Best schools that give the most merit based aid

<p>Also folks keep in mind that receiving a full ride at a Top 10 school or even a Tier 1 school is incredibly difficult. The people who receive these full rides are pretty much deciding between the full ride and an HYPS. I am not joking on this. These programs as Byerly said were created to poach HYPS kids. I was a poached kid, but just<em>forget</em>me politely declined.</p>

<p>Also, you have to look at it strategically from the point of view of a college. Colleges like Duke are heavily investing in their student body (i.e. poaching top students via Robertsons, A.B., etc.) because they are banking on the fact that these students will go on to accomplish great things in the next twenty to fifty years that will both a) greatly increase the university's endowment (because relatively speaking their endowments aren't "big") and b) increase the reputation of a school like Duke (thus attracting and increasing it's academic preeminence and "status"- much like a HYPS).</p>

<p>As one of my good friends put it, "They are investing in your future".</p>

<p>Yes, I agree to a point. The programs probably were designed and do have the effect of "poaching" HYPS applicants. But that is not always the case, there are times when the alternative, if financially viable, is a better fit. In my opinion its a lot more about best fit and where you think you will be happy as opposed to only prestige. Ivys are great, but their atmosphere and campus culture may not be for everyone. But everyone has to make their own choice as to what is best for them. I for one am happy that those kinds of choices are available, unfortunately maybe not to everyone, but at least to selected people that established a goal at the start of high school and then persevered to reach that goal.</p>

<p>University of Rochester apparently meets like 100% aid.</p>

<p>I agree with SevenNights and SchoolTime. The one issue I don't hear discussed much with these full merit awards is--not simply the money involved (which is subtantial)--but the prestige and honor given to a student who receives one of these truly fine awards. This is serious recognition of all that a student has accomplished and, yes, definitely an "investment" in that student's future. Also, I think that it's one thing to be accepted at a "selective" school with a thousand + others, but quite another to be singled out and recognized (and rewarded) for years of hard work, dedication to academics, causes and passions, and for true leadership--those attributes which will not end when one graduates from high school. My own daughter remembers being in a class in middle school, where a teacher told the students that "you want to be so outstanding throughout your school years that colleges pay YOU to come to their school, not the other way around." Yes. And why not.</p>

<p>Well said, jack! There are some incredibly inspiring teachers out there. Glad your daughter got one of them.'</p>

<p>Receving this kind of recognition is an outstanding achievement. My son will probably be in line for some pretty good scholarship money, and I am so proud of him!</p>

<p>Jack - I think you really nailed it. Many of the major merit awards are tied to Scholar or other special on campus programs. This is not to say that the money is not important, because it certainly is. In addition to the money these programs offer substantial benefits to members. Among these benefits are priority or special housing, priority registration, special programs & seminars, opportunity for research work starting in freshman year, better than normal accesability to profs and staff, special counselors or advisors, special off campus seminars or programs and in many cases even study abroad. Many of these programs begin during the summer before freshman year. But as I stated before, in most cases recipients of these awards are reaping a just reward for four years of dedicated work.</p>

<p>I think someone previously mentioned investment in the school or student. This is true because the school is investing in their future. They are hoping to identify individuals that will have a positive impact on the school not only immediately but almost more so in 20 or 30 years. Which school does not want a future nobel price winner or alumni who will contribute major funding in the future. So admissions not only has to assemble a vibrant undergrad college community, but they also have to crystal ball gaze for 20 - 30 years in the future.</p>

<p>Brandeis. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. University of Florida.</p>

<p>Well, if you live in Florida, it doesn't take much to get a full ride to UF - 1270 SAT, 3.5 weighted GPA, and 75 community service hours. and 75% is an 880 SAT and 3.0 weighted GPA and no service.
I guess for Florida residents its a pretty good deal cause we can go to any public state school for free. If we go to a private college in FL, we can get a fixed award amount, but its pretty low.</p>

<p>Actually, the bright futures with the 1270 SAT only covers tuition. UF however does offer another 5500$ per year on top of bright futures to national merit finalists instate, and I think out of staters get the tuition reduced to instate price and get $9500 per year.</p>

<p>University of Southern California seemed generous to me, but they also have a large student body. They publicize their large scholarships, but after receiving one I received one or two more offers in the mail about research/scholarship opportunities and whatnot.</p>

<p>If you're interested in engineering and don't mind a very, very small school, Olin has free tuition for whoever they accept.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the replies to my thread guys. I feel like I'm on the ivy level and am considering schools that will pay me to go there as a means of "poaching" me. The problem I'm worried about is the environment. I don't want to be at a school where the majority of kids just party and don't do work. I work hard and I play hard, but it's gotta be both. Ivy work environments are much better/intense</p>

<p>How hard is it to get the Robertson scholarship? I really want to get it, I will be applying to both schools. Are there any tips you can give me regarding it?</p>

<p>Thanks alot for any information.</p>

<p>JMAN-There's no secret to the Robertson, other than being among something like the top 1% of Duke applicants. They seem to value things like community service, leadership, ethics and character more than just grades/SAT scores (but the latter are probably pretty important too). I'm not sure whether you should do the supplemental essay or not. It might help you qualify as a semi-finalist, but it might hurt you in the long run because you won't get to do updated essays for the finalist round. I didn't do the supplement, but others who won the scholarship did. Feel free to IM me if you have any specific/personal questions or concerns.</p>

<p>JMAN1211: Check out some of the earlier posts on the 1st page of this thread on the Robertson.</p>

<p>Daughter was a good student and she received merit scholarships from a range of schools (family did not qualify for any need-based aid). She received full tuition or more from Chicago, Emory, UNC Chapel Hill (out of state), Tulane, Fordham, Loyola New Orleans. She received $8,000 from NYU, $5,000 from Davidson, just over 1/2 tuition from WUSTL. She attends UChicago. The best book we found on the topic is called "Discounts and Deals at the Nation's Best Colleges" by Bruce Hammond.</p>

<p>I don't know if you consider case-western to be high enough caliber for your, but they're great for merit-aide. I think that I'm a similar student to you the way you described yourself - I'll be attending Duke this fall, but Case-Western gave me 24,400 I believe and I think most people with over 1500 on the old SATs and top 10% of their class get this much so it's very nice in that regard. It's a good school too. Best of luck</p>

<p>4 out the "Five Colleges of Ohio" are VERY generous with merit aid, especially if you are an out-of-state student. In order of generosity: Denison University, College of Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan University, Kenyon College.</p>

<p>Ivies do give aid, just not how you think. (More on Ivy poaching.)</p>

<p>For example, certain programs will turn your loans into outright grants.</p>

<p>e.g.</p>

<p>Columbia
<a href="http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/scholars/index.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/scholars/index.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Penn Vagelos (Biology)
<a href="http://www.sas.upenn.edu/biochem/vspmls.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.sas.upenn.edu/biochem/vspmls.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Cornell (Tradition)
<a href="http://www.commitment.cornell.edu/tradition/html/main.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.commitment.cornell.edu/tradition/html/main.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Cornell (Meinig National)
<a href="http://www.commitment.cornell.edu/CNS/index004.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.commitment.cornell.edu/CNS/index004.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>In another sense, you will be given research money or access to better classes, research programs, etc.--aid (in my mind) of a different sort:</p>

<p>Penn: University Scholar, Benjamin Franklin
<a href="http://www.upenn.edu/curf/uscholar/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.upenn.edu/curf/uscholar/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Cornell:
<a href="http://www.commitment.cornell.edu/CPRS/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.commitment.cornell.edu/CPRS/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Cornell (Mckinley):
<a href="http://www.commitment.cornell.edu:16080/mck_site/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.commitment.cornell.edu:16080/mck_site/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Stanford, not Ivy but:
<a href="http://www.stanford.edu/group/ps/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.stanford.edu/group/ps/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I know this isn't what people first envision when talking about aid (i.e. making these expensive places affordable), but these programs seem pretty awesome if you can get in one.</p>

<p>I'm sure there are others I don't know of . . .</p>

<p>Has anyone had experience with merit aid from private schools in the east that are in a slightly lower tier? I'm thinking of American Univ (honors prog), GWU (honors), Union College, Muhlenberg, or Clark.....</p>

<p>Anyone out there?</p>