he has a good shot at serious merit money.

The University of Michigan offers full ride scholarships for students from Virginia who major in engineering: https://scholarships.engin.umich.edu/gloria-wille-bell-and-carlos-r-bell-scholarship/

Iowa State also offers generous merit scholarships to out-of-state students: https://www.admissions.iastate.edu/scholarships/freshman/md

The University of Iowa is very fun party school, popular among Chicagoland residents. Nonstop flights from DC, lots of scholarships for students who can keep a 3.50 G.P.A. amid all that partying: https://clas.uiowa.edu/students/scholarships#Entering%20First-Time%20First-Year

It says in that link that 2-5 scholarships per year are awarded and Virginia residents got $20k/year. not sure where you're getting full ride. and this kid probably wouldn't even get into michigan, let alone get a scholarship that is only given to a tiny tiny silver of the incoming class

Anonymous wrote:I went to Ohio State. I did the honors program there. It was a good choice for me because I was in-state and I am good at navigating stuff. I would not send a kid who needs even a bit of hand holding about anything. They do not care if you don’t show up. Or take 6 years to graduate. I have so many friends who wasted so much time and money, or had serious issues (depression, etc), that just were not addressed. Good luck. There are so many schools in the US. There is definitely something out there for your son.

Yeah, it was a disaster for my nephew from CA for the kinds of reasons you allude to.

The upside of wanting a kid with good grades who wants to go to a party school is he has a good shot at serious merit money.

The University of Michigan offers full ride scholarships for students from Virginia who major in engineering: https://scholarships.engin.umich.edu/gloria-wille-bell-and-carlos-r-bell-scholarship/

Iowa State also offers generous merit scholarships to out-of-state students: https://www.admissions.iastate.edu/scholarships/freshman/md

The University of Iowa is very fun party school, popular among Chicagoland residents. Nonstop flights from DC, lots of scholarships for students who can keep a 3.50 G.P.A. amid all that partying: https://clas.uiowa.edu/students/scholarships#Entering%20First-Time%20First-Year

Merit aid at Bama?

I went to Ohio State. I did the honors program there. It was a good choice for me because I was in-state and I am good at navigating stuff. I would not send a kid who needs even a bit of hand holding about anything. They do not care if you don’t show up. Or take 6 years to graduate. I have so many friends who wasted so much time and money, or had serious issues (depression, etc), that just were not addressed. Good luck. There are so many schools in the US. There is definitely something out there for your son.

my eldest applied to wisconsin for class of 2023 and got in with a 31 ACT and 3.89 GPA. She loves it there. My current senior applied for this year with a 1420 and 3.93 and did not get in. So it's kind of a crapshoot; I'd definitely channel your expectations on that one. I never hear of kids in this area going to University of Florida in the way they do Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana etc. but it is an excellent school that he may get into (reachy, but possible). Also very very reasonable tuition wise.

Other schools to consider in that price range:
Indiana (w/ merit)
Ohio State
UGA (reach)
U of Arizona (merit)
U of Tennessee (merit)
Florida State
UConn
UMass Amherst
Clemson
U of South Carolina (merit)