Thank you all for your opinions!
Her and I sat down for a long time yesterday and looked at the options. I ran the calculator provided by Cornell and if accepted, it looks like we may have a good portion covered by aid, this will remain her first choice school and she’s going to try ED. (if aid is not enough, we can cancel ED)
As for her other options, we are considering:
2. Alabama - automatic full tuition - I worry this is too far and the reputation of the school seems like a southern party school. Cornell and Bama are polar opposites, she LOVED cornell when she visited, I wonder how she will react to Bama’s campus/atmosphere? (safety school). Will visit as we get closer to deciding (very far from DE).
3. Clemson - trying to increase SAT scores to get 15k aid
4. NC State
5. Illinois Tech - as you all mentioned, thank you! They also have a FIRST robotics scholarship (20,000) she will try for
6. Purdue
7. Tulane - the school is pricey, I’ve visited this school before and I think she’d like it but is it really possible to get 40-50k merit/aid to attend here? Some of you mentioned this school as giving large merits.
8. U of Tennessee-Knoxville
9. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - (safety)
Virginia Tech’s application is due in January so depending how the others go, we may apply here but I think chances of scholarship/aid is slimmer than other options on the list. This is more expensive than when my oldest went here, up to 29k now just for tuition for OOS. I think she could get into the Honors College which looks like the only way they will offer scholarships.
I’m unsure about GT now, as you all mentioned, it may be a reach to be accepted, therefore no chance at merit scholarship, possibly some aid but looks like GT is in the 30’s for OOS.
I’ve read Texas A&M may grant OOS tuition waivers for qualified applicants to get in-state. Anyone have experience with this, how likely is it?