Can someone help me cut down my college list? Thanks a lot.

College Search & Selection
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Before you read, I have a bunch of schools I’m interested in APPLYING TO. This is because finances will play a big part in my application process. I’d like to hear what kind of merit you all think I can get; this will help me decide what schools I should apply to.

A bit about me.
Hispanic male from Florida. Upper-middle class, will get hit hard by any college if no merit aid (except for very elite school financial aid such as H and P)
Likely NMF (1480 on PSAT), 1540 on SAT (790 math, 750 english)
one A- all HS, rest As and A+s
Freshman Year: 1 Ap (Human Geo 5)
and 4 Honors (Physics, Chinese, Geometry, English)

Sophomore Year: 2 APs (US History 4, Calc AB 5),
and 3 Honors (English, Chinese, Chem)

Junior Year: 6 APs (US Gov, CompGov, Calc BC, Chem, Lit, Lang), 1 Honor (Chinese)
Predictions: Not looking so hot for Gov and CompGov (was a combo class, we didn’t get to a lot of material). Will be ecstatic with a 4 in each.
Calc BC definite 5, Chem probably 5. Lit-Lang happy with 4. 5 if Lucky.

ECs: Band 4 years, play in the pep-band for football too
Varsity Weightlifting since Sophomore year
VP of Republican Club Junior Year, elected to be Pres next year
Competed in a few STEM based team competitions
Volunteer at a hospital and a food pantry
My main hobby is just working out and “bodybuilding”

I think I want to study something Chemistry based, either Chemistry or Chem Engineering. I used to be very interested in becoming an MD, but my interest in this has faded over time (costs too much time and money). I still may be interested but IDK… I still have a few no MCAT chill BSMDs on my list. I am mostly applying to schools I can get merit from. Check me if you think I won’t be able to get scholarships from these schools (besides Harvard and princeton, my two FA schools).

I am looking for FULL RIDES unless the school is very prestigious (Ivies, Rice, Duke, Vandy, Notre Dame, WashU mainly).

Ok here goes, I apologize for the long post. Gonna list from relatively least to most prestigious. * indicates definitely applying.

SMU - scholarship safety

URichmond - cool liberal arts feel, basically a scholarship safety

UF* (Full ride for NMF)

Tulane - Is it possible to get a full ride?) separate app for scholarship

UM* (Proximity to home, do you think I have a chance at full ride Stamps, they only offer a handful?)

Wake Forest* Looking for full ride, love the campus

RPI - only considering applying because I got the Rensselaer Medal (25k/year if admitted) I think the max I can get here is full tuition, and don’t have that much interest in this school.

Wash & Lee - do I have a shot at full ride? separate app for scholarship.

U Southern California - probably shouldn’t even apply. Max anyone can get is full tuition (Should I apply as a safety “full tuition” in case I don’t get into a better school with full tuition?)

Emory* very good for science (want at least full tuition)

Georgia Tech* - will definitely apply if I am sure I want to be a Chem Engineering major. They say top 1% of students across US are considered for Full Ride (I guess I would fit that bill?)

Harvard* and Princeton*
Will get like 40k Financial Aid if I get in. I think either would be my best option if I am not going for Pre-med (because COA would be like 25k/year still and that adds up!)

Here are the BSMDs I am/was considering. I’m not so sure I want to even do this anymore. Med school debt is some serious ****. Read “Deceptive Salary of Doctors” if you are interested, and you’ll see that Docs really don’t make that much for the work they put in and time spent in school.

Case Western - shot at full tuition (separate app for that)
Brown - bad financial aid
Upittsburgh - i think automatically considered for full ride (especially diversity stuff)
Rochester - shot at full tuition ( think), vague, no application separate for merit
GWU - ^ same as rochester

I think Case, Rochester, GWU, and Pitt do not require separate applications for the BSMD program, just indication of interest. I may need to fill out other applications once I get past first cuts, though.

I’m also considering 3 colleges that I need to be nominated for my school for the full ride scholarship. I need to find out how that works/if they would nominate me. UVA, Davidson, and Villanova. Not insanely interested in any of these, I would just be applying for financial reassurance.

If I don’t want to be a doctor too badly, should I just cut these schools? Really, Pre-Med track just seems annoying, and I’d have no fun in college.

I’m also considering Caltech, other Ivies, and Vanderbilt/Rice tier schools. Once I get an estimate of how much FA I’d get from these places I’ll either put them on or off the list.

Thank you very much if you read all that!

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You need to start with these lists of colleges that offer merit $$ . they will give you a FAR better idea of the requirements for winning full tuition scholarships or full rides-[ which are very rare] ,rather than asking for input from CC random posters.
Dont count on getting full rides- you / or your parents will probably have to contribute something to your education. You will be able to take out $5000 loans each year to help with your expenses.

these lists were compiled by CC posters, but some info may be out of date.

http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/

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Thanks, but I’ve already seen those. I already know that the schools on my list offer full tuition or full ride scholarships (besides the Ivies). When I say “is it possible for a full ride?” I mean to ask if it is possible for ME to receive one, not if the college offers one.

I do think that CC posters can be quite insightful and am just looking for their opinions. Obviously I won’t say “how high” if they tell me to jump, but I will consider their analyses.

4

HYP and Caltech are generous with financial ,aid. UMiami is very clear about criteria for the different tiers for merit awards. When you have your test scores, you can see where you fit. There are other small private colleges in FL that’s are generous with merit for FL residents, e.g. Rollins. If you are interested in STEM fields, don’t overlook New College. While small, it is in Sarasota, and is considered an honors college in the FL system. Strong in sciences.

5

@bookworm Thanks for the reply.
I basically have a full ride to UF through the Benaquisto scholarship (Full COA if going to a fl state school for NMF),
so really what I’m trying to ask (mainly), is would it possible to receive a full ride to a better school than UF based on merit?

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bump

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Full ride academic scholarships are rare. As a Hispanic student with very good test scores and a HS curriculum with a lot of academic rigor, you would be the type of student to get one. One quick way to really determine how generous a school is with merit aid is to look at their Common Dataset financial aid section

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@Wje9164be
So I should still apply to a lot of schools just in case?

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Full rides are rare for an upper middle class student based entirely on merit. Full tuition more realistic. Will your parents not contribute anything? I agree look at the common dataset but best bet is probably state flagship. There are a lot of solid students with your stats and competition will be tough.

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