<p>We seem to be stuck in the previous thread on Merit Aid, so I thought I'd start another "list". Newbies may find this particularly helpful. The rules are:
If your kid loves college X you should check out college Y. The relationship can either be financial (i.e. no merit aid at X but a similar academic experience, types of programs, etc. at Y which does have merit aid); value based ( X is 45K per year; Y is less than that) or atmosphere, i.e. similar feel of the campus, type of student, etc. Only rule is that the pairs must actually be comparable along some dimension, so no fair pointing out that Norwalk Community College is cheaper than Yale and they're both in CT, unless there's actually a basis for comparison.</p>
<p>I'll start.
If your kid loves MIT you should check out:
Case, RPI, Rochester, JHU, Harvey Mudd, Caltech.</p>
<p>If your kid loves Yale you should check out:
Rice, Vanderbilt, Emery, Wash U.</p>
<p>If your kid loves Georgetown you should check out:
Villanova, Fairfield, Holy Cross, BU, Fordham.</p>
<p>Didn't get to thank you for your last posting on the previous thread. Good advice. From what I understand merit aid makes up about only 3% of the total money to be awarded. As such it should not be counted on and your S or D should have options in the same vein, as you stress here. Love your safeties, they may be your only options in many cases... No assumptions should be relied upon.</p>
<p>If you kid loves UGA or UVA, I'd suggest looking at U of South Carolina. It's a rising star and a real jewel of a school. They offer decent merit aid to OOS students as well. Anyone receiving a scholarship over a certain dollar amount also gets the instate tuition rate. The school has lots to offer and is simply terrific. It was DD's second choice and a hard one to let go of. She decided to attend a smaller college (which we supported...her HS class is only 186) but she'll always wonder "what if?? South Carolina". I will say...they are holding her acceptance for a full year in case she changes her mind. They are a class act.</p>
<p>Kind of a no-brainer, but--if you kid (in-state) likes Stanford (esp. Engineering), Caltech, USC or Santa Clara then consider: UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Cal Poly SLO (all less than half the price--even including room and board).</p>
<p>i have a question:
how are most people eligible for merit aid at caltech. being one of the most selective schools in the country, it seems like you would have to be beyond amazing to win a scholarship at the school. i also think the same holds true to washu, emory, and jhu but at a slightly lesser extent</p>
<p>If your kid likes Cornell or Penn Engineering or Business, you should check out:
PSU/Schreyer Honors College - great deal especially for instaters - small honor scholarship ($3500) plus departmental scholarships available
Lehigh - great programs and gives generous $ to top students
UVA: Still cheaper than private - but VERY hard to get into out of state.</p>
<p>If your kid loves Portland (the city), check out Lewis and Clark. I'd say Reed, but they really are awfully different, although my D applied to both because she loves Portland.</p>