i have to finalize my list tonight, and i’m a little stressed about cutting it down. i am hoping for merit aid unless the school has a big enough endowment that i will get financial aid (my 3 highest reaches would give me fin aid). my parents can pay up to 40k but that would be a stretch; 30k would be more comfortable.
stats:
SAT: 2330, SAT 2: 790 (math 2), 800 (lit)
GPA: 3.9ish UW, 4.6ish W
APs: only 5 (5’s on all)
course rigor is high
ec’s are pretty typical, with leadership positions in 2 (one taking up a lot of time), and a few other smaller things, plus research and state department study abroad
schools:
REACH: yale, harvard, u chicago (applied to one SCEA)
LOW REACH: carleton
MATCH: bryn mawr, grinnell, macalester (?), scripps (?), smith, mount holyoke, and university of rochester
SAFETY: state school (applied EA)
Carleton will probably not be doable financially but is such a ~dream school~ that I’m applying anway. I would need some merit for any of the matches, and the safety will definitely be affordable (and I will probably get merit as well). If I take off Mac and Scripps, will I still have a good chance for merit at my other matches? I’m a little nervous about cutting my list down because I’m looking for merit, but I would rather apply to fewer schools. Thanks
I think your list looks like a good one overall. With the test scores and grades you have, you probably don’t need to apply to all 4 women’s colleges. Why not pick the two you like the most? Also, University of Rochester seems like a bit of an outlier - is there a particular reason you’ve chosen it?
I’d leave Macalester - it’s culturally similar to Carleton and Grinnell, although it’s urban location does change the vibe somewhat. Since your reaches are all urban, I assume that’s not a negative in your book. Lots of cross-applicants between these 3 schools.
Your realize that Carleton doesn’t offer merit aid, right?
@N’s mom: Out of the women’s schools, I like Smith most, but it offers the least aid (20k/yr max and only to a small number of applicants). I like Scripps the least of the four, but it offers pretty good merit. I will probably take off Rochester - to be honest, I included it to diversify the list, but I think it’s unnecessary at this point.
I know Carleton doesn’t offer merit aid beyond 2k/yr for National Merit. I know it is a very long shot financially, and I am trying to stay realistic about my chances – but I really, really love the school.
Have you run the net price calculators? If they don’t look affordable and don’t offer merit, drop them and keep a college that likely will offer merit. You want choices in the spring, not acceptances you would have to turn down because they are unaffordable.
Remember that Scripps has the benefit of the 5C consortium – one of my kids goes to another 5C school, and really likes the expanded course selection and ease of moving across the campuses. She hangs out at the Scripps coffee shop, and picks up smoothies for breakfast at Pitzer. You get the benefits of both a small and a medium sized college.
