Chances for Schools and Scholarships?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Can someone help chance me for these schools? In addition to the schools, I put down the scholarships that I would need in order to attend the college (my family’s financial situation essentially requires me to get a full ride/tuition to a school in order to attend it).

-Northeastern University (University Scholars)
-U Pitt Honors (with Full-Tuition Scholarship)
-U Rochester (Global & Renaissance Scholars)
-U Virginia (Jefferson Scholars)
-Lehigh University (Full-Tuition Scholarship)
-Brown University

GPA: 4.0 UW, taken about half with honors
Class Rank: 1 or 2/~60

SAT: 2350 with 770 CR, 780 M, 800 W
ACT: 35 with 36 M, 34 R, 35 S, 34 W
SAT Math II: 800
Will take the SAT II in Physics and Bio M in the fall, expecting a high score.
PSAT: 221, probably will qualify for the NMS

APs:
-Calc AB freshman year, 5
-Calc BC sophomore year, 5
My school doesn’t offer any AP classes, so I prepped for both of these myself (I know it’s a little weird to have taken both AB and BC).

Course rigor:
I’ve taken about half of my classes with honors (about 80-90% of core classes with honors), and I’ve been taking math classes at my local college since sophomore year. I’ve taken Calc III (A-), Diff Eq (A), Linear Algebra (A), and Calc IV (A), and plan to take Discrete and Complex Variables next year, along with Introductory Chemistry at another college. My school also offers courses through a program at another university, and I’ve taken History 101 and 102. I can also take Writing 121 through yet another college if my schedule allows it.

Activities:

  • Science Bowl every year, captain junior year and will be captain senior year. We got 12th place out of ~70 teams.
  • Science Olympiad sophomore and junior year, captain junior year and we got 3rd in state after not placing in years.
  • Varsity cross country every year, will be captain senior year.
  • Varsity track every year
  • Jazz band every year.
  • Piano since I was 5, practice about 10-15 hours per week, plan to compete in the fall (I’ve never been competitive).
  • Played in the school musical on short notice for volunteer hours.
  • Two internships at a research hospital, 40 hours per week for the first one and probably 20 hours per week for the second one (it’s this summer). The second research project is my own proposal and I’ll be entering it into the Intel International Science Fair
  • Will be in NHS senior year.
  • Occasionally tutor math/SAT.

Planned Major
-Computer Engineering

2

-Northeastern University (University Scholars)
You are in the running but you need to show interest. Visit campus, contact a faculty member in your firld by email etc.

BTW Brown does not give merit aid, do you qualify for need based aid?

3

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What do you mean by “full ride”? Tuition + room and board + books/expenses + travel expenses? Or just tuition?

I think you’ll do pretty well at these schools (although Brown is a reach for everyone). As TomSr said Brown does not offer merit aid, and I agree that you have a shot for University Scholars. But if you or your family can not contribute any money at all to your education, you need to broaden your search and probably lower your expectations. Even the “full ride” at U of Alabama is not truly full ride after year 1.

Here are some other schools to look at: http://thecollegematchmaker.com/111-ridiculously-awesome-full-tuition-schoarships/

4

Consider RPI and WPI, both offer merit, some awards could be significant with your stats.

5

if you qualify for need based, apply to more schools. There are a few that give LOTs of aid to poor incomes

6

@TomSrOfBoston I do not qualify for much need-based aid, and I know Brown doesn’t offer merit-based aid. The only way I can really go there is if I miraculously get a lot of scholarships from external sources.

@ormdad Sorry that I was vague with my phrasing. My parents can contribute enough money that I can attend a state school, but they won’t contribute more than that. However, since I’d rather not stay in my state or even in my region for another 4 years, I’m looking on the east coast more.

Thank you both so much!

7

Ok with that clarification, I don’t think you will have a difficult time finding a decent Engineering school that will cover the gap between what your parents (and you) can contribute and full COA with merit awards.

But Brown is exceptionally difficult to get in to. They break out SAT/ACT scorers along with a few other stats here: https://www.brown.edu/admission/undergraduate/explore/admission-facts

Notice that less than 20% of perfect scorers are offered spots. Still worth a shot, but given the lack of merit aid, it sounds like an even longer shot. I would focus on the U Rochester/Northeastern/Lehigh level schools and make sure you visit if possible and put effort into supplemental essays.

Good luck!