Thanks all!!! I was talking to my daughter and she reminded me that the other in-state schools she is applying to(but doesn’t really want to attend) are our financial safeties. They are right around the 15k mark. It looks like we just need to add some other schools that are out of state based on everyone’s suggestions if she doesn’t want to stay in IL.
I would look really hard for financial safeties that she would like to attend. If all she is left with that she is both accepted to and can afford to attend are school she doesn’t want to go to, she will be miserable in the spring.
OP:
Two schools outside of Philadelphia - St. Joseph’s University and Villanova (more difficult admit) are looking to increase their % of URM students - especially Villanova. Though you won’t get much merit aid from Villanova - your daughter may be eligible for a special program or scholarship to assist young women of color. Also, look at Pitt - if she raises ACT slightly she may get a partial tuition award.
Agreed, you need at least one financial safety she would actually be happy to attend.
If she doesn’t want to attend the schools on the list that you can afford, they’re not safeties. She has to be happy to attend for them to be safeties.
Have her look at Southeast Missouri as a financial safety. She should auto qualify for full tuition scholarship and the campus is significantly nicer than the similarly priced IL schools that we toured. Also avoids the uncertainty of the state budget.
^ Nice recommendation I hadn’t seen before.