<p>Awesome stats!</p>
<p>Since you may not qualify for enough need-based aid at CSS Profile schools…</p>
<p>You need to apply to some of the top schools that “might” award you a HUGE merit scholarship (however, these are highly competitive)…at schools like: WashU, USC, and Vandy. Hopefully, others can mention some other top schools that have a few large merit opportunities…of course, these are highly competitive and no one can expect to get one… </p>
<p>A potential problem is that these merit scholarships many not reduce cost enough for the schools to still be affordable. For instance, if you were given the NMF half tuition scholarship at USC, the remaining costs would be about $35k per year. Such a scholarship would reduce “need”…it wouldn’t reduce the “expected contribution” that the school might expect from your family…so that could be a problem. Even a full tuition scholarship could mean that your family would be expected to pay the remaining room, board, books, fees, travel…which can be as much as $16k+ per year. </p>
<p>Do you know how much your parents will pay each year towards your college costs? If they can’t pay much or anything, then again, you need back up situations. None of us will want to read posts from you next spring saying that you’ve been accepted to A, B, and C, but they all expect your parents to pay a lot more than they can afford to pay. </p>
<p>and, lastly, since you will be a NMF, apply to a couple of schools that will give you huge merit for that.</p>
<p>I know that it is very frustrating to think that with your great stats, that you might get accepted to top schools, but they may expect your family to pay too much (or they may expect your family to pay all costs). It may not seem fair.</p>