Anonymous wrote:I’m over it. They want a top 10 private but state school prices, just for the bragging rights, and aren’t afraid to insult their kid along the way. Not playing along anymore.

+100

OP back again

She can go to the state U, but she wants to go to a small school.

I wonder if DD's lack of ECs is going to take her out of the running for the high numbers merit scholarships? When I read about the kids who win the big scholarships on college websites, the winners are always kids who built a school for disabled children in Afghanistan and flew a private plane across the US singlehanded, etc.

I’m over it. They want a top 10 private but state school prices, just for the bragging rights, and aren’t afraid to insult their kid along the way. Not playing along anymore.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand this post at all.

+1 humble brag disguised as a "help us out" post.

This, exactly.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand this post at all.

+1
I think OP must be a troll. So sick of these stupid threads.

OP again

I looked up last year's Common Data Set for a lot of colleges.

I don't know how to interpret the data, though.

Clark U, for example, gave 172 freshmen merit scholarships averaging $17K [COA: $64,690; so, $47,690 COA with merit]
The College of New Jersey gave 156 freshmen merit scholarships averaging $5K [COA: $42,392; so $37,392 with merit]
Muhlenberg gave 154 freshmen merit scholarships averaging $23K [COA: $66,430; so $43,430 with merit]
Davidson gave 15 freshmen merit scholarships averaging $40K [COA: $70,225; so $30,225 with merit]
George Washington gave 719 freshmen merit scholarships averaging $23K [COA: $79,760; so $56,760 with merit]

etc. etc.

Judging by this list (I looked at about 30 schools), the only school we can possibly afford with merit is Davidson.

I realize these are the average merit awards, but how do I find out whether or not DD will be eligible for (or likely to receive) a larger award?

Is it all just chance? If someone in the admissions office likes DDs application, will she be arbitrarily offered a larger merit scholarship?

BTW, is it worth it for DD to apply to HYP given the near-impossible odds she'd be admitted? I've heard of kids with few or no ECs and good, not perfect, stats getting admitted to these schools, but it's appears to be a lottery. These are the only schools (plus Johns Hopkins thanks to Michael Bloomberg's largesse) that offer exceedingly generous financial aid to middle class families.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
Thanks for all the suggestions! Those are very helpful! Please keep them coming! I'm researching as fast as I can.
DD told me tonight she's only applying to colleges we're certain we can afford. Our budget is about $29K, max, so she needs about $40K in merit aid for most private colleges.
I'll look into the College of New Jersey and Clark, for starters and the schools in Ohio. St. Olaf's sounds great, but it would be a hard sell to get her to go to MN. She's definitely a homebody.
She's frustrating because she could do a lot more with her abilities, but she'd rather watch movies or chat with her friends. Her teachers have told me this, so it's not just me. I guess her attitude is healthy, but I worry the price she'll pay is she'll be unchallenged in college.

Is the state uni so bad, OP? What about the Honors College at her state uni?

Yes, OP, this is what we’re all wondering.
There is a good chance that the in state schools she could attend are better than the lower tier private colleges that you want merit aid for. Why does she need to attend a private college?

Anonymous wrote:OP here.
Thanks for all the suggestions! Those are very helpful! Please keep them coming! I'm researching as fast as I can.
DD told me tonight she's only applying to colleges we're certain we can afford. Our budget is about $29K, max, so she needs about $40K in merit aid for most private colleges.
I'll look into the College of New Jersey and Clark, for starters and the schools in Ohio. St. Olaf's sounds great, but it would be a hard sell to get her to go to MN. She's definitely a homebody.
She's frustrating because she could do a lot more with her abilities, but she'd rather watch movies or chat with her friends. Her teachers have told me this, so it's not just me. I guess her attitude is healthy, but I worry the price she'll pay is she'll be unchallenged in college.

Is the state uni so bad, OP? What about the Honors College at her state uni?

OP here.
Thanks for all the suggestions! Those are very helpful! Please keep them coming! I'm researching as fast as I can.
DD told me tonight she's only applying to colleges we're certain we can afford. Our budget is about $29K, max, so she needs about $40K in merit aid for most private colleges.
I'll look into the College of New Jersey and Clark, for starters and the schools in Ohio. St. Olaf's sounds great, but it would be a hard sell to get her to go to MN. She's definitely a homebody.
She's frustrating because she could do a lot more with her abilities, but she'd rather watch movies or chat with her friends. Her teachers have told me this, so it's not just me. I guess her attitude is healthy, but I worry the price she'll pay is she'll be unchallenged in college.

Anonymous wrote:OP: I have to agree with most posters that your post is pretty frustrating. With that said, having just gone through the process with my incredibly bright son with pretty severe LDs, so lower stats than yours, got substantial merit aid from Connecticut College. I didn't know much about it before the process, but it sounds like a great school for someone who wants small liberal arts. He will be going somewhere else thanks to legacy status, but just thought I'd suggest she look at Conn College.

This cannot be true.

Conn College is a NESCAC school, and that group of schools does not offer merit aid or sports scholarships.

OP, have her apply in state and also apply at small LACs that will probably give her merit aid. She does not sound like she is slacking.

There are a billion small colleges where your child would get aid, especially since she's not hung up on name recognition. Odds are even better if she'd like to go far away. Schools like to diversify their geographic range so smaller colleges in other states that don't generally attract from outside their region are often likely to give good aid.

When aid is critical is one time where I very much suggest applying widely. Cast a net at some solid schools in areas she'd like to be or with programs she'd like. You might be surprised.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Joe's
Dayton
St. Mary's College

Dayton is a hardcore party school, I don’t picture OPs kid there

OMG! I don’t think you understand “hardcore party” if you think Dayton is one.

+1000 that is most certainly not Dayton. So strange that anyone could think that.

Oh yes, catholic school kids would never join frats and party all week long in “the ghetto.” They most certainly spend all of their time attending mass, studying, and helping their fellow man.

OP, you sound a bit delusional and anxiety-ridden.

Your daughter will be a top candidate at many schools, no doubt eligible for merit aid.

I recommend trying to be a non-anxious presence for your daughter, who sounds quite amazing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Joe's
Dayton
St. Mary's College

Dayton is a hardcore party school, I don’t picture OPs kid there

OMG! I don’t think you understand “hardcore party” if you think Dayton is one.

+1000 that is most certainly not Dayton. So strange that anyone could think that.