<p>I have a question that I have been pondering for a while now, and figured I might as well ask. I am a sophomore in highschool, live in Ohio, and have a 34 on the ACT (havent taken the SAT and may or may not take it at all)(also ACT will probably improve I don't have Trig until next year so I only got 31 on math), but I just don't see how someone can spend $200,000 for 4 years of UNDERGRAD education when it comes to Ivy League/truly "Elite" schools. My parents make just enough money that I will not recieve much, if anything, in loans, and they won't pay for most of my college education because it is so expensive. My dream schools are MIT ot UPenn, but I just can't see those or any other Ivy league school happening because they do not give out merit scholarships and are so expensive. Which brings me to my question: What are the best "2nd tier" colleges for the money?? Like schools that give out merit scholarships and maybe cost $30,000 instead of $40,000 or $50,000 a year. A few that I have looked at are UNC, Carnegie Mellon and Michigan, but what others out there. My ACT score is pretty good, so I'm hoping if I find a good "2nd tier" college (relatively close to Ohio, but I guess I don't really care Berkeley is in my top 5) where I can earn some money in merit scholarships, but still get a very good education. I know I'm only a sophomore and I have time, but I really want an idea of schools I should be looking at! I dunno if this has anything to do with anything but the majors I am considering are physics, engineering of some sort, computer science, or int'l business. Thanks!!!</p>
<p>PS This may be in the wrong place, I'm sorry if it is....</p>
<p>Case Western if you don’t mind staying in Ohio.</p>
<p>If you have that ACT and can maintain a high GPA , you would be eligible for a very goo scholarship at U of
Alabama.</p>
<p>Olin offers 1/2 scholarships to the entire class and their selectivity is slightly lower than MITs.</p>
<p>Rice offers some merit money.</p>
<p>Pitt, Maryland and others offer merit money.</p>
<p>Look also at Ohio publics, because they will be generous to you.</p>
<p>What are the best “2nd tier” colleges for the money?? Like schools that give out merit scholarships</p>
<p>Alabama is the highest ranked national university that gives out ASSURED full tuition scholarships for stats. If you apply before Dec 1st, you would get AT LEAST full tuition if your GPA is also at least a 3.5. Your remaining costs would be room, board, books, misc. An excellent deal, a very good financial safety.</p>
<p>Presidential Scholarship - Full tuition for non-residents who have an ACT 32+ or a SAT 1400+ (Math + CR) and a 3.5+ GPA. Must apply by Dec 1st. </p>
<p>Every fall, about 500 freshmen enroll with the above scholarship. This fall will likely be higher. Projections are that about 60% of the frosh will be from out of state.</p>
<p>If you major in eng’g or comp sci, then Bama gives you an additional 2500 per year.</p>
<p>Bama has a brand new mega sized Science and Engineering Complex. Absolutely gorgeous with state of the art equipment, labs, and classrooms.</p>
<p>Have you asked your parents how much they’ll pay? If not, do so. That’s important info.</p>
<p>Berkeley is not likely going to give you anything. They don’t give much merit and they’re not generous to OOS students.</p>
<p>If you are set on engineering, consider Cooper Union in NY. It is one of the most selective colleges in the U.S. and offers a full tuition scholarship to every accepted student. (Students must fund room and board.) I would say that the top schools that offer a guaranteed full ride (tuition + room + board) to every student are the service academies-- West Point, Annapolis, etc. None of these schools are 2nd tier but they are rather competitive and, obviously, with the service academies, you have to be willing and interested in serving in the military. Bama is a solid school with an easier admit so, assuming they keep up their generous scholarships, you could use it as more of an admissions/ financial safety. Look to see what the Ohio state Us offer for merit; you have quite a selection of schools there (Miami U, Ohio State, Ohio U, U of Cincinnati, etc. </p>
<p>UNC, Carnegie Mellon and Michigan are not 2nd tier colleges and they are not schools known for merit although UNC has the very competitve Robertson. Do you know how much your parents will pay? Are they willing to pay $30k/ year or did you just throw out that number, thinking you could get loans to cover that (because you can’t)? If they are setting a monetary limit, you need to know around what it will be because your list would be different if they are willing to fund $30K vs $0.</p>
<p>If you decide Intl business, I would suggest you stay in Ohio and try Miami University, they are always listed in different mags for being a great value for the money.</p>
<p>Check out tulane and univ of miami for 1/2 off tuition opportunities</p>
<p>Also, univ of oklahoma, suny binghampton and univ of minn for reasonable out of state tuition</p>
<p>Also, schools in canada, such as mcgill and univ of toronto</p>
<p>You can cross off Michigan as it costs $50K for OOS and they give very limited merit aid. My son was offered $1500 for his 35 ACT score so it will be as expensive as any of the Ivies.:o</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If you are looking for merit aid, the most important test to take in high school is the PSAT. You MUST MUST MUST take it your junior year to qualify for NMSF. If you make that, then you also need to take the SAT to make NMF. Even if you don’t make those levels, it’s good to take both ACT and SAT because schools will honor either one and some students do significantly better on one vs. the other.</p>
<p>Based on a 34 ACT you have an excellent shot at NMSF/NMF.</p>
<p>Alabama has been mentioned, and some other schools in the USNWR top 100 national universities that give full tuition scholarships to NMSF/NMF are Fordham, Northeastern, and Baylor.</p>
<p>Baylor would be a good one. They have an excellent engineering department. They do VERy well on that exam all engineers have to take. Also, your score would automatically get you 15,000 off of the 40,000 cost which puts it around 25,000. If you are a NMF, you could get more.</p>
<p>Yes, make sure that you take the PSAT during October of your junior year. Ask your GC about that next Sept when school starts.</p>
<p>Did you take a “practice” PSAT during your soph year? If so, how did you do?</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice guys!! Didn’t know about the opportunities at baylor and u of alabama I will definitely look into those. Also very interesting about u of Michigan I was assuming that they were generous in financial aid because my cousin got a pretty generous package with her 32 act (~$20k per year to go there out of state), but I guess there was more to it than just her act score?? I dunno… Anyways, unc was on my list because they are less than a lot of the schools ($32k plus r+b) for out of state and the are reasonable with financial aid. Carnegie Mellon is simply a dream, it’s really close to my home and I’d love to go there so I try to justify it, but I guess I really can’t… ;(</p>
<p>Also regarding sat/nmst, all advanced students at my high school are required to take the nmst, so I guess I have no choice about that. I am worried that I am more geared toward the act and wont do as well on the sat (no huge vocabulary, the time crunch actually helps me on the act for some reason), but if I put some time into it I may be able to be in the running for nms. </p>
<p>Finally, regarding a number we can put down, probably in the neighborhood of $15k a year. I don’t want to take out huge college loans if I don’t have to, but i think its important to go to a good program so that’s really where my crossroads is…</p>
<p>And coloradogreycat</p>
<p>“Read through both of these threads when you
have time. I think they’ll really help you. IMPORTANT: Links to AUTOMATIC/
GUARANTEED Merit Scholarships Schools known for good merit aid”</p>
<p>Bery interesting link… Vandy gives good aid??? That is a really good school and I would love to go there if it is affordable…</p>
<p>And I take back that 15k figure, probably 25k if you consider college fund too I’ve done a really good job saving over the years.</p>
<p>And finally sorry for all the posts I am cheating my schools wifi and I can’t find edit (opera web browser 
) but nevertheless I did do the practice PSAT and got a 187… Did it cold turkey though and didn’t know a lot of the math yet (57 in math because I hadn’t had algebra ii or trig… My school is behind) but I have no idea what my range will be if I practice</p>
<p>If you think you can afford $25K/year then you will want to make sure you have some good merit aid possibilities in your school set. The FAFSA EFC tends to be somewhere in the 25% of income range. It sounds like your family may be financially strong and your EFC would be fairly high.</p>
<p>That’s what I’m saying. We are fairly well off I can afford to go to some ok colleges but once I get into any elite schools that are 40-50k per year I just can’t justify it without significant merit scholarships. I wont get much if anytging in financial aid so Im trying to find the right balance between cost value and an very good education. We can afford some college but even with a high act good grades and tons of extracurriculars I don’t think I will get much money for a school like Carnegie Mellon or michigan where it costs that much($40k+ 10k room and board) and they are not generous in their merit aid.</p>
<p>Ohio State is the clear answer…</p>
<p>Ohio State is an amazing school. But everything is dependent on lots of things. Such as what are you planning to major in, what type of school you looking for big or small, what type of city you prefer urban or rural. Lots of what ifs.</p>