<p>Hi:</p>
<p>Wonder if you could chance me and offer financial aid opinions for the following stats at Texas A&M. I am very interested in the Computer Science Visualization Program:</p>
<p>Gender: Male
Ethnicity: 50% Hispanic, mother born in Mexico
Attending a competitive Texas High School (Junior)
GPA 5.15/6.00; 3.85 unweighted. Top 3% of class
AP Courses: 3 by end of junior year, 8 by graduation
PSAT: 213 (missed NM cutoff, but should make National Hispanic Scholar). Will take SAT shortly, but Practice SAT's are now in the low 2200's
Debate team captain; National Honor Society; Student Council Vice President for Junior class</p>
<p>In talking with my parents, it seems that they can help me with up to $10k a year. Our EFC will probably not yield any need based financial aid. I will really look hard at schools that reward National Hispanic scholar that just missed NM and have good grades/scores. I would like to minimize the need for loans as much as I can.Thanks in advance for your help. </p>
<p>All comments to help me take the next steps are truly appreciated!</p>
<p>well, you’ve answered your own question. You think that your EFC will be too high for need-based financial aid.</p>
<p>That means that you’ll need to look at schools that give merit scholarships, since your parents can’t pay for what schools would expect their financial contribution to be. </p>
<p>it’s a good thing that you know how much your parents will pay now, so you can look for realistic choices.</p>
<p>Does TAMU give NH scholarships?</p>
<p>You don’t know YET if you’ve missed Texas’ cutoff for NMSF. Last year, the cutoff was 215, but cutoffs can increase/decrease by a couple of points each year. So, with luck, you may make it. </p>
<p>But, it’s also good to proceed with the assumption that you won’t make NMF, and look for schools that give big NH scholarships. Fordham gives full tuition, but you’d have to cover room, board, books, etc. So, your parents contribution with a student loan might cover those costs. You’ll need at least full tuition scholarships in order for a school to be affordable. </p>
<p>As a Computer Science major, there are other schools that will give you scholarships as well if you do well on your SAT. Also take the ACT. Some do better on that.</p>
<p>Absolutely give A&M a go. But the most important schools to have on your list are the financial safeties. You’ll be so ahead of the game to find some schools that are easily affordable and want you. Once you have some schools on your list that fit those specs, you can go to town on any reaches and be set. </p>
<p>Read Momfromtexas’s thread on full need scholarships. You have a nice $10K leeway plus the Staffords if you want to borrow on your own, so you can come up with some nice choices, I’m sure.</p>