34 ACT, 3.81 GPA Merit Aid?

Paying for College
1

<p>I really need some merit aid to help pay for college. I have a 34 on my ACT and a GPA of 3.81. I'm involved ina lot of extra curriculars. What schools give out a lot of aid?</p>

2

<p>Try this link for a list of colleges and the percentages of students who received non-need-based aid.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/696637-merit-aid-percentage-common-data-set-6.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/696637-merit-aid-percentage-common-data-set-6.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Also on this link are instructions for figuring this information out for any college that is not on this list. If you do so, feel free to add to the list!</p>

3

<p>There are 3 kinds of merit scholarships…</p>

<h1>1) Those that are awarded to every student that meets a certain criteria…such as having a certain minimum SAT/ACT, GPA, and applying by a certain date. These are assured as long as you meet the criteria.</h1>

<h1>2) Those that are competitive scholarships. The school selects a few high stats students from a larger pool of high stats students.</h1>

<h1>3) A subgroup of #2 are schools with competitive merit that also look at financial need.</h1>

<p>If you need merit scholarships for college, then you need to make sure that you apply to at least 2 -3 schools with ASSURED merit for stats. </p>

<p>It’s ok to also apply to some schools with competitive merit, but since those aren’t assured AND often require the student to travel (at his own expense) for a competition weekend, that sometimes is not possible because of funds or a time conflict with something else.</p>

<p>Of course, there are varying amounts of merit scholarships, so how much do you need?</p>

<p>If you need a lot of merit then getting $20k per year at a school that has a COA of $55k probably won’t work.</p>

<p>However, if a school costs $30k and you get a merit scholarship of - say $20k per year - then you could probably make up the shortfall with a student loan, work-study, and a summer job. </p>

<p>How much merit $$ do you need? full tuition? </p>

<p>How much money will your family contribute? If your family cannot contribute much, then obviously you need huge merit. </p>

<p>What schools are you interested in?</p>

<p>What is your home state?</p>

<p>What is your likely major?</p>

<p>Here is a link to some assured scholarships…some are for smallish amounts, **but some are full tuition or more. **</p>

<p>*ASSURED SCHOLARSHIPS…$$$ CC Important links to Merit Scholarships given for stats… </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;
*</p>

4

<p>I want as close to full tuition as possible. Im from illinois, totally undecided on major. As far as schools go, im open to anyone that gives me a lot of money</p>

5

<p>Alabama would give you free tuition at a minimum. You could get more. The campus is gorgeous and the academics are strong. Many Illinois students take this scholarship.</p>