Anonymous wrote:Carleton does not offer merit aid. If he likes colder weather consider Luther, St Olaf and Grinnell. Friends of ours son got a nice merit package at St Marys on the Eastern Shore. There's a zillion schools, college confidential will filter to show schools where more merit aid is likely.

Anonymous wrote:We're in the same boat as you, OP, only our DS is a junior. We are searching for SLACS that offer merit aid:

None of the NESCAC schools offer merit aid, so if you don't qualify for FA, you're out of luck. Haverford, Swarthmore don't offer merit aid either.

If you're in VA, William and Mary would work. In MD, St. Mary's College of Maryland is a good choice. Both are good schools.

I suggest Dickinson, Dennison, Kenyon, Oberlin, The College of Wooster, St. Olaf's, Knox College, Kalamazoo College, Earlham, Antioch, Ursinus, Eckerd, Hampshire, Goucher, Clark, Allegheny, Tulane, Roanoke, Goucher, Drew, Hollins, Washington (MD), Muhlenberg, Bennington, Gettysburg, Davidson, University of Richmond, among others.

Here are some links:

US News "Most Students Receiving Merit Aid"
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/most-merit-aid

New York Times list of merit aid from 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/07/08/education/edlife/8edlife_chart.html?_r=0


College Atlas (whatever that is) merit aid list:
http://www.collegeatlas.org/merit-aid-colleges.html

DIY College Rankings (some website) merit aid list:
http://diycollegerankings.com/35-best-bets-college-merit-aid/8921/

Money Magazine's merit aid list:
https://best-colleges.time.com/money/more-rankings/the-25-best-private-colleges-for-merit-aid#/list

Our experience with DD#1 is that merit aid is all over the place. It's unpredictable. DD got a large grant from a school she never visited and wasn't even that interested in, and she got nothing from schools she pestered and made a huge effort to visit and communicate with. Both schools were equal on Naviance. She also got wait-listed at schools she showed no iterest in, but were way below her stats -- a big surprise! She got accepted at some NESCAC schools, but no FA or merit aid at all. She chose a school we can afford, and she's very happy. Apply widely, and early! Best of luck to you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are in a situation where you need merit aid, you may want to encourage your son to pursue a more employable degree.

+1

This comment reveals your ignorance on this topic. Generally speaking, families who are seeking merit aid are doing so because they make too much money not because they make too little. If this family were lower income, they'd be looking at schools that are generous with *financial* aid--awarded on the basis of financial need--not merit aid. Indeed, OP herself has indicated that the family makes a very comfortable income, but not enough that they feel they can afford to spend $250k on college.

NP here, and tying this tangent to the thread. Yes, OP makes too much for financial aid, but obviously they need some aid. Plus I think there was a younger sibling mentioned. Is there a plan for how DS will use his history or philosophy major? That's important -- there might need to be grad school in the future. With limited funds and a vague career path (and I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that at age 17), but you want to send the kid to a school where he can figure it out in 4 yrs.

So I'd be looking closely at these depts in the schools you consider. What do their graduates go on to do?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are in a situation where you need merit aid, you may want to encourage your son to pursue a more employable degree.

+1

This comment reveals your ignorance on this topic. Generally speaking, families who are seeking merit aid are doing so because they make too much money not because they make too little. If this family were lower income, they'd be looking at schools that are generous with *financial* aid--awarded on the basis of financial need--not merit aid. Indeed, OP herself has indicated that the family makes a very comfortable income, but not enough that they feel they can afford to spend $250k on college.

A pp mentioned Beloit, in Wisconsin. That might work well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I suggest Dickinson, Dennison, Kenyon, Oberlin, The College of Wooster, St. Olaf's, Knox College, Kalamazoo College, Earlham, Antioch, Ursinus, Eckerd, Hampshire, Goucher, Clark, Allegheny, Tulane, Roanoke, Goucher, Drew, Hollins, Washington (MD), Muhlenberg, Bennington, Gettysburg, Davidson, University of Richmond, among others.

These are good suggestions given that kid has a 3.38 and requires merit aid.

Would add Washington & Jefferson College (Pittsburgh) to this list. I know you don't want to say the sport, but if it is something unique (squash, water polo etc.) that could be an advantage and you might want to approach the coach at schools you are interested in.

I don't think being on JV sports is recruitable. Most varsity athletes aren't recruitable. And obscure sports aren't JV/varsity sports in MCPS.

I agree with Dickinson, Denison, etc. You won't find merit aid (or possibly even admission) at the top 10 SLACs.

Anonymous wrote:Denison gives good merit aid. There is an active Greek life program, but that's not the only social outlet. And central Ohio has cold, snowy winters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea if they give merit aid, but Tufts would be a good fit.

No. Tufts would eat him alive. Not good for geeky kids, and only social life is frats. Unless it's changed since I was there.

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with MD publics?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are in a situation where you need merit aid, you may want to encourage your son to pursue a more employable degree.

+1