<p>Niece is looking for schools where she can possibly get merit aid. One important consideration - there must be a significant enough Jewish population that there is some sort of Jewish life on Campus.</p>
<p>Her Stats:</p>
<p>National Merit Semi-Finalist
ACT = 33
GPA = 4.0 (unweighted)
School does not rank, but obviously she is number one
3 APs taken = 5s on all of them</p>
<p>She is heavily into music with some state honors, has several other leadership positions, and community service. She would like music lessons available, and quality ensembles of which she can be a part, but does not want to major in music.</p>
<p>She prefers schools with a minimal to no Greek scene and not a huge drinking culture.</p>
<p>We are looking for schools where she will qualify for merit aid. Many of these schools do not have enough Jewish students for there to be a critical mass. There does not need to be thousands, but just enough for Friday night dinners and the availability of high holiday services. </p>
<p>She is hoping for a small liberal arts school with a strong academic atmosphere. I am hoping that people here will have some good ideas. Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>I just perused the top 100 merit schools list published by US News (which is not very accurate, in my opinion, but someplace to start) and I didn't see much on there that I thought looked good. Most of those schools are not in the northeast, or are Catholic, therefore I'd wonder about the Jewish population. Also, many LACs will offer better merit aid to boys because that's what they need. You didn't mention what she wants to major in? Some of the tech schools (RPI comes to mind) offer good aid and especially to girls.</p>
<p>You're likely to get a lot of recommendations on here of schools that in reality don't give great merit aid unless you are an under-represented minority, or they want you badly for some other reason (legacy, athlete, etc).</p>
<p>Don't rule out going for a music scholarship as a non-major. Some schools offer them. The big ones (Skidmore has one big one) are extremely competitive, but lots of schools with add in an extra $1000/year or so and/or free lessons.</p>
<p>Two ideas:
SUNY Geneseo (wouldn't need merit aid)
Univeristy of Rochester
Syracuse U</p>
<p>I agree with Weenie re: U of Rochester. We just got back from a trip. Beautiful, compact campus, down-to-earth kids. And the opportunity to study at the Eastman School of Music, part of the U of Rochester, for free (that's what I think they said, check further). There is a free shuttle bus that takes kids to Eastman. D got a letter offering scholarship of $15,000 a year as a NMF, and I believe there is good need-based aid too. Worth checking out.</p>
<p>I wanted to add that you didn't list an SAT score for your niece. I assume she's taken it, though. In order to progress to MNF, the PSAT score has to be "confirmed" with a comparable SAT.</p>
<p>Another thought: Bowdoin. Bowdoin gives the usual $2,000 to NMF, but if there's need (and I assume there is, on your niece's family's part), Bowdoin replaces all the loans with institutional grants. So a kid can graduate debt-free. It's a deal comparable to what Princeton does.</p>
<p>College of Charleston has the feel of a LAC but is a smaller state university in SC. There is a nice Jewish community on the campus, with a Judaic studies program. Charleson is the home of one of the oldest, if not the oldest, synagogues in the US. You don't say whether she is a vocalist or instrumentalist. If she is a vocalist, she will be able to take lessons and will have some good oppotunities to perform with an ensemble at the school. There is only one instrumental ensemble, and they do have a music major so I'm not sure how "available" that ensemble is to non-majors. If you niece qualifies for the honors college she will get some merit aid. But the school is not all that expensive to being with even for OOS students. Where in the OP did it say that the school needed to be in the Northeast?? I can't seem to find that!! (I'm sure it's there..just don't see it myself).</p>
<p>Just occured to me that many Catholic schools offer graduate programs in Judeo-Christian studies & the like. While Jews will not likely be found in large numbers on a Catholic campus, I bet there will be a significant number if the school offers such programs, and they'd be more likely to be fairly observant Jews who would look for friends to share Friday night gatherings, etc. </p>
<p>Seton Hall would probably be one to give your niece plenty of $$$. I know they offer music majors, but I'm not sure of the availability of ensemble opportunities for non-majors. The val from a local h.school just started there with a full ride. I know they are generous with merit. About 15 miles from NYC. Don't know about the drinking scene.</p>
<p>Brandeis sounds good to me as well. Tulane, specifically applying to the Honors program, would be excellent. Significant Jewish presence, many strong students, the post-Katrina curriculum requires community service. There is a Greek life there, but it is simply an option rather than an over-arching presence. Excellent merit $$ options. It is a small/med. University rather than small LAC, but might work. Music lessons/ensembles readily available to non-music majors.</p>
<p>Many of the strongest LACs, for which she would qualify, are need-only schools. Are you certain she will not garner need-based aid?</p>
<p>Check curmudgeon's threads on good merit aid schools, if you haven't already.</p>
<p>There are several parents on this board very knowledgeable about Jewish life on campus. If they do not show up here, you might want to try a thread title re Colleges offering merit aid and Jewish community to get their attention.</p>
<p>Reminder: Vollie says she wants a financial safety. I don't think that a school like Brandeis would fit that category. Brandeis does offer merit aid, but there is nothing about the OP's stats that would guarantee it.</p>
<p>My guess is that she is asking for schools where strong merit aid is almost certain... hence the use of the word "safety". In other words, colleges where the 4.0 GPA and 34 ACT put the student in the top 5-10% of the applicant pool. </p>
<p>I can think of may schools where the NM status would put in that category, but unfortunately none that also meet the criteria of "minimal to no Greek scene and not a huge drinking culture".</p>
<p>Thank you for all your replies. She is a violinist and will be taking the SATs next week. We are open to schools in all parts of the country. Thank you again for all the responses.</p>
<p>Yeah, I was thinking in terms of true safeties like calmom. Drew in NJ comes to mind. Generous with merit, a Jewish studies department (so there is sure to be a big Jewish presence), and an active music culture with plenty of performing opportunity.</p>
<p>College of St. Rose in Albany would give her a full ride with her stats. They have a great music culture. About 65% of the students are Catholic, but they have an interfaith sanctuary at the center of the campus. Albany is a great city.</p>
<p>I think Fordham in NY gives substantial merit aid to National Merit finalists (maybe a full ride?). Fordham, of course, is a Jesuit college, but the location means that there are plenty of opportunities for Jewish worship. The Lincoln Center campus has a Jewish Student organization. My daughter (also Jewish) applied to Fordham as a safety (but not a financial safety) - and she was offered merit aid of about $7000 as well as need-based aid, with test scores that are significantly below Vollie's daughter (28 ACT). </p>
<p>Forgot about Fordham. Also Manhattan College in Riverdale. They have a Holocaust Resource Center, pretty area, lots of aid (some of it merit tied to need, though,) and a fledging orchestra.</p>
<p>Look at schools within a day's drive of Chicago. H. went to Grinnell and there was a large population of Jewish kids from Chicago. I don't know if your neice would get merit at Grinnell--they do give it, but it's more of a match/reach now not a safety for anybody.</p>
<p>If you look back at last year's Brandeis threads, you will see that Jewish students received the least merit aid of the applicants. Brandeis is focusing on diversity and awards the bulk of its merit aid accordingly.</p>
<p>What about Syracuse? My boss's d went there and she is Jewish. I remember her telling me that a Jewish population on campus was important to them. I don't know about music, though.<br>
It's not small, but worth checking out.</p>
<p>Both Wash U and Emory have large Jewish populations. Merit aid is very competitive at both (as are admissions.) Keep in mind that many schools that offer merit scholarships have a deadline that is right around the corner, either Nov 1 or Dec 1, I don't recall. Both schools will look for demonstrated interest.
Wesleyan and Vassar both have vibrant Jewish communities but unfortunately do not offer merit aid.</p>
<p>Another vote for Tulane. The only thing it doesn't have on your list is little drinking, although like most colleges you can get away from it if you want. Tulane is very welcoming for Jewish students, and would give her good merit aid.
I don't know that it would be "free" or enough of a financial safety to fit your needs. We had 2 financial safeties - one was the "disaster school", that would be free, the other was a merit aid situation where expenses would be greatly reduced, but not at all free.</p>
<p>Try the women's colleges like Mount Holyoke, Smith and Bryn Mawr. Some merit aid -- not huge if kid is middle class...but they all give need based aid. All have excellent music departments, and active Jewish student organizations.</p>