<p>Hello,
I'm an upcoming senior in HS. I am having trouble choosing which college to go to. I am interested in Architecture, Business, and maybe Film. I am in the top 1% in my class, so I am worried about full rides, not acceptances. I live in New Orleans and thus I like Tulane. I also really like UT in Austin. What other schools fit my majors and offer good scholarships? Are Tulane and UT good choices?</p>
<p>Tulane is an excellent school and gives good need-based aid and decent merit-aid from what I have heard. Are you a NMF? That will open the door to many more full-rides, such as U of Alabama. Sorry that I can’t help you with UT Austin in particular, but most OOS publics will not be good choices for full-rides. Chekc out the financial aid forum for merit aid and full-ride ideas.</p>
<p>You have ~0% chance of a full ride at UT.</p>
<p>Why is that? (Referring to Erin’s Dad.)</p>
<p>Also at this point they haven’t announced NMF, but I know I’m at least a Semi-Finalist.</p>
<p>Also, I’m concerned which school is best for me, then worrying about the scholarships thing.</p>
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<p>Whatever else you’re using as to what school is best for you, one of your criteria MUST be “Can I pay for it,” and SHOULD be, “Can I pay for it without incurring crushing debt.” So unless you or your parents are able to write a check for the full cost of attendance, “scholarships” (including need-based aid and merit awards) need to be part of that concern.</p>
<p>Also look at Rice. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Almost all aid at UT is now need based and targeted to in-state students. They’ve even dropped their National Merit program. And most schools do not even offer full rides (full ride is full cost of attendance to include room and board).</p>
<p>I have heard that UT has a program that drops tuition to in-state based on if one gets a 1000 dollar or more scholarship. Can someone clarify this? </p>
<p>What I meant by what school is best for me was the whole point of this thread though. Academic wise, are these good choices? Do they have a large success rate for seeking employment in the fields of Architecture and Business…and maybe Film?</p>
<p>Alabama and Auburn are mentioned often on CC as giving great aid (I think full tuition or full ride) to NMF, if you end up being one (which I’m sure you will, ~90% of Semi-Finalists become Finalists). I’m not sure how they would be regarding fit, but the merit aid is definitely something to look into.</p>
<p>Tulane is great with merit aid. If you scored high enough from NMF, I don’t know the cutoff in Louisiana, but if you were from NY at least you’d have a 25k scholarship and honors in the bag just for applying (I know multiple people including myself who have applied to Tulane).</p>
<p>Tulane does, indeed, have awesome merit aid. I know they have a program that gives at least half-tuition scholarships. Boston College also gives good scholarships/merit aid. There are definitely some more competitive scholarship programs, like the Robertson Scholarships at UNC, Jefferson Scholarship at UVa, programs at Vanderbilt and Wash U.</p>