Good "middle level" schools with good merit aid (pref in NE)

<p>Had a good meeting with my DD2 and her very savvy guidance counselor. DD was very anxious (something I hope she outgrows) that of the latest marking period she was "still number one." She has been since 7th grade. Also very high PSAT pointing to likely Merit candidate. Good ECs. The GC surpised me a little by saying to DD, there is really no one in the batch of her year that is near her in rank...she will probably be validictorian. Being cautious myself, I thought that was a rather risky thing to say, but it made my daughter very happy and hopefully will calm her down about losing her "place."</p>

<p>But on to the real point. I asked DD to leave the room while I laid out for GC my family's peculiar financial situation (no savings due to distressful spending down during long yrs of job loss during the recession). Actually redundant because she knew the facts from DD1s situation two years ago (when our EFC was really low)--BTW,, DD1 was saluatorian with a very desirable "portfolio"--DD1 got a huge scholarship (merit and aid) to a "mid level" school, the kind that wants to reach out to high achievers.</p>

<p>GC said she would research similar "mid level" schools likely to offer DD2 high merit. I said to her, I want to ask you a difficult question that might be impossible to answer. She said, sure! I asked her, do you think DD2 will more likely find a school with high merit than have to choose to go to the community college for free (because of her scores, etc)? She replied, yes, I think she will find a school with generous merit and aid. That made me feel so happy and relieved.</p>

<p>So I thought to reach out to the knowledgeable CC community to ask, what "middle level" (preferably small LACs, preferably in the NE) sound like the right "fit" for what we are looking for? Thank you! (PS she wants to be a French major.)</p>

<p>It would helpt o know her stats(GPA/ACT). One does not necessarily have to settle for a “mid-level” school. If she is a possible NMSF she can get a lot of automatic scholarships at high-ranking universities. If her test scores/GPA are in the upper echelons of that school and the school offers a lot of merit aid to students she can get a good chunk off.</p>

<p>Denison U gives full tuition for NMF.</p>

<p>Well, there are these well known lists:</p>

<p><a href=“http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/”>http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #46 by ucbalumnus - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-p4.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/”>http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>However, the northeast does not seem to be the best place to hunt for big merit scholarships.</p>

<p>You probably do want to make it clear to your daughter what the net price limit is before she makes her application list, so that she can apply to schools with realistic chances of affordability as well as admission.</p>

<p>The seven sisters. They are give good financial aid, but from memory, bryn mawr, mount Holyoke and smith give merit aid. Apply to Wellesley because it is free to apply.All good fits.</p>

<p>For a reach, and coed school, just because its language program is renowned, Middlebury.</p>

<p>Wheaton and Goucher are possibilities. If she is open to an urban school, look at Fordham-Lincoln Center. It is prohibitively expensive without aid, but they are pretty generous with merit aid, and it’s a small LAC smack in the middle of Manhattan. People associate it with performing arts, but they have a full liberal arts curriculum.</p>

<p>Also consider Fordham (either Rose Hill for a traditional campus or Lincoln Center for a small campus in Manhattan) and Muhlenberg which both give out good merit aid.</p>

<p>Wheaton in MA (I hope) or the other Christian one? We almost visited Wheaton inMA for DD1. DD2 school does not do GPA–I have no idea why–they only do averages, and her 10th grade overall final average was like 103. She has only just finished the 10th grade so so far only the PSAT. CR 71, Math 65, Writing 74. Compared to what some kids report on CC, these seem good but not “stellar” to me. But the page from the College Board says "compares your performance with college-bound juniors: 98th percentile. She takes the PSAT in the fall for the NMS competition. She told me she wants to take the SAT also in the fall; I don’t know why; but she is studying for it now daily and might feel she will feel “ready” and freshly prepared. Something to discuss with the GC.</p>

<p>I like all these recommendations and am heartened. Enigmaticescape, I looked at Bryn Mawr and thought they were all needs-based; I will certainly look again to make sure. DD2 likes Skidmore, which is all needs-based. </p>

<p>UCBalumnus, thank you for those links; I had never seen those before.</p>

<p>As for her expectations, this girl is very secure and happy, but very aware (much better than DD1) about our financial picture. She has accepted the possibility of free community college/then SUNY transfer already. But this girl is every teacher’s dream and would not only thrive at a school like one of the 7 sisters, but give back much to her classmates and professors. I am determined to do my best for her.</p>

<p><<<
The seven sisters. They are give good financial aid, but from memory, bryn mawr, mount Holyoke and smith give merit aid. Apply to Wellesley because it is free to apply.All good fits.</p>

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<p>One of my older son’s friends got merit from Smith and MHC. She was the Sal of the class with high test scores. The family had an unaffordable EFC (no aid), but could pay about $35k. Smith didnt give enough, but MHC did (but COAs were lower then…about $52k per year) </p>

<p>Will you qualify for enough need-based aid? </p>

<p>Or do you now have an unaffordable EFC now that parents are employed again? </p>

<p>How much can you pay each year?</p>

<p>As you probably already know, good-but-not-high merit will get applied to need, so it may not reduce what you have to pay. </p>

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<p>Fordham will give your likely NMF D a full tuition scholarship, leaving about $17k remaining costs. If that is enough, then that can be a great safety.</p>

<p>The NE isnt great hunting grounds if you have an unaffordable EFC and the amount you can pay wont cover the amount after merit. </p>

<p>Possibilities: </p>

<p>Mt. Holyoke, Bryn Mawr, Smith
Gettysburg, Dickinson
St. Lawrence, Hobart & Wm Smith, Ursinus, Juniata, Muhlenberg, Allegheny</p>

<p>Although they are outside the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic, you also might want to consider URichmond , Davidson. Kenyon, and Oberlin.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=lib_arts&state_code[]=ALL&id[]=none”>http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=lib_arts&state_code[]=ALL&id[]=none&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>S got the full tuition merit scholarship from fordham for national merit. But the room and board is still expensive.
Also, he took the SAT right before the PSAT in October as a practice with familiarity and concentration. He needed the score anyway to “confirm” the PSAT score.
He then took ACT In spring of junior year. </p>

<p>I’m not a big fan of most of the small PA LACs that @tk21769‌ mentions. Gettysburg, Ursinus. Juniata, and Muhlenberg are where curiosity, intellectuality, and self-direction go to sleep. Small, homogeneous, like-minded, pre-professional, conservative intellectually and politically. Dickinson less so. I like their language departments and their study abroad.</p>

<p>Somewhere in Ohio, I think, I saw LACs that gave free tuition to valedictorians and salutatorians. Can anyone help me out with the names of these schools?</p>

<p>Case Western might be a place to check out. I didn’t see a prospective major, but the sciences are strong there and they are very generous with aid. </p>

<p>@jkeil911‌ the OP mentioned prospective French major. </p>

<p>Overall, I think going into junior year is too early to make an effective college list. I can’t even imagine how much I’ve changed in the past year in terms of my college preferences (I am a rising senior). I went to a college fair Fall 2013 and some of the schools I picked up flyers for and scoffed at are now real possibilities for me. </p>

<p>I don’t think that community college should be something you look at as the only alternative; I’ve been surprised at how much money is available at reputable colleges (not that community college is not reputable…). Really developing your interests is integral, then you find what you like and honestly myriad places appear at which you find you could be happy. That’s my opinion…honestly take it with a grain of salt because I remain young and naïve and I continue to change everyday. </p>

<p>In spite of what jkeil911 says… Muhlenberg, Gettysburg and Ursinus are great LAC’s that offer French majors and also are generous with financial aid. You could conceivably visit Muhlenberg and Ursinus in one day as they are probably only an hour apart. Gettysburg is closer to the middle of PA but worth a visit. All are about the same size but have great facilities to serve their communities. Muhlenberg has a new dining hall, Gettysburg a new rec facility and Ursinus an art museum on campus. All value getting to know the students before they apply so be sure and do the official tours, interviews and show them some love. Best of luck to you! </p>

<p>Lafayette has opportunities for large merit (largest is almost full tuition) and last year Juaniata had full tuition scholarships for NMF. Good luck to you and your daughter. I know from personal experience with job loss in the family that is a difficult position. Because of the uncertainty with merit, being NMF, but not wanting one of the large schools with full rides, my son ended up applying to 20 schools. He got a large merit scholarship and is happy with the outcome, but it is a different strategy that may take more work for both of you. I did a lot of research on the school web sites looking at available scholarships and with that info he decided where to apply. He talked to schools to demonstrate interest, but we weren’t able to visit all of them. If you’re looking in a smaller area of the NE, that will be easier.</p>

<p>Northeastern University shells out $30,000 automatically for NMF, which doesn’t include financial aid. </p>

<p>I would look through the course catalog before considering Juniata for a potential humanities major. Last time I did so, I found the English Department sorely lacking. Definitely a vocational/pre-professional emphasis. </p>

<p>As I’m sure you know, her current PSAT is unlikely to hit the cutoff in northeastern states, if that is where you live. Seems to me that prepping hard for the math section is her best bet for picking up a goodly chunk of points.</p>

<p>Depending on her eventual SAT scores, as well as her other factors, don’t discount the Ivies that given significant FA up to income of at least $150K. Big reaches, yes, but they might have a place in your ultimate strategy.</p>

<p>Where are you in-state?</p>

<p>29happymom26, would you please explain why your wise-sounding son wanted to take the SAT before the second PSAT and what it means to “confirm” the score/s? My daughter wants to do the same thing and I don’t understand her reasoning. </p>

<p>jsrcmom, I like Lafayette and their merit. We visited for DD1 who had like a 101 average, was Sal, but mediocre SAT scores. I was shocked and very disappointed when she was denied. On Fri, I asked the GC if she could guess why, and she said “the SAT scores.” I have thought about calling Lafayette and talking to them if they don’t mind reviewing a 2013 graduate, because I am interested in the school for DD2 but feel hurt. DD1 wanted an Engineering major and perhaps that was part of the reason she was denied (the competitiveness of the program).DD2 wants French which might make her a more attractive candidate (plus her PSAT scores were much higher than DD1’s SATs).</p>

<p>DD2 is now at a competitive-based Summer Scholars week at Vassar, says the lectures are very stimulating and interesting, but that the kids have all “bonded” and she feels lonely and that she lacks social skills. I asked her if she feels “blue” but she said no, but she stays in her room and does summer AP homework. She is still only 16, but it crosses my mind that a school not far away would be a good fit for her. She is not an extrovert like DD1. And of course, I would rather have her nearer than far.</p>

<p>Loving all these recommendations and feeling more secure. Keep them coming!</p>

<p>@Dharmawheel, my daughter did the same thing as 29happymom26’s son. She prepared for the PSAT by studying for the SAT. Then she took the SAT a few weeks before the PSAT. I think it helped her to get comfortable in a “real” test setting. If your child scores in range to be a National Merit Semifinalist on the PSAT, then one of the requirements to becoming a Finalist is to get a confirming score on the SAT. Conventional wisdom is that a score over 1980 (somebody correct me if I’m wrong here!) has traditionally been the threshold for the SAT to “confirm” that the PSAT score wasn’t a fluke. SOOOOO, by taking the SAT a few weeks before the PSAT of Junior year, you can potentially kill a few birds with one stone. Hope that makes sense.</p>

<p>suzy100, thank you so much for explaining that! Now I understand my daughter’s reasoning.</p>

<p>Cosolation, we are in NYS;DD2 doesn’t want to go to a SUNY but when the time comes we will have to gently explain to her that New Paltz and Stony Brook, are going to be necessary on her application. But DD1 got zero money from any SUNY and got generous merit/needs aid from two LACs, one of which she now attends.</p>