<p>I've learned so much reading these pages...now I need some help.</p>
<p>My son goes to large public high school, top 12% or so, has taken very difficult math and science classes, including many AP classes (UC 4.1 average). His SAT's are great 770 math, 720 writing, 700 reading (long story short, did not excel at psat, so no NMS). He has lots of music experience, varsity athlete (co-captain). He's not a candidate for top, top schools, but will have some good UC choices. We do not qualify for need based aid. </p>
<p>Any chance for merit aid at Tulane, Occidental, or somewhere else you care to mention or are his grades too low. He has B's in AP classes, A's in all honors classes. thanks to all</p>
<p>Definite chance for merit aid at Tulane. My S had the $22K DSA with lesser SAT scores, maybe a bit higher weighted average. He loved the place. Had to transfer out due to elimination of his major at Tulane. Now at Hopkins; no merit aid for him there, of course, as he is not anywhere near the top of their applicant pool.</p>
<p>My S also had decent merit aid at Santa Clara U, if that interests your S. I think the male gender was a factor and, in our case, maybe the geography, although your boy would not have that element.</p>
<p>So, I would say your s could be a candidate for top schools if they interest him. As well as an excellent candidate for merit aid at any number of schools.</p>
<p>If you let us know what type of school he wants as to size, possible majors, atmosphere, location.... we can probably make specific suggestions.</p>
<p>As you may know, some merit aid is awarded at some schools on the basis of the general application alone. Some require special applications. At Tulane, eg, the DSA and some others come from the basic app. A separate application for the DHS could yield full tuition (assuming they haven't changed their merit award arrangements over the last year or so).</p>
<p>I assume because you mention UCs that you are in California. I would suggest you look at schools outside CA if you are interested in merit aid and he is interested in other states.<br>
For example, we did not qualify for need based aid. We are in CA. My son was accepted at some UCs. He ended up at Northeastern University in Boston with merit aid. This was probably in part because he had good stats particularly in his major and because they wanted to recruit from outside their area. Two years later, though, their acceptance rate is down to 33% but from what you describe, I would expect he could get some merit aid from NEU.</p>
<p>He is interested in business and film production. He would like to end up in LA working in the business side of the entertainment business. He visited Claremont and thought small classes and engaging professors were great (but impossible to get into these days with or without aid). He likes a separate "campus" feeling and does not want a commuter school. He is open to a large school as well. Ideal would be western US, but I haven't seen much not NMS based. He is outgoing is there is an interview process anywhere.</p>
<p>How reputable is his school with selective colleges? What is his unweighted GPA? Does he have any interest in LAC's or small uni's with really lopsided M/F ratios? On a scale of ...hmmmmm....Sandra Bernhardt to Orrin Hatch , where would your kid fit? (Tulane and Oxy didn't help me on the scale much. LOL. )</p>
<p>Look for threads started by digmedia. He will have some on film production programs, I think. His S had (as I recall) great merit aid in a film production program at Ohio University and he has provided some good information on this forum for other students/parents researching those types of programs.</p>
<p>I don't see that Claremont (or equivalent) would be impossible to get into for your son. Not trying to steer you toward the more selectives, but I'm thinking you are being overly pessimistic about his chances... if there is any interest.</p>
<p>Now... is the merit aid a must for your family? Or something it would be nice to have? Like you, we do not qualify for need-based aid. We did not realize our S's potential for merit aid (hadn't found cc until after his acceptances), so we were very pleasantly surprised at what he was offered. So merit aid was icing on the cake for us and we did not limit his selection of schools to consider based on aid possibilities.</p>
<p>If aid is a must, though, then you are wise to eliminate the uber-selectives or even probably the highly selectives, such as a Claremont. Because while he could certainly get in, he is much less likely to receive merit aid (at the ones who even give it).</p>
<p><em>takes a quick moment to wave hiya to curmudgeon; nice to see you</em></p>
<p>ebee brings up the point, which I alluded to in my S's results, that if you "go against type", you enhance the chances of merit aid: male where the M/F ratio is something the school wants to improve; geography...</p>
<p>Pomona gives no merit aid, but I almost think I've heard that some of the other Claremont's might? Goucher is artsy and gives good merit aid. Probably really want high-achieving guys. Grinnell has small classes, is loaded with opportunities and gives merit aid. Get over the Iowa thing--the campus is bursting with activities.</p>
<p>If merit aid is not the issue, and your son really wants the consortium, try Pitzer. It's easier to get into and they like film majors. (We, too, were told don't even consider Pomona or HM or CM without a 4.3 UC GPA from son's high school.) My son has friends at Seattle University and from talking to them he feels he could get a scholarship there. His stats are similar to your sons - a little higher GPA and a bit lower SATs. Chapman is also a consideration. Their tuition is a bit lower to begin with, they have film and your son's stats are high enough that they might offer merit aid.</p>
<p>He is more liberal, and very bright, but not overly intellectual (which is why Chapman seemed to slip off our list) and is used to having access to a city. If I seem pessemistic about admission to competitive schools; I may be jaded by the UC emphasis on grades only and their system of not giving more points for AP classes etc. However, ricegal seems to have gotten same feedback for the competitive claremont colleges.</p>
<p>Thoughts on University of Miami aid?
Merit aid is not a requirement, but we haven't figured out what to do if he gets into UCLA or Berkely and a lesser known LAC with no aid. It's a huge cost difference which would affect our ability to help me with grad school or cost of living in LA.</p>
<p>speaking only from a friends' experience here as my oldest two are Juniors,</p>
<p>His son attended a small public >500 students got 1 B in four years. and mid to high 700s on his SAT and too all five AP classses offered by his school.</p>
<p>Occidental offered him something like $14,000 in merit aid which didn't quite make a big enough dent in their price tag. However Pomona came through with a package that made it less pricey to attend there than a UC campus.</p>
<p>We are in CA too and are looking OOS at some of the LACs in Oregon and Trinity U in TX which offer good merit aid.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Occidental offered him something like $14,000 in merit aid which didn't quite make a big enough dent in their price tag. However Pomona came through with a package that made it less pricey to attend there than a UC campus.
[/quote]
But was the Pomona pkg need based (whole or part?)</p>
<p>University of Miami would be on my list, as it is known for good merit aid.</p>
<p>I don't know if the aid my friend's son received from Pomona was merit or not. His parents are a HS teacher and a part time teacher's aid so need based aid could definately have been a part of the package. Others on CC have said that Pomona doesn't give merit aid and since I am coming at this second hand, I am no expert.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm almost sure Pomona gives no merit aid, but check for yourself--good on need-based, I think, but that won't help here. Again, I don't know about film at Goucher, but it's near Baltimore, artsy, interesting and I think they'd be very interested in your son.</p>
<p>I have one at UMiami and think your S would have a great shot at some nice merit money there. I would recommend applying non-binding EA for the best scholarship opportunity (no additonal app necessary).</p>
<p>
[quote]
He would like to end up in LA working in the business side of the entertainment business.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Does your son have good connections to get him in the door at any of the major production houses in LA? If not, you may want to think about schools like UArizona, Loyola Marymount--schools with good ties to 'the business'.</p>
<p>Tulane and UMiami are amazing schools with good merit money--but they are a long way from LA.</p>