EFC Less than expected - am I the only one?

Parents Forum
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<p>No i am a junior.
and my parents are forbidding me to take out loans or else they are not giving me any money.
GPA: UW 3.96, W 4.67
ACT (taken sophomore year december): 30
SAT (taken junior year fall): 2100
class rank: 3/275</p>

<p>I am a US citizen</p>

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<p>OK…</p>

<p>Well, I know that you’re probably disappointed that some/many elites are now out of reach because you won’t qualify for aid, and your parents will contribute $20-25k…</p>

<p>But, all is not lost :)</p>

<p>You still are in a better situation than most…believe me!!! :)</p>

<p>You have the stats to get some great merit aid, especially if you take the SAT and ACT again and do even better (which you most likely will). If you get a higher ACT and/or if your SAT (m+cr) is more than 1400, then you could get some really high merit.<br>
What is your SAT breakdown?</p>

<p>What was your PSAT score? you may have scored high enough to be NMSF or National Hispanic. (Did you indicate that you’re Hispanic on your PSAT info? If not, tell your GC to let the right people know.)</p>

<p>**You need a strategy. ** </p>

<p>1) Get your scores higher.</p>

<p>2) Apply to the top schools that give big merit - Vandy & USC for instance</p>

<p>3) Apply to match/safeties that give super merit.</p>

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<p>My SAT Breakdown is M:800 CR:580 W: 720</p>

<p>My psat score is 191 im definitely not NMSF, idk about national hispanic. i had pneumonia while taking it.</p>

<p>im working to get my cr and w scores up because those were also my lowest scores on the ACT too. </p>

<p>what are some good schools that offer merit??
and the safeties that give super merit?? the most im finding right now is like 15k.</p>

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<p>and thanks for the help!!</p>

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<p>You might make National Hispanic. The cutoff is by state. Did you indicate that you are Hispanic?</p>

<p>Awesome math SAT! :slight_smile: But, yes, you need to get your CR score up. :slight_smile: If you can get a combined M+CR SAT of 1400+ or an ACT 32, you will be in a better position for some very good merit scholarships…</p>

<p>Most scholarships do not consider the writing portion of the SAT (a few do, but most don’t.)</p>

<p>When will you be taking the SAT and ACT again.</p>

<p>Vanderbilt, USC & WashU give merit scholarships (not assured, but competitive). The top schools tend to have competitive scholarships.</p>

<p>Some match/safeties give big merit (like full tuition) for SAT 1400+ (M+CR) and ACT 32+
Some match/safeties have assured scholarships for stats. Some have competitive scholarships.</p>

<p>In your case, you would need to apply to mix of both - some schools with competitive scholarships and some with assured scholarships. </p>

<p>If you make National Hispanic, there are some schools that will give you big scholarships, too (full tuition or tuition + housing). </p>

<p>Here is a link to some assured merit scholarships…</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;