<p>My EFC is only around $3000 and most of what I've been looking at so far is much too expensive (RPI mainly). I think I have a shot at a national merit scholarship (222 on PSAT in PA) and am pretty strong academically (so far in high school my gpa is 3.9 unweighted and I've taken/am taking 5 AP's and an IB and will have 5 AP's next year) but not very when it comes to extra-curriculars. I'd prefer suggestions in the northeastern or (mid)western US (I don't want to go south but I'll consider it) or Canada. Visiting schools much west of PA is not an option for me though. A small school is preferable, but I'm open to others. I really like Caltech and Olin, for example, but I want more matches/safeties.
I'm aware of UConn, Bucknell and Harvey Mudd (doubt I could get in there, maybe Bucknell too). </p>
<p>Do I have a good chance at merit aid at either UMN-Twin Cities or UW-Seattle (from what I understand, I could get very little based on need)?</p>
<p>I want to major in electrical or mechanical engineering, and maybe also physics as a second major/minor. An aerospace option would be nice too...</p>
<p>Texas A&M will be about $12,000 per year after National Merit scholarship, which would be barely within reach ($3,000 from family, $5,500 from federal direct loan, $3,500 from work earnings and/or frugal living, or some similar combination). But it is a huge school.</p>
<p>Out of state public schools would not generally be good places to seek need-based financial aid (except University of Virginia), although some do have large merit scholarships (but many of these are in the south). Within your cost constraint (probably no more than $13,000 net price if you can come up with $10,000 in federal direct loan plus work earnings in addition to your family’s $3,000 contribution), you probably need at least a full tuition merit scholarship (and preferably more than that).</p>
<p>Of course, you can certainly apply to private schools whose net price calculators indicate that their need-based financial aid will make them affordable.</p>
<p>Have you looked at the large merit scholarship sticky threads in the financial aid and scholarships forum, and the National Merit scholarship thread?</p>
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Absolutely right. Public Us don’t award their own need based aid to OOS students with two exceptions - UVA and UNC. You would need to look at merit aid. Definitely head to the FA forum and look at the threads @ucbalumnus mentioned.</p>
<p>UW isn’t great with merit, so that’s unlikely. </p>
<p>You need to concentrate on schools that “meet need” or give HUGE merit (near free rides). </p>
<p>If cost is a concern, you could look into the local state schools in the northeast, or some of the better but more expensive private schools that offer merit aid like BU or Northeastern.</p>
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<p>This isn’t quite right. UVA and UNC are the only public flagships that currently meet 100% of need for OOS students, but some others do award some institutional need-based aid to OOS students. Michigan, for example, is now committed to a goal of meeting 100% of need for all students. They’re not there yet–they currently meet full need for in-state students, but not for all OOS students, many of whom nonetheless get some institutional need-based aid–but they recently launched a major capital campaign, one of the principal goals of which is to raise sufficient funds to meet their FA goal.</p>
<p>If you get NMF, you might want to look into competing for the University of Tulsa’s presidential scholarship which is, I believe, a full ride. Smaller university with a pretty strong engineering program. </p>
<p>“Michigan, for example, is now committed to a goal of meeting 100% of need for all students. They’re not there yet–they currently meet full need for in-state students, but not for all OOS students, many of whom nonetheless get some institutional need-based aid–but they recently launched a major capital campaign, one of the principal goals of which is to raise sufficient funds to meet their FA goal.”</p>
<p>Yes, it does seem like Michigan is another RARE public that is attempting this. but, they’re using CSS Profile, which most publics do not use. </p>
<p>And, being OOS and getting ACCEPTED to UMich is a feat…so it could be argued that aid has somewhat of a merit component (which I’ve said the same about UVA and UNC…when you’re accepting the best OOS students, then “meeting their need” is a win/win for school and student. </p>
<p>Using CSS Profile allows the school to really see if there is need…it captures all those who own businesses and who are getting their AGI’s down to nothing by including “business deductions” that are covering normal expenses. It will also capture home equity. I don’t know if UMich is also going to be asking for NCP info. If so, then that’s another income pot to look at. </p>
<p>If UMich doesn’t cap home equity, then all of those with a good amount of that will soon find themselves with “family contributions” that are much higher than FAFSA EFC. </p>
<p>It’s probably much easier to “determine need” when everything is really looked at. I imagine that a number of lowish EFC apps will magically have “less need” once everything (including NCP) is looked at. </p>
<p>Edited to add…</p>
<p>Just checked…UMich DOES require NCP’s to provide financial info…that makes a huge difference.</p>
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<p>This is also true for the Universities of California, which tend to offer in-state levels of need-based aid to out-of-state students, which leaves a $23,000 gap (the amount of the additional out-of-state tuition). In practice, a needy out-of-state student will find them not realistically affordable, except in very unusual circumstances.</p>
<p>^^^’</p>
<p>True…and the UC’s are also hard to get into OOS. So their aid could also have a need component.</p>
<p>That said, I think the UC’s should also use CSS Profile (at least for OOS students) to properly capture need. I guess they think that not covering that $23k is in lieu of that.</p>
<p>After all, if you have a $10k EFC, then you’re going to pay $33k…and you can’t use Direct Loans to reduce that because those are already being used for “need”.</p>
<p>Is UC Merced generous to OOS students?</p>
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<p>Based on net price calculators, UC financial aid typically results in an in-state dependent student net price of FAFSA<em>EFC + ~$9,000, where ~$9,000 is the student contribution ($5,500 federal direct loan plus ~$3,500 work or work study earnings). For out-of-state students, add the additional out-of-state tuition, which is about $23,000. So the minimum net price for an out-of-state dependent student with FAFSA</em>EFC = $0 is about $32,000.</p>
<p>With FAFSA_EFC = $10,000, the net price will be about $19,000 for in-state dependent students and about $42,000 for out-of-state dependent students.</p>
<p>UC Merced appears to be similar to other UCs as described above, based on its net price calculator.</p>
<p>Thanks for the correction about the UCs and UMich. I knew UMich met need in-state but did not know about their desire to also meet need to OOS students.</p>
<p>Would applying to schools like Caltech (website says they meet all need…) be just a waste of money for me, with my extracurriculars? I know it’s a big reach for everyone, but with my relatively unimpressive EC’s would it be more so for me? Just marching band (potential leadership position next year) and concert band, TSA (only regionals), and some volunteer stuff. I’m teaching myself to program and building stuff like tesla coils, does that count for anything? Also not sure that I can count on really good recommendations considering I’m pretty quiet and don’t talk much in class so most teachers wouldn’t have much more than my grades to go off of.</p>
<p>And would I likely have a decent shot at the competitive merit scholarships in the thread ucbalumnus linked to? And what are NCP’s?</p>
<p>Also SAT scores (will probably take SAT II’s):
CR: 800, M: 790, W: 750 (E: 8)</p>
<p>Actually CalTech will care much more about your science EC’s (research/science fair/Siemens/Intel/ ACM/AIME…) then marching band, sports, etc.</p>
<p>You should focus first on the “100%” schools AND the automatic scholarships - automatic means just that: you get the score, you have admission+scholarship.</p>
<p>Competitive scholarships: focus first on any full-ride or full-tuition at any in-state public: then private colleges 400+ miles away or actively seeking someone like you; then other universities in areas of interest.</p>
<p>I’d check out Missouri S&T - Very highly respected program, small school, and because it is a smaller state school, tuition is likely less than many of your options.</p>
<p>@MYOS1634 Makes sense, thank you. By 100% schools you mean they meet all need, correct?
@stanatedj Sounds like a nice place, thanks. U Minnesota is cheaper though (both OOS, not counting any financial aid) and is higher ranked I believe… Though it’s bigger and probably more of a party school…</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure Missouri S&T is ranked higher than Minnesota for Mechanical Engineering by most - Its reputation is awfully good…I don’t put a lot of faith in rankings for Engineering degrees anyway, though. If you are looking at them, however, you might want to take a look at both and see how they feel. </p>