<p>hi the title says it all i have 1510/1600 sat and will take it again in october to get closer to a 1600. have a pretty average weighted gpa of 3.8. wondering if there are any merit full rides available</p>
<p>Will you qualify for National Merit?
What was your junior year PSAT score?</p>
<p>[PSAT</a> Score Report | Interpreting PSAT Score](<a href=“http://www.princetonreview.com/college/psat-score-report.aspx]PSAT”>Guide to Your PSAT Scores | The Princeton Review)</p>
<p>There is a list on this board of schools that do give scholarships for certain test score/ grades cut offs. Check them out.</p>
<p>Are you an international student or are you a domestic student?</p>
<p>Can your family pay anything towards college? </p>
<p>Free rides are rare unless you’re a NMF. There are some free tuition scholarships.</p>
<p>Sorry, should have provided more info.
I am not national merit student. I didn’t really know what the psat was about when i took it so i didn’t do well on it. I just took a prep course which was useless and studied in may to get a 1510.
And here is a little background. I came from india when i was 10. I didn’t know a proper english because i was taught in a bad school in a small town near india. My family, i would say, is middle class. We are not poor.
I am planning on improving even more and am hoping to get something close to a 1550 and hopefully a 1600.
Do you think i might get scholarships because of my story? Do you think i can get a full ride to george mason with this sat score?</p>
<p>So, are you a US citizen or green card holder?</p>
<p>Full Ride Merit Scholarships are largely dependent on your stats (GPA and test scores). I doubt that a “story” is going to result in a free ride.</p>
<p>Are you only interested in George Mason? </p>
<p>Does GMU even offer any free rides? What does their website say?</p>
<p>what is your major?</p>
<p>How much can your parents contribute each year?</p>
<p>here are GMU’s scholarships. I don’t see a free ride offered, but maybe I’m overlooking one.
<a href=“http://financialaid.gmu.edu/scholarships/mason-scholarships/[/url]”>http://financialaid.gmu.edu/scholarships/mason-scholarships/</a></p>
<p>I am a green card holder.
And, when i said story, i meant with the 1510 sat and the story, am i able to get a full ride scholarship for a school?</p>
<p>At the moment, i am interested in mason because i can stay with my parents and go to school there and because it is the no 1 up and coming school in the US. But, i like William and Mary and VCu. I might also apply to a couple of ivy league schools also just to see if i get in but wont go there if i do.</p>
<p>I dont know what my major is yet. I would probably do computer science and take biology, chem, and physics classes to take the MCAT or something.</p>
<p>I know of a person who got a full ride to mason and on another thread it said that there are 25 full ride scholarships allotted each each year so i was just wondering about the gpa needed.<br>
And i think my parents will pay for college. they told me don’t worry about money but i know that if my parents have to pay 40 to 70 thousand for colleges then it will be tough on them and i think i will do medical school so that will put a lot of burden on their shoulders. And, i have a younger sister who is a sophomore so they would have to pay for her to go to college so i dont want to make them to stress.</p>
<p>???
So are you asking for a “full ride” scholarship (tuition, room, board and books)?</p>
<p>or…</p>
<p>Are you asking for a “full tuition” scholarship? There is a big difference.</p>
<p>I am hoping for a full ride but i will be happy with a full tuition scholarship also</p>
<p>Free advice…if you don’t plan to attend a college at all, don’t bother applying. What is your point in doing that?</p>
<p>As noted, full rides are not all that available. Scholarships covering tuition or a portion of it are more likely. Remember too that any scholarship money you receive for room and board will be taxed.</p>
<p>If you can commute to George Mason, you really need only tuition, fees, and expenses. You are eligible to take out a $5500 Direct loan your freshman year, and you hopefully have a job now and are saving to cover personal expenses and books. Your SAT score is very fine. Check the GMU website for scholarships for students with your stats. </p>
<p>There are other instate universities in VA where you might garner more aid…Old Dominion is one you might want to check.</p>
<p>Your “story” isn’t really anything special. Many students come to this country, work hard, and do well on the SAT. Congratulations to you for doing so…but it’s not remarkable in and of itself.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. But, my parents want me to apply to a few colleges that they like. I will apply to them because my parents want me to. But, i think that i probably wont go there just because they are expensive and dont give out merit scholarships. On the other hand, if they give me a lot of financial aid , i will go there.</p>
<p>And, thanks for telling me about the tax thing i didn’t know that before</p>
<p>And as for the story, i only wrote half of it. My family was basically poor in india. we got by with only 60 bucks a month. I didn’t own any english novels until i arrived in America.(we didn’t even have a black and white TV) The story isn’t just about me struggling once i came to america but also in india. So, i was just wondering if the story ans the sat score together would drive in scholarships. But,i guess not.</p>
<p>State schools, like GMU, really use merit to bring in high stats students. “Stories” don’t mean much to them.</p>
<p>Many folks who come to this country leave impoverished situations in their old country, and work hard to do well here. Really, your story is the same as many others who have moved here for better opportunities. I seriously doubt that it will get you scholarship money.</p>
<p>The things you really need is strong SAT/ACT and strong GPA. Those are what determines merit scholarships in most cases. Your SAT and GPA are fine. What is your unweighted GPA? Some schools use that.</p>
<p>Yes, your strong SATs and decent GPA are what you need to just make it to the table to be considered. I think you should give us more info on your stats (look at other posts and follow suit). </p>
<p>Also I am not really sure about your financial situation. You are not poor but middle class but you need lots and lots of scholarship money? It sounds like you could use more research about need-based aid versus merit awards. </p>
<p>Also you should run a net price calculator at George Mason as soon as possible. Have your parents’ taxes at hand so that you can put in real numbers and thus get a reasonably accurate picture.</p>
<p>If your family makes less than $60K you might look at Questbridge. It is for low-income students with high stats and they especially consider first generation college students.<br>
[QuestBridge</a> Home](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/]QuestBridge”>http://www.questbridge.org/)</p>
<p>There are many posters on this site who can give you lots of great advice – use this as a resource and ask lots of questions. You should post all your stats and keep updating your list of potential schools (go for 10). Posters here can give suggestions for schools. </p>
<p>A caveat: “chances” are just that, chances. It doesn’t matter what we think, it only matters what an admissions officer thinks! And, the financial aid director…</p>
<p>You might consider a mixed strategies approach. For example,</p>
<p>1) If your family makes under $60K, Questbridge
2) Your state school(s)
3) Private colleges which offer need-based aid where your stats are in the top 25%
4) Private colleges which offer merit awards where your stats are in the top 25%</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>PS - Your story would make a very interesting essay for your app.</p>
<p>Thanks momcinco. (about the essay advice) And, i need the money because my sister will also join college a year after me.
My math is 800 and my reading is 710. So, do you think, if i get my reading up to a 760 or higher then i would get more scholarships?
And, my dad says he runs payroll on 60 K. And, does the fact that my dad has to pay for my sister’s college expenses matter?
My school doesn’t do unweighted GPA so i don’t know what it would be.</p>
<p>
School determine your financial aid annually. So the fact that your sister will be attending college next year has no impact to your financial aid this year.</p>
<p>At James Madison you could apply for the Dingledine Scholarship: [James</a> Madison University - Thomas and Karyn Dingledine Scholarships](<a href=“Dingledine-Bluestone Scholarship - JMU”>Dingledine-Bluestone Scholarship - JMU)</p>
<p>You could also look into the Second Century Scholarship: [James</a> Madison University - Second Century Scholarships](<a href=“STEM Scholarships - JMU”>STEM Scholarships - JMU)</p>
<p>And if you meet the eligibility requirements the Centennial Scholarship program: [OSAP</a> :: Centennial Scholars](<a href=“http://www.jmu.edu/centscholars/]OSAP”>Centennial Scholars Program - JMU)</p>
<p>There are also Madison Achievement Scholarships, these are smaller than the above: [James</a> Madison University - Madison Achievement Scholarships](<a href=“Madison Award for Academic Excellence - JMU”>Madison Award for Academic Excellence - JMU)</p>
<p>Thank you for the links. i will apply to JMU now.</p>