I am a rising junior from Texas. I’ve been trying to start a list of colleges to consider/apply to, but I’m a bit overwhelmed.
GPA: 4.0 UW
ACT: 34 (will be retaking one or two times to hopefully go up at least one point)
PSAT 10: 1470 (730 RW, 740 M)
Rank: Top 10%, but my school is intensely competitive so that might go down.
APs: Human Geography (5), World History (5), taking Physics, Lang, and APUSH this year and Gov, Econ, Lit, APES(?), and Stats my senior year.
SAT Subjects: 700 World History, 640 Chem (probably won’t be submitting my chem score)
ECs: Debate, theatre, choir, NHS
I’m aiming for National Merit Finalist, so hopefully that turns out.
I want to go to a school with a larger sports presence. I would rather go somewhere with 5000+ students. The only in-state school I’m currently considering is UT Austin. I’m looking for a school I could hopefully get merit scholarships to. No current majors in mind, but I am not likely to do business or finance. Other things I’d like are good university rec facilities (weightlifting areas especially), walkable campus or good transportation, and study abroad programs.
My current list is UNC Chapel Hill, UT Austin, and University of Kentucky. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
One important question is, How badly will you need merit or need-based financial aid? One thing to realize is that, on a practical level, as the prestige/desirability of a school increases the likelihood of getting a significant merit award from such school decreases.
So, you will get no merit scholarships from UNC-Chapel Hill with your current statistics; and you likely will not get any merit scholarships even if you raise your ACT to 35.
If you get NMF down the road, here is a list of schools that give merit scholarships/awards based on NMF/NMSF status: http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/ .
Most schools are going to have study abroad available to you, either as proprietary programs or through other universities or independent organizations.
Also, why University of Kentucky?
Any geographic preferences/limitations (i.e., what parts of the country would you consider)?
Merit-based is going to be pretty important since I have 3 siblings and thus a very small amount of family aid. I know there’s no way I’ll get money at UNC, so if I apply it’s likely that I won’t go. If money weren’t an issue, I would definitely go there, which is why I’m planning to apply. University of Kentucky gives good National Merit and I have family in the area.
Geographically, I’m pretty open, but I’d prefer East Coast/Northern Central States. Thanks for the search engines!
If you know and share your EFC that’d be helpful. It could be with 4 kids that you will qualify for need-based aid. And UNC does meet 100% of need for OOS student accepted – so bear that in mind.
There are a lot of state flagships that would love to have you! I’m not an expert on which ones offer a lot of merit aid and/or need aid to OOS students, but I think earlier poster was helpful in that regard.
In terms of fit, I’d suggest Indiana, UGA, and South Caroline for their strong business programs.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Chapel Hill and my D. did summer program for two years at UGA. If you like UNC, I think you’ll like UGA too. UGA is perhaps more frat/Greek oriented, but the overall college town is really nice and the campus is lovely. I like the vibe a lot.
If there’s no way to afford a school without merit, and it’s highly unlikely to receive merit, don’t waste your time applying to those schools. Merit at highly selective schools is ridiculously competitive (heck just getting accepted is competitive), way more so than you think. They essentially are looking to attract the few kids that would otherwise attend HYPSM and decide on a full ride or tuition free at an alternative great school.
Pick good safety, match, and reaches that you can afford. Getting accepted and not being able to go is a killer.
You meet thresholds for automatic merit at Miami Ohio, at least half tuition, more if you declare a major and qualify for honors/scholars, possibly cheaper than instate flagship.
Here’s the merit aid chart for Miami of Ohio. This is recently updated for the upcoming application season. I think the school seems like a fit. It is a pretty large public university, a very good school with a very nice campus, and has your intended programs.
Note that the school strongly encourages application by Dec. 1. Other schools you might consider may also have merit/financial aid deadlines earlier than the application deadline. Note also that Miami super-scores for admission AND aid. Good luck!
TCU isn’t on your list? I was just thinking the sport’s presence & size are what you are looking for… My observations have been that private schools where the student is stronger than most of the applicants will give the best merit.
Lots of the higher profile schools with big ticket prices give really great financial (not merit) aid for those who qualify. A four child family might make you eligible. Google a school and “net price calculator” and do some comparisons. My daughter would pay less at Yale and MIT, than at UK and we are instate for UK (with automatic free tuition scholarship already).