<p>My daughter got a 31 on her ACT and has over a 4.0 weighted GPA.</p>
<p>She's a senior and we've been applying to a few schools, but I'm trying to make sure we're not missing the boat so to speak by missing some schools that may offer good merit scholarships for her credentials.</p>
<p>We live in central Illinois and she's interested in staying within around 5-6 hours of home. She's also open to most sized schools, but would like something with at least 5,000 or more students.</p>
<p>She's also undecided about her major which isn't helping the search at all.</p>
<p>Also, if it matters, our family probably won't qualify for much (if any) financial based need aid. Not that we are rich by any means, just make too much for their calculations.</p>
<p>So far, we've found Western Illinois that would offer her a large automatic merit scholarship and we've found a couple of out or state universities that will offer scholarships that basically bring their tuition down to in-state ranges which is also very helpful.</p>
<p>I guess after all of this, I just want to make sure we're not missing something. With all of the reading I've done on these boards, I felt pretty ok with the path that we were taking, but when it comes down to it, I'm still nervous that we'll mess up on something and not know it until it's too late.</p>
<p>Thanks for any and all advice!</p>
<p>There are a couple of threads pinned at the top of this forum that have a lot of information about institutions that offer merit-based aid. Go read through those threads, and share the information with your daughter. If she would consider 5 - 6 hours by air (rather than by car) she has a lot of options.</p>
<p>Well, she may have to go outside the 5 hour range if substantial merit is needed.</p>
<p>Is she retesting? Taking the SAT, perhaps? If she were to get a 32 or 1400 M+CR SAT, she’d have more merit options.</p>
<p>Anyway…if she were to consider outside of the 5 hour range, then Alabama would give her a 2/3 tuition award (about $17k per year)…and the award DOES increase if tuition increases. Remaining costs would be about $20k per year.</p>
<p>LOTS of kids from Illinois go to Alabama because of the generous merit awards. It’s a straight shot down I-65 and then a bit west on I-20. Lots of car-pooling opps since so many IL residents attend. There are also some easy flights from Midway or Ohare to Birmingham airport. </p>
<p>Would she consider Computer Science or Engineering? If so, then Bama would give her FREE TUITION PLUS 2500 per year! Remaining costs would be about $12k per year…and that would be for the super-suites honors dorms. </p>
<p>I think we need to know how much the family can contribute. Your D could take out a $5500 fed student loan for frosh year, if needed. </p>
<p>For instance, if the family can only contribute a total of $15k, then she’s going to need a full tuition scholarship so that the $15k from the family can cover room, board, books, fees, personal expenses, etc.</p>
<p>There is a Dec deadline for these awards…however, the app is SUPER EZ…takes like 5 minutes…seriously…I filled out a fake one on Friday to see.</p>