East coast colleges for a B+ student needing merit aid :)

College Search & Selection
1

Hi everyone!

I’m a rising junior and I’m looking for colleges where I would be offered merit aid. The dream college would…

a. be within 5 hours of NYC
b. have a strong, renowned biomed program
c. give me a merit scholarship or acceptance to honors college
d. have co-ops, internships, and study abroad opportunities

Current List of Colleges:
Tufts, BU, Northeastern (probably wont be able to afford these 3), Bucknell, SUNY at Buffalo, TCNJ, WPI, RPI, Rochester

Objective
UW GPA: 3.64 <-- dont expect it to change too much
Weighted GPA: 4.07
Rank: 10%
SAT I: 1580 (800 Math, 780 Reading)
SAT II: 800 Physics, 800 Math II, 740 Biology (M)
PSAT: 1400 (I went in dry)
AP Scores: Biology (4), Calculus BC (?), Physics 1 (?), Seminar (?)
Senior Year Schedule: AP Statistics, AP Spanish Literature, AP Research, Gym, English 4H, AP Physics C- Mechanics, AP Environmental Science

Subjective

  1. Neuroscience Research- 2 published articles, presented at local and national conferences (10-12)
  2. Shell EcoMarathon Competition- Captain (10-12)
  3. Science Olympiad (10-12)
  4. Habitat for Humanity- President (9-12)
  5. Student Gov- Class President, School Treasurer (9-12)
  6. Hospital Volunteering- ~200 hrs by time apps are due (11-12)

Awards: 1st place in a national competition (bio related), going to submit research to ISEF/seimens/JSHS, hopefully NMSF or NMF, some other local/state awards for Sci Oly and stuff

If you guys could suggest some east coast colleges that would provide merit aid, I would reeeeeally appreciate it! Thanks for reading this!

2

here are 3 master lists complied by CC parents.
you will have to check to see if a college has moved the goal posts or eliminated scholarships since these lists were created.

Most are NOT in the geographic area you want , but if you need to catch a big fish , you’ll need to cast a MUCH WIDER net.

http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/

3

may I STRONGLY suggest you drop the AP Stats class, since you have ALREADY taken a FAR harder AP math class.
Cramming so many AP classes into your schedule will NOT impress admissions officers, and may result in your GPA tanking. 6-7 AP classes, in the most rigorous classes, is PLENTY.
In addition, during the first semester of your SR year you will ALSO have the part time job of doing your college applications, which will take FAR more time than you think it will.

MANY colleges that offer merit scholarships have EARLY application deadlines- that means EVERYTHING required has to be submitted by early Dec [in most cases].
so give yourself an open period to study, catch up on homework, write and rewrite your college essays, follow through on teacher LORs to make sure they are sent in on time and sleep.

4

Temple is a glaring omission. It has strong life sciences, affiliated with a great teaching hospital, has an Honors Program, and you would almost certainly qualify for merit aid. You can get to NYC easily; some TU students actually travel to NYC for internships, although it’s a very long day. The “Bolt” buses can cost less than $10 during off-peak hours.

5

@russ4mvp do you mean you are a rising senior (…just completed junior year)?

6

Check out this thread.

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1871275-parents-of-the-hs-class-of-2017-3-0-to-3-4-gpa.html#latest

Your stats are higher than the norm on this thread but you will get a good idea of how much merit money is customary for a given academic profile. Periodically the originator of the thread, @eandesmom, gathered up the existing data and compiled it in long lists in sequential posts. So start from the end and you’ll find the most complete list.

If you are willing to expand your search parameters a bit, I’d look at Case Western. They like high test scores (and demonstrated interest!) and offer generous merit scholarships covering up to about half COA. There are a very few highly competitive full tuition awards offered through separate application.

Maybe look at Fordham or Temple? Fordham’s full COA is high but they do offer some merit scholarships.

If you are willing to say, what is your home state - NY or NJ? Honors program of a state flagship would be a logical option.

Tufts, BTW, does not offer merit-based scholarships.

7

Union, Dickinson, and Gettysburg all offer merit. If you’re willing to go a hair further, look at Denison and Wooster. Pitt? For all, you’d have to check to see if their programs met your needs.

8

SUNY Stony Brook is know to be excellent for STEM and is fairly reasonable even for OOS students.

9

thank you everyone! i’ll for sure look into those colleges, and i’ll probably take tufts off now that i know they dont offer merit aid haha

10

@mamaedefamilia im from nj so ill add rutgers to the list :slight_smile:

11

@russ4mvp Good choice. The Rutgers Honors Program is great (I graduated from it) and the Honors College offers additional perks like dedicated nicer housing. Your stats might also gain you merit.

Maybe check out Pitt & Carnegie Mellon too.

12

FYI, you are not a “B+” student–a 3.64 unweighted GPA makes you an “A-” student, who happens to also have a rigorous curriculum. A “B+” is roughly the equivalent of a 3.3 UW GPA. Do not sell yourself short by paying too close attention to all of these “4.0 UW GPA” types who come on these boards and lament they may not be able to get into their state flagship university.

13

It’s not “renowned” but if you’re in NJ, Rowan has impressive new facilities, an honors college and is very generous with money.