<p>I was wondering where in the midwest I would be eligible for merit aid as well as financial aid with these stats: 34 act, 1410 (2170) sat, uw gpa 4.0, w gpa 4.74, ranked 1 out of 91 at a small, challenging private school (all girls), full IB candidate, lots of ECs, especially music ones, as well as four honor societies, leadership positions, etc...(if you do a search for postings by gigidaisy you can find a complete list)...I also do volunteering as well....</p>
<p>I want to stay in the midwest, preferably no further than 3 to 4 hours away from Chicago....my main list right now includes University of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago (honors college), Knox College, Lawrence University, and Illinois Wesleyan University....of these and others, which ones do you think would give me the most financial/merit aid?</p>
<p>two words: Case Western</p>
<p>St. Olaf College in Minnesota. Its merit-based scholarships include Academic Scholarships, Music Scholarships, and Service Leadership Scholarships.</p>
<p>DD received wonderful merit and financial aid at Illinois Wesleyan, and is thrilled to be going there this fall. She fell in love with the campus when she visited, and the generous aid package made it possible for her to attend.</p>
<p>Lawrence is very generous and has been fair throughout my son's attendance there. He received both merit and financial aid. He was IB. Your daughter's spec's are better than his though he had multi dimensional music skills, leadership, international experience as well as being hispanic. Visit the schools and learn which ones are at the top of your list. Focus on those. If you like the 5 above, that's great. You have a solid list. I know Illinois Wesleyan does a good job with aid. I imagine the others do as well. Don't spread yourself thin. Focus on the few, not the many. Let them know why you want to attend them. My son applied to 8 schools. He should have cut the list along the way to 4. He got in everywhere after we both worried about the financial aid. I know everyone is worrying these days about how many kids are applying, the competition. I think if you chose schools that are right for you and know why, you will do fine in either December or April.</p>