<p>^
True that. good option.</p>
<p>NY Mom- Make sure to apply to realistic schools wher your daughter in the top 25 % so she will get offers for merit. </p>
<p>It is great to aspire to schools she perceives as great, or great fit, etc… but she needs to be realistic on expenses. Make it clear now!!! Our kids were able to apply anywhere they wanted (we did not get any fin. aid due to high EFC) and told them once accepted we’d look at all the factors including cost before picking a school. (Son #1 picked the school with a full ride- private- over top pick. He looked and loved the school and decided to have us save our $ for grad school. He is getting a great education and loves his school. Son2 applied to many school. Accepted at all with varying amt of merit form none to lots. Ended up picking UBuffalo (over privates and out of state publics) due to great program in major and fit. Lucky us, he got 1/2 tuition merit too!! He has been happy from the first day. Great fit. </p>
<p>Your daughter needs to know what you can afford and adhere to it. No guilt on your side. She will be happy if she picks the right school and this is not based on status of a private over a SUNY.</p>
<p>Good luck. PM me if you want. We are Long Islanders.</p>
<p>Second ACT. Both my kids did really great on it. I think it is a much better test than the SAT.</p>
<p>It sounds like a main concern is that she needs higher scores for Merit $$. It looks like she’ll get accepted to some of her choices, but it seems that a main problem is $$$. </p>
<p>Is Boston college her top pick? If so, your D’s stats are too low for admittance. BC has become very selective in recent years. Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger’s daughter (a Kennedy!!) was wait-listed at BC. (Besides, BC doesn’t give much merit, so if that was also a goal, that wouldn’t happen, either)</p>
<p>If Boston U is also on her list, I can tell you that merit money from BU wasn’t given to my friend’s D with much higher stats (well over 2000 SAT and 4.3 GPA). Your D may get accepted to BU, but if merit money is needed to make it financially possible, then that is not likely.</p>
<p>I don’t think retaking is going to make enough of a difference.</p>
<p>Another problem is that some schools will not accept the Nov or Dec ACT test results for scholarship consideration (some will take it for acceptance, but not scholarship). Some won’t take the Dec SAT for scholarship, either. So, you need to check for that, anyway. </p>
<p>She can try the ACT, but she needs to do a practice book first so that she’s familiar with the science reasoning section.</p>
<p>At this point, the chances of your D scoring 2000+ (or ACT equivalent) at this point are probably rare.</p>
<p>If she needs scholarship money, she needs to go the Marist, Stonehill, etc’s websites and see what scores are the minimums. If she’s not close and/or they won’t accept Nov/Dec scores for scholarships, then she’ll have to look at other choices.</p>
<p>Right now…your D has an 1880 SAT…what is her GPA? It looks she’ll get $8k per year from Marist. How much merit $$ does she need for this school to be affordable?</p>
<p>Marist [Merit</a> Scholarships: Marist College](<a href=“http://www.marist.edu/financialaid/merit.html]Merit”>http://www.marist.edu/financialaid/merit.html)
Presidential Scholarship 4.0 GPA 2050 SAT 31 ACT $12,000
Presidential Scholarship 3.6 GPA 1950 SAT 29 ACT $10,000
Marist College Scholarship 3.3 GPA 1800 SAT 27 ACT $8,000 </p>
<p>What is your budget for her college expenses?</p>
<p>In the end, it will work out. 
There are still schools where she can be happy. :)</p>
<p>ny mom, I just looked at the table of SAT percentile ranks for composite scores (CR + M + W), for 2009 College Bound Seniors. You can find it at:<br>
<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/sat_percentile_ranks_composite_cr_m_w.pdf[/url]”>Higher Education Professionals | College Board;
<p>A total score of 1880 puts a student in the 87th percentile overall, and in the 88th percentile among females test takers; i.e., she has scored in the top 12 to 13%. The atmosphere on CC can get pretty rarefied–top 12% is fine for many schools. If there is a cut-off score for scholarship support, I agree with the suggestion to try the ACT–many students do better on it than their SAT scores and the concordance tables would indicate. (One test or the other is often just better suited to a particular student.)</p>
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<p>Where is your daughter going? Some merit awarding schools don’t give much for SATs under 2000. There are some that give good merit (1/2 tuition or more) for lower than 2000 SAT, but they can be hard to find unless someone lists them.</p>
<p>Also, a school may provide its merit criteria using SAT numbers, but they will typically accept an ACT score which is equivalent (and the reverse is true for schools that present their merit criteria using ACT numbers.)</p>
<p>Maybe I’m missing something…</p>
<p>But I think the main concern is that her scores aren’t high enough for merit $$$. Yes, she will get accepted to many of her choices (probably not BC), but “getting accepted” isn’t the real concern.</p>
<p>Her concern (I think) is that she won’t get the merit $$ she needs to go to a “non-state school”. </p>
<p>The OP’s post said this… “She was crying terribly saying she will not be able to go to her top pick schools. She needs $cholarship money or it will be a state school.”</p>
<p>So, the concern isn’t so much about being “accepted,” the concern is affordability since she needs merit money. The OP implies that without merit money her D will have to go to a state school.</p>
<p>You’re right, mom2collegekids, the comments on this thread should really focus on merit scholarship money. Your info about Marist was very interesting. ny mom, does your daughter know the score cut-offs–if there are cut-offs–for scholarships at the other schools she is interested in? If she is willing to look at schools in the Midwest (broadly speaking, reaching from Minnesota to western Pennsylvania), I think she might receive more scholarship offers than in the East, even without taking the ACT.</p>
<p>I got a letter today from American Univ saying that if you choose Early Decision, they are piloting a test optional choice for this year only. Also,to join the chorus, I am so weary of hearing that scores like 1880 aren’t good. I feel so badly for these kids, my own included, that judge themselves so harshly. Are you a decent person? Do you work toward your goals? Are you kind, compassionate, etc.? Yes, I know CC is about academic performance but can we put this into perspective please?</p>
<p>An 1880 is a good score. I don’t know what the cutoffs are for merit money at the schools she is interested in, but I’d join the chorus for the ACT. My D’s ACt score “translated” to an SAT score that was 190 points higher than her actual ACT score, and her percentile was 15% higher. Some kids just relate to the way the ACT tests better. You don’t even have to buy the Real ACT book if you don’t want to, the ACT has a few online test questions - have your D look at it and see if it makes more sense to her than the SAT.</p>
<p>“Yes, I know CC is about academic performance but can we put this into perspective please?”</p>
<p>I think the parents on CC definitely do put things in perspective. In this case the college goals don’t match the entry criteria - merit aid at BC with an 1880. An 1880 is a very good score but if the goal is really merit aid you have to target the correct school. I often see schools I never considered get recommended, like Marist above. I think that’s a strength of this forum.</p>
<p>I agree on taking the ACT. My son couldn’t get above a 1270 (I think it was around 2000 total but not sure) on the SAT despite having taken it 3 times, taking a prep course and despite the fact that he’s a NMSF. He took the ACT once and got a 31, which puts him in the 95th percentile of all students taking the ACT and in the 50% of his high reach schools.</p>
<p>There is only one school on his list (ironically, his safety) that requires you to send ALL test scores. Every other school lets you choose ACT or SAT.</p>
<p>Some kids just do better on one test vs. the other.</p>
<p>What are her CR/Math scores on the SAT? Many schools are still not using the writing score as a barometer for admissions.</p>
<p>If merit aid is important…and cost…then you and your daughter need to look at her list carefully. As pointed out, BC doesn’t even give merit aid. Merit aid at some of those other schools will be iffy at best (BU for one). Remember also that Binghamton and Geneseo are amongst the more competitive SUNY campuses even for instate students. You might want to add one more SUNY just for safe keeping.</p>
<p>Your daughter’s scores are fine…they really are. She is a bright young lady. It just may be that she has overestimated on that college list…and maybe not. You never know until you apply.</p>
<p>Our DD had very similar SAT scores. Her CR/Math was a 1230. She took the test twice and only improved by 10 points. She did not want to take it a third time and we didn’t want her to. What was the point? She took a prep course also…didn’t help her at all.</p>
<p>DD is a senior in college this year. No…she didn’t get accepted to her “reach” school. But it wasn’t her first choice anyway. She received an outstanding scholarship from her second choice school. If finances had been a family issue, that is the school she would be at now. We didn’t have the financial merit aid issues the OP is expressing. The OPs daughter needs to be made aware of the financial situation…and she also needs to learn that there are a lot of colleges out there. </p>
<p>She needs to look at the characteristics of the schools she really likes and include schools with the same qualities on her list. </p>
<p>In the end, it will work out…she’ll find a great school…and never look back.</p>
<p>Since the OP’s daughter obviously wants to go to OOS, and merit money is needed for that to happen…</p>
<p>The OP and her D need to spend some time on various schools’ websites to find out which schools are LIKELY to give her merit money based on her stats. There are some - they may not be “top names” - but there are some.</p>
<p>They can’t go by what others received in previous years because some have raised their criteria, lessened the amounts, or have eliminated certain merit $$ completely.</p>
<p>The OP’s D needs to identify some schools that will give her “AUTOMATIC” merit money - that means - if she has the stats, she gets the $$$ - as long as she does the apps and meets the deadlines.</p>
<p>The OP also needs to tell her D exactly how much the family can pay each year, so they know how much merit she needs.</p>
<p>Maybe those who know of such schools (that give auto merits for SAT 1880) can provide the links so that OP and her D can see what she could get from various schools.</p>
<p>Here’s one</p>
<p>Saint Michael’s College in Vermont - [Saint</a> Michael’s College - Home](<a href=“http://www.smcvt.edu/]Saint”>http://www.smcvt.edu/)</p>
<p>Beautiful Grounds - </p>
<p>Location: 440-acre campus, situated between the shores of Lake Champlain and the majestic Green Mountains, in Colchester, Vermont, overlooking Burlington, the state’s largest city with overall area population reaching 200,000.</p>
<p>People: 1,900 undergraduate students from 33 states and 13 countries (79% from outside Vermont); 150 faculty members, 94% with Ph.D. or highest appropriate degree. Student-faculty ratio of 12:1. </p>
<p>The Dean’s Scholarship [Saint</a> Michael’s College - Dean’s Scholarship](<a href=“http://www.smcvt.edu/admission/finaid/deans.asp]Saint”>http://www.smcvt.edu/admission/finaid/deans.asp)
The Dean’s Scholarship Program awards merit-based scholarships to outstanding students living outside of the state of Vermont. The scholarships, worth up to $60,000 over four years, are roughly equal to half of Saint Michael’s tuition cost and are distributed in yearly increments of up to $15,000. The Dean’s scholarships are renewed each year for a maximum of four years, assuming that the recipient maintains a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and full-time student status. The application deadline for the Dean’s Scholarship is February 1, 2010.</p>
<p>** Eligibility
To apply for a Dean’s Scholarship, students must meet the following minimal requirements: </p>
<p>Combined SAT score of at least 1800
B+ average in a college preparatory high school curriculum
In addition to the SAT score, GPA and curriculum, scholarship applicants will be judged based on their leadership qualities, commitment to community service and potential to contribute to the Saint Michael’s community. </p>
<p>How To Apply
You must file your application for admission by February 1, 2010. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be considered for this competitive, merit-based program. **</p>
<p>Okay- first, let me say thank you for all the constructive advice and for not jumping all over me! The list that is on-line is basically accurate- BUT…we took some advice here and went with a few nice safeties, like Roger Williams in RI. Seems really nice and she would trigger $. She did take the ACT Sept. 7 and got a 26, so not great. Her top pics are still Marist, Stonehill and now ROger WIlliams. SUNY Gen & Bing are also in the mix. </p>
<p>SHe has decided not to take the test again. I called her prep center and they did offer free tutoring and refresher courses (PR) but in all honestly, I think she just wants to be done. A very helpful admissions officer at Marist recommend that she consider being an RA her soph. year for the room exchange. </p>
<p>Seriously, I can’t thank you enough for your kind responses. We read through them when I got home today. The tears seem to be gone and are replaced by wide eyes and now some excitement at checking out Roger Williams (coincedentally, her BFF wants to go there too!). And so, another page to turn…</p>
<p>Glad to hear that she’s got a more positive outlook now!</p>
<p>Is this what she’ll get? :)</p>
<p>Roger Williams University Bristol Community Partnership Scholarship:
A four-year, $10,000 scholarship awarded annually to candidates who are Bristol residents, have graduated from an accredited American high school, and have a B average and combined SAT score of at least 1050 (CR + M).</p>
<p>I agree. My daughter will be sending in her ACT score. She just took it for the second time last Saturday and hopes to raise her numbers. First time was 28. She’s hoping for at least 30, but a few points more than that, if possible. I’m not sure why she isn’t the best timed-test taker. Her GPA sure doesn’t reflect this. And she’s been on an rigorous track since day one. Oh, well. She’ll do her best and HOPE for the best in the way of a good college match. It will all work out in the end. At least that’s what my husband keeps saying. :)</p>
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<p>quote:</p>
<p>I agree on taking the ACT. My son couldn’t get above a 1270 (I think it was around 2000 total but not sure) on the SAT despite having taken it 3 times, taking a prep course and despite the fact that he’s a NMSF. He took the ACT once and got a 31, which puts him in the 95th percentile of all students taking the ACT and in the 50% of his high reach schools.</p>
<p>There is only one school on his list (ironically, his safety) that requires you to send ALL test scores. Every other school lets you choose ACT or SAT.</p>
<p>Some kids just do better on one test vs. the other.</p>
<p>I came across this link regarding the ACT and SAT and the “types” of test takers for each test. I notice that the ACT is closer to the curriculum learned in school. This makes sense why my D did better on it. Her GPA is high, so it only stands to reason she would do better on a test on the stuff she’s learned already. BUT, she still has a difficult time retaining some of the material from her classes. That’s mostly because it’s often a subject or book selection she didn’t like in the first place. ;)</p>
<p>[SAT</a> & ACT Information](<a href=“http://www.ophs.opusd.k12.ca.us/sat_&_act_info_.htm]SAT”>http://www.ophs.opusd.k12.ca.us/sat_&_act_info_.htm)</p>
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<p>There are lots and lots of these schools. They are not in the “Top 20”., but they do exist.
I suggest that folks looks for small - med sized private schools. The vast majority of Catholic colleges offer good merit scholarships. (not talking about ND or Georgetown).
A good place to start is the USNWR - look at the regional rankings - North - Master’s or North Bachelors, not necessarily for the rankings themselves but to get the names of colleges.
Also, most have rolling admissions AND they offer your scholarship either at the time of admission or shortly after.</p>
<p>My youngest is at a private school that is largely unknown outside the area. It is an up and coming school that is and has undergone a lot of recent growth so they are looking for top quality students. She was offered not only a great merit scholarship but a nice financial aid grant as well.
They are out there you just have to look.</p>
<p>ny mom: both Marist and Stonehill are good schools.</p>