Any ideas on my chances at Merit Scholarships?

<p>As of now I am planning on applying to 9 schools, mostly because I am hoping to get a merit scholarship that will cover almost all of my tuition. What do you think my chances are of getting in and perhaps getting money from:
1. USC
2. Northwestern
3. George Washington
4. American
5. Pepperdine
6. Syracuse
7. Boston U
8. Ithaca</p>

<p>I have taken all honors (10 total) and AP classes (4) whenever available throughout high school. (Attended competitive public high school-also participated in Drama Magnet program)</p>

<p>GPA: 4.13 (only AP classes weighted)
In top 5% of class (don't know my class rank specifically) out of 250 students
AP Biology: 5
AP US History: 5
Currently taking AP Literature and AP Calculus AB</p>

<p>SAT I: 1410 (700 Math, 710 Verbal)</p>

<p>EC:
3 years JV and V Softball
2 years V Golf
4 years in Drama Magnet and performed in many school plays - was a Governor's Honors Semi-Finalist in Drama
3 years in film club
2 years in National Honor Society
1 year volunteer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters
2 years on school newspaper staff (1 year as In-Depth Editor) - won award at a summer Journalism week-long seminar as "Most Insightful Observationist"
2 years on student government</p>

<p>What do you think? Any ideas on California schools with Journalism programs that could be less expensive than private schools? Any ideas on schools with Journalism that I could be almost assured of a merit scholarship? Any schools w/drama scholarships that you don't have to major in?</p>

<p>Read the thread below starting "help--merit scholarships". Some of the schools on your list --Northwestern, for example-- offer almost no merit aid.
You need to research which schools have merit aid.</p>