<p>My S, with very high stats, applied to 6 schools. I suppose they would all be called reaches, but he got into all of them.</p>
<p>If your S applies to WUSTL, be sure to apply for merit scholarships, which is by separate application.</p>
<p>Appreciate everyone’s input! I do feel sure he’ll get in to at least a couple of those…but it’s the fear that they won’t offer enough $$ to make it affordable that is starting to make me feel like we need to add more schools. </p>
<p>Classof2015…do you happen to know if the aid that your D got is close to what the NPC calculated? The reason we visited Emory initially was because of their reputation for giving aid! And the reason that we eliminated some of the more “obvious” choices is because of their reputation for NOT meeting need. I think DS would love W&M, for instance, but I had heard (probably on here) that they aren’t generous. Anyone have any thoughts about Wake Forest and $$? DS already has begun compiling the list of scholarship essay topics, so will definitely be applying for any and all he qualifies for! ;)</p>
<p>I think I should go look up South Carolina and Davidson…we may need to swing through the south again at some point this fall/winter.</p>
<p>I’m not understanding how Stanford is doable but WashU isn’t? Is there a big difference in their costs? Maybe I am confused about whether or not you will qualify for aid. I thought you had said your EFC was really high. I’m probably just confused!</p>
<p>Hoggirl, no, you’re not confused and yes, full pay is similar. But, Stanford is like HYP and provides extremely generous (and reliable amounts of) aid as compared to other schools.</p>
<p>^^ At least, that’s the way I understand it, and that’s what the NPC shows! ;)</p>
<p>W & M has very small handful of merit scholarships. Most “scholarships” there give some perks but not much $. They did honor the FASA numbers for OOS but at the time committed to like 77% of demonstrated need. To instate students I believe it’s 100%.</p>
<p>Is your goal to meet need (which with a high EFC your need may be considered met with little or no merit aid) or are you looking at schools that give generous merit aid? There is a slight difference. For instance, we had a low EFC so we focused on schools that would meet 100% need. I would throw a few schools in that give great merit aid, such as Tulane.</p>
<p>MizzBee, our goal is the unattainable - both! 
Our EFC is high enough that with one child in school we are essentially full pay at many places, but with two in school, if a college meets full need, then a pricey private school could become the same cost for us as our state flagship. Does that make sense? What I would like to see happen is for more of the aid that we get come from merit $$ (understanding that in most places, it does not get “stacked” on top of aid), rather than from loans.</p>
<p>Btw, a 32 is 97th percentile, not 99th
Maybe get some more schools in between Emory and Alabama?</p>
<p>I apologize for the incorrect info.</p>
<p>Would your son consider Wake Forest? Or maybe Dicksinson, Lehigh or Lafayette?</p>
<p>I think the latter 3 are out due to location. I think he would be open to Wake. Are they a school that claims to meet full need?</p>
<p>I always think it’s a good idea to have TWO safeties - both of which are sure admissions, are affordable and are schools your kid would be happy to attend. If the reaches don’t work out, it’s always good to have a choice at the end of the day, even if it’s a choice between two safety schools. </p>
<p>It sounds like your son isn’t wild about the small in-state LAC, so that’s probably not really a safety. You also don’t sound convinced that he’d happily head off to Alabama, which is concerning and means he really needs to find another safety.</p>
<p>I think it makes sense to consider schools like Vanderbilt, Tulane, Wake Forest and the like, but I don’t think they’re sure things financially.</p>
<p>FWIW, my D is a rising soph at Alabama (and also in CBHP) and she loves it there, but she was never looking for a small school. I will say, though, that Alabama had the smallest “feel” of the big schools we looked at and if you want it, you really can get personal attention there.</p>
<p>lots of people randomly lobbing school names out there - my question would be “which schools would you replace in the original list with the schools that are being tossed out and why?” and my second question would be “If you are suggesting adding a school why are you suggesting it that makes sense in the OPs situation - what factor makes it better than any of the schools on the original list.” I see listed Wake, Duke, Tulane, Davidson, William & Mary</p>
<p>As Baxtrax says don’t add more just because people tell you to add more. Perhaps see what happens with national Merit. There is a good thread to read (actually several good threads) in the financial aid forum. If it’s money that is being chased, that is an excellent forum to get some analysis and advice regarding various scholarships etc. Also the individual college forums are generally pretty good.</p>
<p>beth’s mom, perhaps your daughter is the one we talked to in the Honors college waiting area, while we waited for the interview. She doesn’t happen to be an Econ major, does she? If so, SHE is the one that totally sold DS on CBHP. His initial impression was that he is not a tech kid, so why would he want to do that? But after speaking to this female student, listening to her enthusiasm, as well as her description of her classmates and all of the opportunities in the program, he was sold.</p>
<p>Thanks, momof3boys for helping me to re-gain perspective! I’ve spent most of my time lurking on the Parents forum and have read the NM threads, but other than that, haven’t spent a ton of time on the Financial Aid forum. Great idea!</p>
<p>This is really an individual call, but with stats like that, and speaking as a BTDT mom, I think I might encourage him to add a couple of reach schools and drop any school he doesn’t feel great about. Every school on his list should be a school he would love to attend even it’s the only one to accept him.</p>
<p>Even if he doesn’t qualify for financial aid, he will get merit aid at some schools (U of A, Emory, Richmond). My D didn’t apply for any sort of aid or scholarships and was offered a half ride at several schools because of her test scores and grades.</p>
<p>The FA forum is awesome, some great people posting there. You said he wants “small midsized” but not the instate LAC…might he consider LACs other than that one?</p>
<p>The total number of colleges necessary is two (2). Those two colleges need to be both admission safeties and financial safeties: schools that you are absolutely sure will admit your son, and you are absolutely sure you can afford. They also need to be schools your son is willing to attend. </p>
<p>The reason he needs two safeties is just as a hedge against a mistake. If there is a 95% chance of admission at a school — it’s a safety, but there is always that 5% potential of something going wrong. So school #2 is a hedge against that. </p>
<p>If one of the safeties has early, rolling admission - then securing an early spot will eliminate the need to apply to school #2. </p>
<p>Everything else beyond that is optional. Your son could apply to 3 schools or 30, but he can only attend one so, if finances are not a concern, he might as well simply target the schools he most wants to attend. </p>
<p>If finances are a concern, there is some value in casting a wide net, in order to improve chances for generous financial aid and to be able to compare awards. But research the financial aid policies of each school before he applies – there is no point in winning admission to schools that were unlikely to grand much aid in any case.</p>
<p>Have a son who graduated with a biochem degree. And a microbiology degree with a genetics minor. And lots of research experience.</p>
<p>We live in NC so are familiar with some of the schools listed. Davidson is a more rigorous LAC as is “Work Forest”! Their average GPAs are lower for a reason. Davidson does offer some aid as does Wake Forest.</p>
<p>Son’s STEM degrees are from NC State. They actually offer a Genetics major/degree now while other unis are removing it. Check their OOS fees. It was not impossible to do the double major and with even more effort an additional Genetics degree would be possible. So your son could be looking at a biochem, micro and genetics degree in 4 years with research and a TA position helping out financially. The school ALWAYS needs RAs and that could cover his room and board.</p>
<p>It is a big school but the college those three majors are in is a close-knit one. And their job placement in RTP in the biomedical field is outstanding. NCSU is located within minutes of RTP. Many obtain paying internships while still in school and are offered positions before graduation. Their two biggest rivals are right in town, Duke and UNC CH. Both offering similiar degrees but neither genetics and the biomedical engineering is a joint degree between NCSU (engineering) and the bio (UNC CH). There is a shuttle that goes between NCSU and UNC.</p>
<p>OOS is capped at 18% for UNC and NCSU. But with your son’s stats he would see a better chance. I would recommend applying to one or both. Duke would seem like a reach compared to these but with the 18% cap UNC is no one’s safety. The ROI on the apps for these 3 schools especially for someone interested in biochem/research would be worth the time and money in my opinion. Seriously.</p>
<p>I too would put Vandy on that list. Not for the same reasons though.</p>
<p>Good luck and hope this helps.</p>
<p>Kat</p>