Affordable Schools for my Situation

College Search & Selection
1

I recently sat down and had the finances talk with my parents, and it has made a good number of the places I was thinking about (currently a HS Junior for the record) totally financially unfeasible. Any help coming up with some more schools that fit my criteria would be much appreciated, mainly because I don’t know very much about most that might be affordable.

Finances:
Family income is around 90K, with a calculated EFC of around 17K. However, my parents will only pay 5-6K per year and will not cosign on or take out any other loans. Thus, I need to be able to pay for everything with 5-6K from them, 5.5K in federal student loans, and whatever I can make from working. Basically, I can’t afford to go anywhere with less than a full tuition scholarship. Because of this, most elite schools which only give need-based aid are off the table and I’m looking for merit aid.

Stats:
I believe I have the stats to at least give me a chance for aid anywhere, but I’d like to find places where I have a pretty good chance.
35 ACT, 1540 SAT, 2 x 800 SAT II
4.0 UW GPA, 1/270 rank
Should be a National Merit Semifinalist
I also have some interesting EC’s that I won’t bother detailing here. Suffice it to say, I think I can compete for merit money.

Preferences:
Urban, preferably in quite a large city (most important consideration to me)
Northeast and Midwest are best locations, though I’ll look anywhere if I have a good chance at significant money
Good Political Science/International Affairs/Economics, with ability to double major
Strong in many different academic areas because I really don’t know what I want to do

I should also mention that I get Tuition Exchange (TE) benefits, I just don’t know anything about the majority of the schools on that list.

Schools I’ve considered already:
University of Cincinnati (In-state)
The Ohio State University (In-state)
University of Pittsburgh (TE)
Boston University (TE)
George Washington University (TE)
American University (TE)
Case Western Reserve University (TE)
University of Southern California (TE)
Tulane University (TE)
Washington University St. Louis
University of Chicago
McGill University
University of Toronto
University of British Columbia
Sciences Po

So in the end, I’m wondering if you could help suggest some places where, either because of National Merit, Tuition Exchange, or my stats, I’ve got a better chance than most of these places at getting at least a Full Tuition scholarship.

2

Tuition exchange does not mean that you will get full tuition at any school. Have you looked at the TE rules for your parent’s school?

3

Yes, sorry if I didn’t make that clear. I understand that most of those have a very low chance of even getting a TE scholarship at all, much less full tuition. That’s why I need to look for other schools.

4

Check out scholarships from these lists. *NOTE: you should check with any of the schools that interest you to make sure they are still offering these. Kentucky is one where it’s unclear whether they will still offer their big scholarship for NMF.

http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/

http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/

Does anyone have the link to the list of competitive full tuition/full ride scholarships?

Also, I’m surprised Miami of OH isn’t on your list. I think you’d have a good shot at getting full tuition there.

5

Location is my big issue with Miami. I would not be happy in Oxford and I know that, so it’s not worth it even for the money.

6

Unless you have dual citizenship I doubt the Canadian schools will fall within your budget. You have excellent stats and should find good merit scholarships in the US.

7

@larkin29 Basically, you have between $10,500-11,500 total. You need to be very selective about what schools you apply to bc that amt is not going to cover room and board at a lot of schools. Room and board and fees (fees are not included in many full tuition awards) can range from $8000 to almost $20,000.The extra $ you earn can be used for books, transportation, and personal expenses.

Your budget is very similar to our kids, so I know how difficult it is to find schools that fit those parameters. Your best strategy is to apply to a broad range of schools with everything from guaranteed close to full-ride scholarships to schools with scholarships only leaving affordable cost remainders to schools with competitive scholarships that if you don’t get awarded, you recognize that you can’t afford to attend.

Our current sr is very interested in all things international and foreign languages. I can tell immediately that SciencesPo is not affordable. Fordham with full-tuition is not affordable (not on your list, but similar in expenses to several of the schools on your list.). NMF scholarships at several lower ranked schools will be affordable.

Since your interests are similar to our dd’s, I can share that has decided to attend USCarolina as an IB major (with a double in Econ and minors in French and Russian) through their CIFA cohort (it has a finance focus and incorporates a yr exchange at Université Paris-Dauphine:

http://moore.sc.edu
http://moore.sc.edu/academicprograms/undergraduate/majorsoffered/internationalbusiness/optionsoverviews/cifafrance.aspx

The program became affordable through the stacking of a competitive and an automatic scholarship. They offer the automatic Lieber Scholarship for NMF and the competitive McNair. https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/undergraduate_admissions/honors_and_scholars_programs/top_scholars/

Good luck.

8

You could probably get a lot of merit aid at UT-Dallas. It’s in more of a suburban area, but it’s only a 40 minute drive to downtown Dallas. You would probably be in their honors college as well.

9

Pittsburgh, Alabama, and UT Dallas are the go-to schools for full-tuition merit scholarship. Pittsburgh has a nice honors college. You should apply to all three. Tulane and Brandeis have some that I’m aware of.

10

I’ll add in the thought for University of Pittsburgh. But this year was definitely an eye opener. There were 35ACT #1 kids who got full tuition–but also quite a few who barely got $15K per year. I would put in on the maybe list and then also makes sure you were in love with University of Oklahoma and University of Alabama.

Definitely spend some time in the Class of 2017 parents board catching up–we have some who have received everything from full tuition to full ride awards but they are each unique in their hooks and ECs. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them…they are very nice and helpful people. Good luck!

11

Consider applying to Princeton, Yale, and Harvard. While a long shot like everyone, their aid is substantial enough that at $90k income, you might make your budget if you get in.

Tulane: Dean’s Honor Scholarship/Paul Tulane would leave you $13,500 if I remember right. You could apply to be an RA as sophomore to reduce most if not all of R&B. DHS is a creative project that is best worked on over the summer. Paul Tulane is two essays.

SMU: You would be competitive for Presidential Scholars which is a full ride plus study abroad. Common app plus a supplement. Finalists are invited for an interview weekend on campus.

UT-Dallas: as previously mentioned. I just know they have a program similar to SMU

Univ of Oklahoma is generous with National Merit Finalist as is Bama, Arizona, and Arizona State. There may be others. Baylor is full tuition but R&B would break your budget. Pretty sure Univ of Ariz waives OOS tuition plus a partial stipend to R&B to get you below your budget.

Various state schools have a Stamps scholarship that is a full ride. Highly competitive but you might pick one or two and give it a shot.

Really spend a lot of time on your common app essay and don’t apply to so many schools that you can’t give appropriate attention to the supplements.

12

Re #3

The competitive full tuition list is at
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com

13

“Should be a National Merit Semifinalist”

There’s your ticket to ride…

You’ll be fine…just focus on the big NMF schools AND include a few others in case you miss the cut-off.

What was your PSAT score and what state are you in?

14

Previous posters have mentioned UT Dallas, and it does offer a fabulous National Merit package. However it’s very heavy on the STEM side (most popular major is computer science, and the engineering majors aren’t far behind). It’s a great school and very high on my son’s list, but for your possible majors you might not like it as much.

Is commuting an option? Or doing your general education at a community college to save money to finish up at a four-year?

15

^^^

Not a good idea to start at a CC and then transfer. How’s he supposed to pay for those last two years?? He’ll have ruined his awesome merit opps as an incoming frosh NMF / high stats kid!

He doesn’t have to resort to commuting or going to a CC. There are univs that will give him huge merit.


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I recently sat down and had the finances talk with my parents, and it has made a good number of the places I was thinking about (currently a HS Junior for the record) totally financially unfeasible. Any help coming up with some more schools that fit my criteria would be much appreciated, mainly because I don't know very much about most that might be affordable.

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Finances:
Family income is around 90K, with a calculated EFC of around 17K. However, my parents will only pay 5-6K per year and will not cosign on or take out any other loans. Thus, I need to be able to pay for everything with 5-6K from them, 5.5K in federal student loans, and whatever I can make from working. Basically, I can’t afford to go anywhere with less than a full tuition scholarship. Because of this, most elite schools which only give need-based aid are off the table and I’m looking for merit aid.


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Parent contribution…about $5k per year, but EFC is around $17k


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Stats:
I believe I have the stats to at least give me a chance for aid anywhere, but I’d like to find places where I have a pretty good chance.
35 ACT, 1540 SAT, 2 x 800 SAT II
4.0 UW GPA, 1/270 rank
Should be a National Merit Semifinalist
I also have some interesting EC’s that I won’t bother detailing here. Suffice it to say, I think I can compete for merit money.


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Yay…high stats and likely NMF!


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Preferences: Urban, preferably in quite a large city (most important consideration to me) Northeast and Midwest are best locations, though I'll look anywhere if I have a good chance at significant money

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Good Political Science/International Affairs/Economics, with ability to double major

Strong in many different academic areas because I really don’t know what I want to do


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The NE is horrible with big merit. HORRIBLE!


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I should also mention that I get Tuition Exchange (TE) benefits, I just don’t know anything about the majority of the schools on that list.

Schools I’ve considered already:
University of Cincinnati (In-state)
The Ohio State University (In-state)
University of Pittsburgh (TE)
Boston University (TE)
George Washington University (TE)
American University (TE)
Case Western Reserve University (TE)
University of Southern California (TE)
Tulane University (TE)
Washington University St. Louis
University of Chicago
McGill University
University of Toronto
University of British Columbia
Sciences Po


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Is TE guaranteed if admitted? Does it cover all of tuition? How are the other costs


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So in the end, I'm wondering if you could help suggest some places where, either because of National Merit, Tuition Exchange, or my stats, I've got a better chance than most of these places at getting at least a Full Tuition scholarship. <<<

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A full tuition scholly leaves you with about $15k per year…plus airfare a few times per year.

WHAT is your career plan with Poly sci, int’l affairs, etc.?

.

16

Hate to say, that even with full tuition scholarship, Pitt is costing us more than 11K per year. That MIGHT cover room and board (I doubt it, but maybe my D could eat cheaper), but would not allow anything for books etc. Like was said above, full tuition scholarship is probably closer to owing 15K per year.

I don’t think you would like it because it isn’t urban, but the one place my D got money that put it WELL under 10K (her total cost was 5K) was Truman State in Missouri.

17

This student will have other options with these stats.

Does UTulsa still have huge NMF? it may be competitive but with his overall stats, he’d be a likely winner.

18

Tulsa does still have full ride for NMF–we just visited there a few weeks ago. It was not urban like Pitt or NE generally, but not rural either.

@mom2collegekids I hope you are right about winning with these stats! I have to say, I think our family preferred Oklahoma to Tulsa (and money is guaranteed there for NMF), but visiting both is pretty easy. The other NMF in my son’s group at Oklahoma had just come from Tulsa, and we went in the other order.

19

UTulsa still has that scholarship! Even if you don’t make the NMF cutoff, you’re eligible with an SAT score >1540 or ACT >33, plus a top 5% class rank. It requires a visit to campus by next March.

20

With your budget of around $10k per year including loan, you can eliminate most of the schools on your list as your EFC is much more than that. You need to focus on the full tution to full ride schools with your stat and NMF status.