<p>Hi,
(I'm sorry if this is too long. I've already posted this in another forum, but I think this one is more appropriate)
First of all, I will be an undergraduate international student (hopefully) entering college in Fall 2015.
I don't have great stats, so I'm not going to get merit scholarships from any of the best colleges. These are my stats:
3.45 UW (by end of junior year), 3.75 W. Very bad freshman year, but perfect grades in sophomore and junior year.
2030 SAT (660 CR, 670 M, 700 W)
LAME Extracurriculars: Tennis (only four months during sophomore year), book club (one semester junior year, will continue senior year). I have a psychological disorder called social anxiety, which I am overcoming. I'm trying to get more involved in the community. I'm starting community service this summer, for example. It may be too late, but whatever. Should I mention my condition? And that I'm overcoming it?
I'd like a college with a strong business/management program.
I can afford PART of my education. I know most well-known privates cost ~60,000$ including all costs. I can afford a maximum of 45,000$/year COA. My mom doesn't have that kind of money (she earns roughly 30,000$/year including benefits. She doesn't pay taxes because only people with higher incomes have to in my country) for which I think we qualify for financial aid. My father is not present. Me and my mother have life savings of 60,000$ in a conjoint account, which we agreed we'll be using for college. My grand mother is going to cover 30k annually.
So, taking into account my stats and what I would need in need-based aid from the college, what colleges do you think are a fit for me? Is the amount I need attainable in terms of need-based aid?</p>
<p>I was thinking about Case Western. Although I'm not crazy about it being in Cleveland (which I've heard is dangerous and not so pretty), I would be very proud to go there. So if they'd be willing to offer me 15,000$ in aid, I'd be most definitely going there. Is CWRU stingy with financial aid? Or are they generous?</p>
<p>I also like Emory, for example, but I don't think I can get in with my stats. I really love George Washington too, I doubt they'll give me enough merit-based scholarships.
What other colleges do you think would offer me that amount of needbased aid or merit (15,000$ or more depending on the college's cost)? Or what colleges have the same academic quality and cost less than 45,000$ COA?
I'd prefer an urban environment, with lots of food options and entertainment, but I'm more interested in academics. Of course I'm also considering schools I can afford without aid. They're mostly publics though (UIUC, UIC, UMN, OSU), and they're all SO big (40,000 students), which is something I don't really like. I'm also considering schools like Butler University, Seattle University, DePaul, Elon, but none of them is a top choice for me.</p>
<p>Thank you for reading!</p>