<p>So, due to the nature of my families finances, my EFC will be much higher than anything we can actually afford, and I need to find colleges that will give me merit aid to get through college. I was wondering if you guys could give me some advice. I plan on majoring in chemical or electrical engineering, and colleges with strong engineering programs would be preferred. My home state is Texas.
(These are what I should have by the time I apply to college, as I am only a junior now)
My stats:
GPA: 104.5
Rank: 22/485
ACT:32
SAT:2180 (780M, 750CR, 650W)
PSAT: I haven't gotten my results back, but I would say I have a 30% chance of being national merit.
AP's: bio, chem, apush, whap, ap english 3&4, eco, gov, comp sci, physics, calc BC. (mostly 4-5's)
Dual credit courses at local communities college: chem 2, organic chem 1&2, biology 2, microbiology 1&2.
EC: probably pretty average, student council, NHS, UIL academics, two years of a sport, robotics club, a part time job.
Awards: various prestigious academic awards.</p>
<p>What types of colleges could I apply to that would give a lot of merit aid? Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>If you do make National Merit Finalist, Texas A&M has a scholarship for you if you designate it as the first choice. Remaining cost of attendance after that scholarship will be about $12,500 per year.</p>
<p>You can use these two tables (Universities vs. LACs) to look for Private schools with good merit aid.You can sort by average amount of merit or % of student receiving it, obviously you want both numbers to be high…</p>
<p>Merit awards are unlikely to solve the entire problem, you may get 10, 15 or even 20, but if the total bill is 55, that still leaves a lot to pay. Your instate public schools are going to be your best bet.</p>
<p>Between presidential and engineering scholarships, which are automatic for your stats, you would receive full tuition plus $2500 per year from Alabama. Just pay room and board. Total COA, including their most expensive super suites (among the best in the nation, trust me) and unlimited meal plan, would be only $10K. Mom2collegekids, the expert on all things Alabama (and all college matters), can speak to potential fit for you.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for the quick replies! So, I’m not too informed on this, but I heard that in order to become a certified engineer after graduation, the college you attended needs to be “ABET certified”, so do the colleges you guys have mentioned have the certification?</p>
<p>You must mean [Professional</a> Engineer (PE) licensing](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_and_licensure_in_engineering]Professional”>Regulation and licensure in engineering - Wikipedia). This is mainly necessary for those designing things used by the general public (e.g. civil engineers designing buildings, roads, bridges, etc.) and/or where the engineer takes legal responsibility for the design. Engineers working for companies in other contexts need not be licensed under industrial exemption rules, although some non-civil engineers do seek PE licensing.</p>
<p>Even when PE licensing is not sought, ABET accreditation indicates a reasonably good minimum standard of quality in the degree program. It is expected in most of the older types of engineering (e.g. chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, materials, mechanical, nuclear), although in some fields (e.g. bioengineering, computer science, engineering physics) some good degree programs will go without ABET accreditation.</p>
<p>Bama’s auto Merit from certain stats is amazing! It’s my safety as it’s actually a fairly well-rated public school (especially if you’re in Honors). Most public flagships (and for some reason specifically Southern public flagships, all though that may just be my bias from being in the South) have great engineering programs.</p>
<p>Furman (in my hometown!) has pretty good Merit aid for top students that you could probably get, but it’s one of the most expensive in general. Furman’s beautiful, and one of the best southern schools.</p>
<p>I can’t really think of any more, but look for the threads about National Merit scholarships if you get it, because some offer full-rides or a lot of money just for finalist status.</p>
<p>Another plug for Bama and University Alabama Huntsville – The BEST thing about these schools is the rolling admissions. My HS senior knew even before 12th grade started that he was accepted to both.</p>
<p>It is definitely worth your time to visit Bama and arrange the visit through the Honors College Coordinator. She was able to get us an in-depth visit. Son was not keen on Bama before visit; the visit really was a huge turn around for him.</p>
<p>My son is applying to other schools, but having guaranteed merit at a rolling admission school sure takes a lot of pressure off.</p>
<p>review the National Merit thread in the Financial Aid section. Even if you do not make Natl Merit, many of the schools on the list offer high merit scholarships outside of NMF. It is a great starting point.</p>
<p>If you are a female, many tech schools (like WPI) will give you significant merit.
Drexel in Philadelphia and Pitt are generous as well if you want to travel that far.</p>
<p>If OP could afford 25k COA a year, tOSU would give $12k a year (National Buckeye Scholarship) merit scholarship to the qualified OOS students (Top 40% with ACT>28).</p>
<p>Ohio State University College of Engineering</p>