<p>This may be off topic since the OP is looking for B-range schools, but I wouldn’t rely on Thumper’s list. It must be very out-of-date. It doesn’t include Rice (which has always been considered one of the more generous aid schools) and which definitely meets 100% need. Many parents of Rice kids report that Rice calculates “need” as COA - the FAFSA EFC for families without businesses, small farms etc.</p>
<p>Happymom is so right in what she wrote. Those colleges that meet 100% of need, all define “need” in a variety of ways. BC and ND have come under fire, as has Holy Cross and GTown on how they define need. Some of these schools look at things that are not usually taken into account by PROFILE schools in coming up with their need numbers such as 401K and other qualified plans savings. I’ve seen other quirks in the way schools define need with some schools wanting the values of all vehicles earned, some taking the amount a student has in savings at the onset as a set figure for 4 years (UCh) and other things that can affect the institutional EFC greatly in given cases. But if you don’t fall into those niches, those schools can offer great packages.</p>
<p>Also many schools that do offer full need also are not need blind in admissions and have loans in their packages. I would check if Loyola, for one considers PLUS as part of their financial aid package, as some schools do. I don’t consider loans as part of an aid package since it means you are paying for it…albeit eventually. They are just adjusting the time as to when you have to pay the piper. So I tell families to look at the bottom line as to what they will have to pay including in loans and by earning the money through work study, to compare what is truly the best deal.</p>
<p>But the catch is that you don’t know what your package is going to be until you get it. You go by probabilities till then. The fact of the matter, is that most schools will give the best merit/aid packages to those kids with the highest test scores. The SAT seems to carry more clout than the ACT (my own observation and may not be true), but the grades as long as they are not below 3.0 or too many grades below a C in the transcript are not as important as long as the school/course load is a rigorous one. So the 3.3 is not as much of an issue as what the student’s SAT scores are in relationship to each college’s averages. There are countless number of 3.3 students who need money but not that many who can achieve a certain threshhold in SATs.</p>
<p>@coffeehouse, I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. As I said, the need-based is all new to me and I now see what I am dealing with here. It’s slightly depressing to say the least, and it takes a lot to depress me, lol! I bought her the BB and she’s getting a waiver for an SAT test prep course at school, but I really don’t know what kind of scores we are dealing with yet. I did see her PSAT from 10th and it was in the high 40’s in all 3 parts, so that’s around avg. If you were to guess, what kind of scores on the SAT would you think she would be aiming for. Let’s just use Loyola U. of Maryland as an example. This is totally hypothetical! My kids have great scores --it hasn’t been something I’ve had to deal with yet. I see the median range in the Best 373 Colleges, but if there’s some kind of avg. for those getting more FA at LUM, then that would be helpful to know now.</p>
<p>Look at the average range of Loyola’s test scores. What do the mid 50% score on the SAT? Why should they give full aid to someone who is not in the top 25% of the pack? Unless the student has something special to give the school, there is no reason to accept a B-B+ student with mediocre or lower SAT scores. Being needy is not enough–Loyola gets plenty of needy students applying. Those test scores are crucial.</p>
<p>What some schools do, sadly, is give merit awards to those who are full pay to get them to the school and get that 75% of costs out of them rather than pay the money for those who have high needs. It’s called enrollment managements and most private schools do have practice it. St Joe’s definitely does. </p>
<p>Take a look at the USNew book which has a lot of that info in it. Loyola looks like a good bet. It has always had the rep of providing a decent amount of need–I did not know it was 100% but am not hugely surprised. I would say, that your student will have to raise the reading and math scores up significantly to gain admissions, however. The kids who got into Loyola from DS’s school had well over average SATs, I know, and that is as full pays.</p>
<p>I couldn’t tell if she is in VA or not. But, depending on location and specific scores she may be eligible for the Centennial Scholars scholarship program at JMU.</p>
<p>How close is she to DC? Would it be possible for her to pop up there for a quick visit to Trinity? [Trinity</a> Washington University - nursing BSN, MBA and other degree programs plus teacher preparation in Washington DC.](<a href=“http://www.trinitydc.edu/]Trinity”>http://www.trinitydc.edu/) She is exactly the type of student they are focusing on these days. I don’t know what the financial aid situation is, but somehow they seem to make things work for a lot of people. If she would need to get a job at some point, she could easily shift from being a student in the regular daytime program to enrollment in the weekend program.</p>
<p>@coffeehouse, this is very enlightening. I kind of figured that we won’t probably be able to “wow them” with her scores, but we’re going to at least try to get her in the mid 500’s range. I think showing early interest may be a good idea and visit this summer. A personal interview with her would actually “wow them” though --she really is just a lovely girl and I think an in person interview would be in her favor. thanks for your help!</p>
<p>@Kat, yes she’s in VA! JMU’s avg. was 3.8 gpa this year though, so I have it on her list as a big reach. It’s one of the Venture Scholar schools on our list, but I will definitely look into this other program --haven’t heard of that one yet!</p>
<p>@Happymom, thanks! Will look at this one too.</p>
<p>Schools (private?) that include federal loans (somewhere around 10% of cost) in their aid packages can therefore offer seats to 10% more needy kids, but of course there’s no way to know if you’re one of those 10%, when accepted. It’s a way to stretch limited funds for the benefit of all (a more educated society). :)</p>
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<p>jkiwmom,</p>
<p>Again look at the information on the common data set. the SAT score range for the middle 50% is 545-640 in CR, 560-650 in math.</p>
<p>cptofthehouse is right, based on the numbers that you know about her scores would have to be above the middle 50% for them to have a chance of tossing any kind of serious money at her.</p>
<p>you wrote</p>
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<p>Right now she is not even ventures scholar eligible.</p>
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<p>Her current testing puts her out of range</p>
<p>Also keep in mind, while is is applying for Ventures she will be one of many as not all venture scholars get accepted to member institutions. She will still be competing with other low income minority students who will have better grades and higher scores.</p>
<p>It’s fine to look at all of these possibilities and the student should certainly spread a wide net as all who want financial or merit aid should. However, it is not a sure thing, and with those stats, it is not even likely, in my opinion. Not so much because of the grades, but because of the test scores. Too many out there with those grades and higher. The test scores are the filter whereas schools may give some leeway to grades as long as they are respectable and the curriculum was rigorous. So one thing this student should do is make sure that s/he has some good safety choices that are pretty sure to take him/her and that are affordable. This is something all kids should do anyways when there are cost constraints and conditions for getting the money. My son had to make sure that he had some affordable safeties on his list and was glad for them as it felt good having those as given. The rest are all lottery tickets.</p>
<p>I figured the list I posted was out of date…best way to know is to look on school websites!</p>
<p>Lists often become obsolete these days as soon as they are compiled. Any and all info has to be verified, and if it is something essential even the website cannot be taken as fact and should be double checked directly with someone at the university that would know these things.</p>
<p>cpte is correct. Even info on the websites is subject to change. Schools are changing their financial aid policies all the time…check to be sure that what you read (and interpret) is actually accurate…with a person…ask to speak to a financial aid officer…not just the person who answers the phone (students often answer the phones).</p>
<p>@Sybbie, I did “skim” the datasets, thank you for posting them! I just haven’t had a chance to really read them, read them. I tend to gather all my information then start making decisions (similar to “brain storming” then making more rational decisions once I’ve gathered all my options). I know it’s going to take prep, but I really believe that she can get to a 500 in all sections (she’s was at a 47 in two sections on PSAT 10th grade --I know she can bring them up with enough prep and we will be prepping her). I may be crazy, but I really think she can get the qualifying score for Venture – I just do and that’s kind of my personality. I went through 3 years of infertility and a doctor told me that I had no chance of having a baby. I said, “oh, yes I will, I believe in miracles”. I had a baby girl 3 years later! My son got into a reach school. I live by a very optimistic, determined path :). I don’t give up easily is what I’m trying to say. Now, I know I don’t necessarily have much control in this case, but I am going to give it my best shot to help her. I will go to a plan B when I have a plan B, lol! Am digging up more on grants through Hispanic College Fund, etc. today…just gathering info. stage still…</p>
<p>Oh and I have been reading about the fact that the list may be outdated, but still this is so helpful to at least give me a couple leads to research. And not to worry, I always do my homework and will look at all school websites. I really am grateful for the help.</p>
<p>As Happymom noted…what matters is if the colleges meet THIS student’s financial need…not whether they meet ALL student financial need. Do a search for the thread by momfromtexas about full ride scholarships. One of her kiddos was a B student, I believe. She was able to find full or near full rides for both of her kiddos. The thread is very old (in fact I’d love to hear how her kids did in college)…but the strategies she used are still valuable ones.</p>
<p>Providence College in RI meets 100% of demonstrated need for Hispanic students. (They do not do this for all students)</p>
<p>I agree that momfromtexas’s methoodolgy is one to use along with giving Venture and other venues a try. " Nothing ventured,nothing gained" is the expression. Just cover that base, and the rest is all gravy.</p>