<p>If you kid loves Vandy, Emory, or Rice, check out UGA and Texas.</p>
<p>If your kid likes NYU, look at George Washington U for a similar, but slightly smaller, less overwhelming atmosphere and chance for lots more merit aid.</p>
<p>Also, if your kid likes Georgetown or Tufts look at GWU for similar areas of interest with more merit.</p>
<p>GWU might have more merit aid...
but I hear it's the second most expensive university in the country.
The merit aid might only cover a small portion of the expenses, which means it'll still be incredibly expensive.
Just to give you some idea... the university has limobus transportation between schools, a concierge, and room service. They have to get money from somewhere to cover those costs... and of course... it comes from tuition!</p>
<p>takeme2cali-Yes, GWU is expensive without merit aid, but with merit aid (they routinely give half-tuition to top applicants) it is definitely less expensive than NYU, Georgetown and Tufts and many others.</p>
<p>If GWU is #2 where is the college with the unwanted #1 ranking?</p>
<p>23% of incoming freshman receiving merit $ doesn't sound too routine:</p>
<p><a href="http://gwired.gwu.edu/adm/financial/freshman.html%5B/url%5D">http://gwired.gwu.edu/adm/financial/freshman.html</a> </p>
<p>Are only NMS-types eligible?</p>
<p>dudedad- You don't have to be NMS to qualify. You should have approximately 2100 SAT scores to be considered, although you can qualify in the Engineering school with something a little lower.</p>