100% need based colleges strong in English/soical sciences (esp. LACs)

Parents Forum
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<p>Hi, these boards have been extremely helpful as we try to narrow down the college search! Thanks to all who graciously share their wisdom and experience!</p>

<p>We are searching for colleges (especially LACs) with strong English/Social Sciences depts. that promise 100% need-based financial aid (hopefully low on the loans). Our EFC is about $6,000.</p>

<p>S isn’t too specific on what he wants in a college. He is OK with small/large, suburban/rural, university/LAC east/west/midwest (perhaps not south if it is really hot/humid). His strength is his writing. He is also interested in history, psychology or media (communication). He excels in music (sax, bassoon, 4 years of music theory) but doesn’t want to major in it. He enjoys writing, photography, trout fishing, baseball. He isn’t into frats, drinking etc. I would prefer that he doesn’t go to an ultra liberal campus.</p>

<p>Frankly, our main concern is financing his college education with the least amount of debt as we have two other sons that will be in college shortly. S would prefer to not go to our local state college (he goes to a public charter school held on campus so he’s already taking classes there).</p>

<p>We are Asian and live in a rural, somewhat poor farm community in California where most kids don’t make it past the junior college level.</p>

<p>So far, we are considering Pomona, Occidental, St. Olaf and a couple of the UCs. </p>

<p>I also submitted this on the College Search forum.</p>

<p>Any advice, suggestions would be appreciated!</p>

<hr>

<p>Stats
SATS: 800 verbal, 710 writing, 680 math
4.1 weighted GPA
Class rank: 4 / 65 </p>

<p>AP Scores: Language 5, US History 4
(S taking AP Calculus AB, Literature, and Government AP test in spring)</p>

<p>College classes
History 1/World History, Biology/Zoology, Latin 131T, Geology, Spanish 1A</p>

<p>ECs
Band: 9,10,11,12
Pit Orchestra 10
Orchestra: 11. 12
College Band: 12
Yearbook: 11, 12
Newspaper: 12
National Junior Classical League: 10, 11, 12
Baseball: 9, 10. 11, 12
Key Club: 10, 11
LIFE Club: 9, 10</p>

<p>Awards:
Honor Band: 9, 10, 11 (principle bassoon)
Honor Orchestra 11
Soloist (sax), 2005 NY Band Festival at Carnegie Hall
NJCL NATIONAL LATIN EXAM, Magna cum laude certificate
National Merit Commended Student</p>

<p>Employment:
Works on the family fish farm 20 – 30 hours/week during the summer</p>

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<p>My experience with kid #1: You will generally get better financial aid from colleges that provide need-based aid, but do NOT promise to meet 100% need but where the student is near the top of the applicant pool -- i.e., at colleges that are safeties or very comfortable matches. Those schools leverage their financial aid dollars to favor the students they most strongly want to attract, withholding aid from borderline candidates. They often will provide a combination of need based and merit aid that goes beyond meeting the EFC. </p>

<p>Almost all colleges will meet 100% need for some of their students. If they promise to meet 100% need for all of their students, then the pool of aid dollars is reduced. Your son has very strong stats and is likely to be an attractive candidate for many colleges. Don't make the mistake of only applying to colleges that will give financial aid to everyone else on equal terms.</p>

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<p>Kenyon College in Ohio has an excellent English program, and they do meet 100% of demonstrated need. Other schools in the midwest he might check out include Grinnell, Carleton (in same town as St. Olaf), Lawrence University in Wisconsin, Knox College in Illinois (has an excellent English and creative writing program), and possibly Dennison in Ohio. </p>

<p>I'd also suggest he check out these schools in Texas, which all would meet his interests quite well: Rice, Trinity U, and Southwestern University. They are all lower cost to begin with and the last two can be quite generous with merit money to boot.</p>

<p>Finally, with his stats, I wouldn't rule out a shot at some of the Ivy schools as potential realistic reaches. In particular, look at Princeton, which limits loans in their financial aid packages.</p>

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<p>Hi Calmom</p>

<p>Wow! Thanks SO much for sharing from your experience! I didn't realize that meeting 100% need wasn't crucial!</p>

<p>Thus far (except for Pomona), what I was trying to do is find colleges where S would be at the top 25% according to SAT scores. I was also focusing on schools which might consider Asians a URM, or that living in a rural area a plus for diversity. </p>

<p>Then, I was checking to see if school gave 100% need based financial aid, and if they didn't I crossed them off the list! :-( Thanks for letting me know I don't need to do this!</p>

<p>By the way, I appreciate your saying that my son has very strong stats. Everyone on CC has such incredibly high GPAs, class rankings and ECs....that sometimes, it's hard to determine where S stands, what his possibilities are.</p>

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<p>I second Lawrence University in Wisconsin. Son just started there and opportunities exist for students to get involved in the music conservatory but major in another subject or double major for that matter. It would be a totally different environment than Fresno which would be an interesting change. My son loves the town and college. Good financial aid program. 93% of students in 1st year, this year, had either merit, financial aid or a combination of both. They offer 100% need based aid.</p>

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<p>Hi Fresnomom - go back to the "Search and Selection Board" where IDad and are engaged in a polite tug of war over conservative vs liberal (we go way back now, it is definitely polite, anyway we're actually agreeing).</p>

<p>What about some of the Catholic colleges in CA, Carolyn, would there be any that met his requirements?</p>

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<p>By the way, Lawrence also has a surprisingly high percentage of Asian students for a smaller LAC in the midwest. Perhaps that is related to the conservatory.</p>

<p>Cangel, good idea about the Catholic schools in California. Santa Clara U has an excellent communications program if he decides he wants to go that route. He'd qualify for a tidy merit award there. Loyola Marymount is a few steps down the rung in terms of academic quality, but also has a nice communications program. </p>

<p>Another non-Catholic option to look into would be the University of Redlands. They can be very generous with merit money and have an strong creative writing and English program. They also have an EXCELLENT music program there - LAMom's son is in it and enjoying it. Additionally, the Johnston Center at Redlands gives top students the chance to create their own interdisciplinary major. My daughter and I just visited Redlands and she's added it to her list.</p>

<p>If he wants something larger, the University of Southern California would be an excellent choice for him - one of the top communications programs in the country, plus an excellent English department and many opportunities for music. His stats would make him eligible for merit money and solid financial aid there.</p>

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<p>Might look at Holy Cross.</p>

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<p>According to par72, EVERYONE should look at Holy Cross. :)</p>

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<p>The financial aid is great. My son's a freshman, and he loves it.</p>

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<p>Wheaton College, MA might be a fit</p>

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<p>I'd second Carolyn's suggestion of Denison (note correct spelling - in case you try to look it up on internet). I suspect he would get a great scholarship and my son is very happy there. (Well, so far anyway! He's only a freshman.) There are several kids from California there.</p>

<p>My son is also a musician and is enjoying their orchestra, jazz band, and a community wind ensemble too.</p>

<p>Frats are pretty under control at Denison as they no longer have "frat houses" but have to live mixed up in the dorms. There is drinking, of course, but I know for a fact that my son has found plenty of friends who are not into drinking/drugs/partying. There is also substance free housing (like most schools).</p>

<p>I'd also agree with Kenyon (husband's alma mater). The deadline for Kenyon's merit scholarships (there's only a few) is early though - just be aware of that. Also, it's a little more liberal than Denison (and probably slightly more politically active - apathy reigns at most of these schools). More of a frat scene too.</p>

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<p>FresnoMom: With an EFC of only $6000, I think you are likely to get your best finaid packages from schools that do meet 100% of need. Our EFC was slightly higher than yours, that was certainly our experience. By the time you figure in books, expenses and travel, it should leave you paying about $4000 directly to the college (towards room and board), and it is difficult to find merit awards that cover tuition and half of your room and board. Some are out there, but not a lot. Anyway, my advise would be to have your kid include several 100% need schools in his list, but not limit him to those. As long as he is a top candidate at the other schools, he may get comparable packages.</p>

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<p>BTW, since Pomona is on your list, I will mention that my oldest son received an excellent finaid package there. He had some outside awards, which they used to eliminate his loans and work study. When he notified them of an additional small award over the summer, they added it on to his package. (Perhaps they could do this because the federal funds had already been removed?) And since they have extra college-funded work available on campus, he has also been able to work and receive money in addition to his official award.</p>

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<p>From what I understand, Grinnell offers very good financial aid.</p>