Are Merit-Based Scholarships solely based on Stats?

So I was wondering how much of the weight is given on Academics and how much on EC’s (it’s really vague on the websites as they don’t have a specific mark for scholarships like U Alabama does)

I am looking at a couple of OOS universities and was wondering if I could qualify for their merit-based scholarships (if they have any).

Emory University,
Georgia Tech
Purdue
UIUC
Penn State
University of Washington
University of Michigan
USC

Major: Comp Sci, or Engineering probably.

Stats: 3.94 UW, 4.16 W, Top 10%, 2320 SAT, 1520 CR+M, No NMF, Poor EC’s
Asian Male from California

I’ll really only be applying to these schools if I could possibly qualify for some merit-based scholarships as the OOS tuition is too expensive.

Thanks

Stats are big in merit scholarships, but with weak EC’s, you basically throw away your chances at top schools like that. They want to see a well rounded student who not only showed his or her excellence in their scores, but also in leadership positions, volunteering, etc.

Add Tulane to your list

@GMTplus7 Do you know how much money I would be getting there?

@tigerrocks13 Do you know any schools that give merit-aid solely based on stats besides Alabama?

Why the focus on merit aid?

Are u from a high income family? PRIVATE schools give need-based FA too, you know, irrespective of what state u live in.

You’d probably get the 32k/yr scholarship.

@GMTplus7 So how much would I be paying out of pocket?

@GMTplus7 Although the calculators for some schools say that I would get a lot of need-based aid, I don’t know exactly how accurate they are as people with similar income/assets had to end up paying like 50-60k (Low income, high assets) , and for almost any school, I don’t want it to be more expensive than 30k a year which is the UC tuition.

Also, most of the generous private schools happen to be the most difficult to get into (MIT, Stanford, Havard etc. based their calculators).

I’ll probably get rid of Emory, U Mich, Georgia Tech and UIUC for now as their merit-based scholarships seem to be out of my reach. Penn State I remember somebody said that they’re really stingy.

So that leaves Purdue and U Washington. Do I have any shot at those and if so, how much would I expect to get?

Thing is, I think I can at least get into a UC, so paying an extra 20-30k for an OOS school wouldn’t make too much sense as going to a UC is perfectly fine with me. That’s kind of where I’m getting at, just looking for UC-level schools that may be cheaper as top privates, while generous are a huge reach, and the schools not as good as UCM/UCR, while generous also, I may not want to go there.

You do the math. Here is a list of other schools which offer merit aid.
http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php

Ok thanks, 32k a year is about the same as the UC’s so I will definitely consider it. Also thanks for the list!

I would leave a couple out there on the off chance the school can come up with some good merit aid for you. You have a good base to work from with the UCs.

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Emory University,
Georgia Tech
Purdue
UIUC
Penn State
University of Washington
University of Michigan

1520 M+CR


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GT…probably none
Purdue…probably about $10k per year
UIUC…probably none
Penn State…probably none …About $5k merit is usually only for Schreyer HC and you don’t have the ECs for that.
UWash…not known for OOS merit
UMich…probably not. They have so many top stats students in CS/eng’g

Tulane…probably the $32k award, but Tulane has limited eng’g so check the discipline choices.

What you’re facing is that you’re looking at schools where the CS/Eng’g applicants are top students.

Merged two identical threads
ED
Mod

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1678964-links-to-popular-threads-on-scholarships-and-lower-cost-colleges.html#latest

Read the links in the thread I put here. There is one for guaranteed full tuition and full ride scholarships…based on stats.

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Major: Comp Sci, or Engineering probably.

Stats: 3.94 UW, 4.16 W, Top 10%, 2320 SAT, 1520 CR+M, No NMF, Poor EC’s
Asian male California


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Are you afraid that with your “poor ECs” that you won’t get into a top tier UC?

@mom2collegekids I’m probably not applying to the College of Engineering at least for the UC’s so I guess that helps a bit.

All I’m hoping is that the college will understand my situation, had to take care of my mother for the past 3 years, no form of transportation.

And I’m not going to be too bummed out if I don’t get into a top UC like UCB/UCLA/UCSD etc., so no, I’m not too afraid. After seeing what the graduated seniors have done and where they ended up, I realized how competitive UC admissions have become with the 100k applicants at Berkeley and LA.

But I think I get into UCM automatically from my stats so at least there’s that

Another STEM school that you should great merit aid with those stats is UT Dallas. You would have your tuition covered and an additional cash stipend.

@GTAustin I looked over their website but they say that they don’t guarantee anything. It’s still an option, especially the Honors Scholarship if I can qualify, but the 1510 CR+M was only an average and they said they are holistic in their scholarship grants which might go against me.
Thanks for the suggestion though! I will probably add it to my college list if I find any more info on the scholarship and how it works.

I think you would have a good shot at AES Distinction level and maybe the Honors level at UT Dallas. Under both, you would have your tuition paid with some cash for room and board. All you have to do is apply and they will automatically consider you for it. It is getting more competitive but it might be worth the $50 fee. Also, all the facilities and dorms are brand new and between Dallas and Austin there are many intern and coop possibilities.