<p>I am looking to apply to 9-12 schools, but I was just wondering if anyone could give their expertise on whether there is a possibility I could receive good merit aid from some of these colleges, obviously not the reaches, and also if there are any schools you would recommend I add to the list with good merit aid fitting my criteria, which are basically being in or near a metropolitan city (I am considering a few exceptions), and having good programs in International Studies or Relations, as well as English because I would like to double major. I also consider the UCs to count as one school, since I only have to complete one set of essays for all the schools. Here is my current list:</p>
<p>Reach:
Columbia
Penn(ED)
Tufts
Johns Hopkins</p>
<p>Match:
George Washington
Occidental
UCs (UCB, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB)</p>
<p>Low Match:
American
Boston University</p>
<p>Safety:
New College of Florida (No essay)
University of Redlands</p>
<p>My Stats:
Caucasian Male, Southern California
Class Rank: 13 out of 560 (large public school)
unweighted gpa: 3.95 unweighted 4.5 weighted on 4.0 scale
SAT:2020 Math:640 Reading:740 Writing:640
4 APs with a 5 on AP Bio, however my school does not offer a lot of APs and by electing to take MUN I chose to takes an honors class as opposed to AP History
SAT IIs: Taking in October (Will get 700s in lit. and hopefully in Bio as well)
Major: IR/English
ECs:
-Freshmen Basketball MVP, JV Basketball MVP, Varsity Basketball Starting 2 yrs and team captain as a senior
-8 Best Delegate Awards and voted Secretary General of school's sizeable conference in MUN (won best at several college conferences)
-Member of National English Honors Society and Key Club
-Worked for Nike over senior summer
-Published in a youth literary national magazine
-Numerous awards from school
Recs: Should be good, Essays: my strongest point!</p>
<p>It would be really helpful to know what type of merit I can get from the schools on my list that offer it!</p>
<p>Also any advice on schools to add/remove?</p>
<p>you’re a 3.95/2020</p>
<p>If you are interested in International Studies/Relations, you should consider Georgetown. Your SAT is maybe in their 25th percentile of admitted students, but your 3.95 is above average.</p>
<p>Some say their science facilities are a bit dated, but you’re not going to be (primarily) a science student.</p>
<p>I don’t now much about their English program, but it’s Georgetown – it’s going to at least be pretty decent.</p>
<p>I have considered the school, but I was wondering if it would be hard to double major there with the Jesuit learning philosophy?</p>
<p>Here is what their website says:
“This brings us to the issue of double majors. Double majoring can be good and it can be bad. Double majoring costs you dearly in terms of free electives, the crown jewels of liberal arts education. If you choose to double major, do it because you really want to, because you love both fields equally, or because they speak to each other in compelling and exciting ways. But don’t do it because of some abstract promise of a better job, or to impress some hypothetical employer, or because your academic freedom makes you nervous. We have seen no concrete proof that double majors get better jobs, or have more choices, or have longer lasting fresh breath. We have seen concrete proof that double majors have a harder time planning study abroad terms and extracurricular activities, and they have more occasion to sweat and fret during senior year.”</p>
<p>That does not sound very promising for my plans…Any other suggestions or thought on what kind of merit aid I will get?</p>
<p>This will help you figure out what schools are good with merit aid…
[Colleges</a> and Universities That Award Merit Aid - Graphic - NYTimes.com](<a href=“Colleges and Universities That Award Merit Aid - Graphic - NYTimes.com”>Colleges and Universities That Award Merit Aid - Graphic - NYTimes.com)</p>
<p>As to whether any school would give YOU good merit aid versus another student, you need to look at how your stats match up against their applicants. So, some research is required…</p>