Do all Florida universities and colleges base their merit scholarships on the pool of applicants? Most SEC schools that I have looked at have automatic merit scholarships, such as MS State, UAlabama, Auburn, UTennessee, etc. You can see on the site EXACTLY what you will receive based upon your test scores and GPA.
I’ve also noticed that VA, NC, and SC are all very expensive (OOS students) and offer little scholarships. Do they also offer scholarships based on the applicant pool? It seemed like the costs were in the $50k range and they only offered scholarships of a few thousand dollars. I only have a 30 and 3.8/4.2, but other state schools offered full tuition or at least most of tuition paid for.
The other SEC schools are trying to draw in high-performing HS students to raise their class profiles. The FL schools don’t seem to feel this is necessary (and you are an example of why - asking how much you can get in FL when there are other options with assured merit aid). Public Us are funded by state taxes (to a degree) and for some reason tax payers want their money to be given to in-state students. Look here for some other options: http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
Chiming in to agree . . . Florida is not the best place to get merit awards, though some merit awards exist (as stated above). Florida public universities tend to be a very good value already, especially with Bright Futures awards for qualified in-state students. It doesn’t seem like there is big incentive to draw in OOS students, but some of the mid and lower-tier FL universities are probably trying to do it.
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s. It doesn’t seem like there is big incentive to draw in OOS
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I think UF has so much pressure to accept its instate kids from a largely populated state.
The OP is from AL, so not only does he not add diversity (a border state), his own state has a modest population and NEEDS to attract more OOS students…which is why Bama is so much more diverse.
How much merit do you need? What do you need for your NET costs to be for a a school to be affordable? What will your parents pay each year?
You have free tuition at Bama. Few parents are willing to spend more just to have their child experience another state school.
@mom2collegekids I am actually a ‘she’, haha! I don’t necessarily need a lot of merit scholarships, but I will be attending schools that offer the most. I do have free tuition at Bama, and my family would be willing to send me there, but I also compete horses year round. There are very few trainers in AL, MS, and TN. I am trying to qualify for NAJYRC (basically like the Jr. Olympics for eventing). The best areas to train for this is VA, NC, SC, and FL, which is why I have been looking for schools in those areas. My family would rather I go to a school in those states and have to help pay tuition, than to attend Bama or MS State and not be able to train.
Yes, they have an equestrian team that is geared towards hunters and dressage. Eventing is not NCAA recognized, therefore they don’t have an eventing team. They do have a club, but it is fairly small/ lower levels and they do not have a designated trainer. I do not wish to be on a team as you are required to compete at several intercollegiate competitions throughout the year, which would be counterproductive to what I want to do. There are two somewhat well known trainers near UA, Jim Graham and Bryan Tweed. Jim Graham recently retired and is no longer teaching while Bryan has moved on to another profession. To travel to any competition is a minimum of eight hours vs thirty minutes in the states that I am considering.
OP - crazy question - have you looked at Virginia Intermont or Emory & Henry? Don’t know if they apply to what you’re doing (equestrian-wise), but just thought I’d throw that out there. Sometimes the small privates will give good merit $$$.
You might also look at University of Richmond, Mary Baldwin, Mary Washington, Lynchburg College, and Sweet Briar… Not sure if they have what you are looking for, or level of merit available, but could be worth checking out.
@southfloridamom9, Virginia Intermont has unfortunately closed. I worked there twenty-something years ago. Does Emory and Henry have an equestrian program now? I haven’t lived in the area since 1993.
Awww, that’s too bad @mstomper. I have family in that area but hadn’t heard! My old riding instructor went there many years ago. I think E&H picked up an equestrian program (?).
Thanks everyone! Those schools all apply towards a different style of riding, but Hollins has great competitive merit scholarships. I’ll definitely look into that school some more. I don’t particularly want to attend an equestrian school because: campus board is very expensive, too many requirements for horse and rider, minimum of ‘x’ shows a year, must have ‘x’ lessons per week with THEIR trainer, etc. I’m hoping to find a college that would fit me very well and is near several trainers. Most trainers are in Eastern VA (Charlottesville area), SC (everywhere), NC, and southern Pennsylvania.