Hello Wise Ones!
I am looking for a list of schools who offer good merit aid in CA to a student with anticipated students in the excellent range. She won’t qualify for national merit unless there’s a miracle, but I would expect she would be in the 30s somewhere on the ACT and close to if not over a weighted 4.0. She is tackling the IB diploma, and is a Junior. She would prefer to be at least 90 minutes from OC, and plans to major in art and biology. So far, we are thinking Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara…any other ideas? We would prefer to avoid the UC and Cal State system - right now, they seem too big for her although she was intrigued by UCSD’s six college system. Thanks for any guidance!
UC’s and CSU’s do not give much merit aid but are excellent with need based aid which seems you may not qualify.
How about Occidental, The Claremont Consortium (Scripps/Pitzer/Harvey Mudd/Pomona/Claremont McKenna), University of San Diego and USC (apply before Dec 1 deadline for the best chances at scholarships), Saint Mary’s, University of the Pacific to name a few although some may be too close.
Calif isn’t great for merit unless you only need a smallish fraction to reduce costs.
What do you need the net cost to be?
The UCs and CSUs tend to be VERY lousy with merit, particularly if not lowish income.
Your DD is a junior, correct? do you think that she didn’t do well enough on the PSAT to make NMSF?
When will she be taking the SAT and ACT?
“How about Occidental, The Claremont Consortium (Scripps/Pitzer/Harvey Mudd/Pomona/Claremont McKenna), University of San Diego and USC (apply before Dec 1 deadline for the best chances at scholarships),”
These are your best shots. I would add USF and Santa Clara U to the list also.
Re: the 5Cs. Pomona offers merit aid? Scripps probably does. Claremont McKenna awards $10k in its ED round, at least to NMSFs, from what I’ve been told.
I heard Chapman is very generous.
University of the Redlands offers big merit first year but I’ve heard of dissatisfied students who then transferred out.
Oxy and Santa Clara are great choices.
No merit aid at Pomona, unfortunately.
We need to know how “generous” this family wants a school to be. $10k per year off of $60k per year may be enough…or it may not even be close to being enough.
I remember a friend of mine being so excited after her DD got a half tuition scholarship to a private. then the first bill came and she was surprised because she hadn’t really “done the math” to realize that she’d still owe about $40k per year.
Cal Lutheran used to match the UC tuition if the student was also accepted to a UC. Not sure if that applies. LMU also gives merit aid.
Sounds like we are on the right track…those were exactly the schools that I found on Kiplinger’s list! interestingly, some of the Claremont colleges give significant merit aide, and some give none. I guess we off to the Common Data Sets!!! Thanks guys!!! I will add more as I find them.
@shoot4moon I don’t think anyone has mentioned this but make sure she applies EA for those schools that offer it. Merit is usually better for EA applications. Also make sure she 'demonstrates interests" because I know that may have an impact on some schools. For art, make sure she works on her portfolio over the summer so that it is ready come application time. Good luck.
GRest hint, itsv! Thanks!!!