<p>So I'm trying to help my friend find some colleges other than SUNYs and was hoping for some suggestions here. He hasn't decided what he wants to study yet but he has very good stats.</p>
<p>SAT: 2190 - 800M 680R 710W
SAT II: Math II 800 US 800 Physics 770
Class rank: top 10%
Race: American </p>
<p>He wants to stay in-state (NY) for financial reasons and he's looking for schools that'll give him lots of scholarships. Any suggestions? I'm trying to convince him that he can aim higher with his scores and still expect good financial aid/merit scholarships.</p>
<p>We would really need to know more about his parents finances to offer any constructive advice. Are his parents low income and have a zero EFC and are looking for full financial aid, or do they have a higher EFC that they are unable/unwilling to meet?</p>
<p>I think they have a higher EFC that they are unwilling to meet. (Maybe $5000?) That’s why his planning on going to SUNY but what I’m thinking is that with his scores he can aim higher yet still receive good merit scholarships?</p>
<p>teenbodybuilder, all the Ivies aren’t “in the NY area”.</p>
<p>OP, I don’t understand what your friend means by wanting to stay in-state for “financial reasons”. If he gets a merit award from a school in another state that reduces his cost below that of a SUNY, don’t the financial issues disappear?</p>
<p>If money is an issue,your friend should certainly consider the top SUNY schools such as Binghamton and Geneseo (to name a couple). For merit aid, go through the schools (get a guide book or check online) and pick out strong/appealing schools where he/she has statistics above the average. For example, Fordham might be a good place to apply.</p>
<p>Aside from Dartmouth, they’re all less than a 3.5 hour drive from NYC. I mean people are suggesting Pitt and NErn; Ivies will give the most aid and are still in the NE.</p>
<p>If adamant about staying in NY, then Cornell and Columbia. I have no idea what his other stats are so he might not even get into Ivies. Maybe look at Syracuse, URochester, Yeshiva, and Fordham. Run NPCs for them and see if they would be affordable. NYU is known for giving bad aid but it doesn’t hurt to try.</p>
<p>@MommaJ Well yea in that case it wouldn’t matter and that’s what I was trying to tell him as well when I recommended Northeastern.</p>
<p>@happy1, is there a comprehensive list online where you can sort for colleges, etc.? (Not just “the top 10 colleges in the US where merit aid is most common”)</p>
<p>His stats are really good, he has a good chance of getting merit money. Has he looked at Vassar (always looking for guys), Sarah Lawrence (same), Bard? Without knowing something about his areas of interest (although from his scores I’d guess math and science) it’s a bit hard. The above three schools are also interested in having students with abilities in math and science. It’s very hot these days in LAC.</p>
<p>I don’t know about Sarah Lawrence’s program specifically but they do offer many programs within the STEM field. Many LAC are emphasizing those areas and are giving money to those students who have potential in those areas. This student might not even be interested in that area but his standard scores will help him attain admission and money which seems to be his main concern.</p>