<p>I've found myself in this situation. The majority of the schools on my list except for the prestigious ones (Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Spelman) are colleges in the middle of nowhere that could be hardly considered selective. I wouldn't want to go to this schools but the only reason why I'm applying is because I'd receive a lot of merit, potentially a full-scholarship as well.</p>
<p>Is anyone doing the same?</p>
<p>Well in Texas, if you're in the top 10% you have guaranteed admission to any state school in Texas.</p>
<p>So I applied (and was accepted, of course) to UT Austin, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech so I can compare packages later.</p>
<p>But of course, if I had to choose between just those three alone, I'd **definitely **choose UT Austin, no questions asked.</p>
<p>So it was kinda pointless of me applying to the other two haha</p>
<p>hmm. no responses.</p>
<p>RESPOND</p>
<p>poison.ivy - Yes. My kids. And lots of kids (at least the well prepared ones). What good are a bunch of admissions to schools you can't afford to go to, or if you have to graduate with a ton of debt? Be glad you've done your homework on college admissions. You'll be laughing all the way to the bank.</p>
<p>My d - yes. These also tend to be her safer schools, which everyone needs to have. BUT - the difference between her and you is that every one of these schools is one she would be happy to go to.</p>
<p>Definitly. One of the schools I'm applying to guarentees scholarships if you have above a certain GPA and SAT score. </p>
<p>I applied to some schools that are expensive and with no chance of merit aid (Bryn Mawr) and some that are expensive but with a nice chance of merit aid and good financial aid. It's always good to have a balance, so that when April comes you can weigh the pros and cons.</p>
<p>Yes. Several. That's why my college list is so ridiculously safety heavy but hey... the more offers you have to compare, the better ;)</p>
<p>And Backtothestars, I'm applying to Bryn Mawr, too! It's my first choice!! <em>loves on BMC</em> Awesome :D</p>
<p>rofl, I think I have a Pavlovian response to the words "Bryn Mawr" now. :D</p>
<p>Oh and I just wanted to add that for the most part, I picked schools that I wanted to go to rather than schools just for aid. It's a great perk, but... not the reason I'm applying, lol. And it should never be that way, I think. A couple I applied b/c of the money and b/c it would be a school close to my friends, but the rest I would be happy to go to. In fact, my second choice (Hollins) is a definite safety for me... <em>g</em></p>
<p>Hehe, Pavlov.. just learned about that in psych. XD</p>
<p>Nifty... personally, I don't think I've got much of a chance of getting in there, but it's my only reach school and I'll actually be okay with getting rejected. ^^ Best of luck to you though.</p>
<p>i would think that most of the population apply only to schools that they will be able to afford...</p>
<p>The game plan in doing this is to not only to work hard but to work smart. Like others have posted here, why break the bank when a decent more affordable school is within financial reach.</p>
<p>"I've found myself in this situation. The majority of the schools on my list except for the prestigious ones (Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Spelman) are colleges in the middle of nowhere that could be hardly considered selective. I wouldn't want to go to this schools but the only reason why I'm applying is because I'd receive a lot of merit, potentially a full-scholarship as well."</p>
<p>If you wouldn't want to go to those schools, don't bother applying. Why? If you get great merit aid from them, your parents may make you turn down your more desired colleges to accept the ones giving you the better deal. Don't think that you'll be able to use merit aid from the less desired colleges to negotiate better deals wtih the colleges that you want to go to if the less desired colleges aren't as competitive with the ones you most want to go to.</p>
<p>To be able to negotiate successfully merit aid, one needs to have an offer in hand from a college with a comparable competitiveness. </p>
<p>Since you're interested in women's colleges, I suggest that instead of applying to colleges in the middle of nowhere that you consider applying to less competitive colleges that are in desireable locations. For instance, Agnes Scott, like Spelman, is in Atlanta. Check to see if that offers merit aid because if so, you might be a good candidate for it.</p>
<p>I also suggest that you apply to Bennett College, a HBCU women's college Greensboro, N.C. Johnetta Cole, former Spelman president, is president of Bennett and is doing wonderful things there including instituting an excellent leadership program.</p>
<p>Here's a link to women's colleges in the U.S. Several are noncompetitive and are in cities (Lesley College, Cambridge Mass., just blocks away from Harvard, is one example): <a href="http://www.univsource.com/womens.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.univsource.com/womens.htm</a></p>
<p>Although I'm an admissions officer who works at a need-based-only school and have some serious issues with "merit" financial aid, I'm going to ignore this and provide my two cents which I hope will be helpful...</p>
<p>I was admitted early action to my top choice (over a decade ago) which, at the time, was not need-blind (they are now) and did not meet 100% of financial need (they do now). I was crushed to learn that I did not get a lot of need-based aid (the only kind of aid they offer as it is an Ivy League school). I applied to other schools - including some other Ivies - hoping to get more money - either merit- or need-based. Well, this happened and I was excited because I thought my first choice would maybe match the other offers; my top choice did match the need-based aid from the other Ivies, but that was it - and it wasn't much! It was difficult to pay the $25,000/year balance (I know it's a bargain by today's standards, but this was in the 90s and my family was not well-off), especially when I was offered free rides to NYU, Tulane, Rutgers, and some others. However, my parents knew that my top choice really was the best fit for me and we explored all of our financing options/worked closely with the financial aid office all four years to make it work at my top choice. I did graduate with debt, but the opportunities I had at my top choice were amazing and, having spent 4 years there, I regret nothing. The debt was worth it - not because of the prestige (although it has certainly helped), but because I was more than happy academically, socially, and otherwise. </p>
<p>Thus, I think it's important to think seriously about where you are really going to be the happiest. I work at an extremely selective "name" college and I do meet students who realize that the place is not for them when they really think hard about what kind of place they want to live and learn in for four years. True, the four years can fly by, but not if you're miserable! If you truly feel you will be happy with one of the less-selective schools you are applying to, then apply to them. And remember, just because a college is "less-selective" doesn't mean it isn't a great school! But if you really have done your homework and think Bryn Mawr, Spelman, or Smith are really where you'll be happiest, don't give up until you truly weigh your happiness versus your future debt...you'll have the rest off your life to pay off the loans (which really aren't that bad when you are paying month the month) but only 4 years of college...your college education is an investment in the rest of your life and something you'll have forever!</p>