Stats:
-34 ACT
-Rank 1/500
-Solid ECs (think typical Ivy applicant)
I know of the really generous ones (eg: the OP UAlabama one), but tell me the best school(s) in terms of rankings that would give me enough merit so that I’m paying ~20k (for tuition) max per year. And this potential merit aid doesn’t have to be guaranteed, if I have maybe a 35% chance fro the merit I’ll definitely apply. Rankings matter because I’m hopefully looking for semi-target schools for Wall Street. My EFC is around 38k so financial aid is minimal.
Kelley at Indiana would be a good safety as they will offer good merit for those stats.
@Zinhead Nice, I heard they have a pretty good investment banking program over there so I’ll look into it. Thanks
Texas A&M
University of Southern California (merit is super-competitive there though)
Brandeis University
Northeastern
What state are you in? My friend at A&M business honors landed a job at Goldman Sachs. A&M has a great business program and if you get any money from the school, they will automatically give in state tuition.
Sadly, many Wall Street jobs are very superficial. It’s not impossible to get a job at a 50-100 overall ranked school (the schools you’re most likely to get decent scholarships at), but it’s definitely easier at a high up school.
If you truly are what you think an Ivy League applicant, apply to top private schools with merit aid. Hopefully you could get 10k a year for the financial need then try to take off 20k a year to get into your range.
If I were you I’d apply to some top schools and see what you get. Merit aid is hard to predict.
I’d look at UI-Kelley, UT-Austin, Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, TA&M
You won’t get aid from UT-Austin, but their tuition is only $10K more than your budget - might be worth if you can get in. Probably no aid from Michigan either but may be worth a try.
^
We don’t know if the OP is using the term “tuition” lightly … If the OP means $20k is his total annual budget, then UT’s costs are way out of his budget.
BTW…how is something “worth it if you can get in” if it’s $10k per year more than one’s budget? Does $40k magically appear simply because something is deemed “worth it”? Where is that money tree?
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so that I'm paying ~20k (for tuition) max per year.
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@deeeznuts Are you saying that your max budget for all of college costs is $20k per year (tuition, room, board, books)?
Sounds like you need to balance out your list. Definitely apply to the ones with guaranteed merit and then hone in on the ones that offer competitive merit aid (if your ECs truly are Ivy material). University of Texas has a crazy competitive but “full ride” scholarship called “40 Acres”–but you need to dig in and get those apps in like NOW.
University of Pittsburgh has competitive merit and from looking at last years thread it does seem like they favor the high ACT valedictorians. I know nothing about their business and finance programs though.
Thank you for the comments everyone.
@Jpgrainier I’m in state for Maryland. Like @carachel2 mentioned my plan is to balance out schools with great merit and schools with competitive merit, and then there’s UMD which is a great option for me financially.
@mom2collegekids You were right about using “tuition” lightly, didn’t know the other costs were so expensive. My parents are reluctant to hand me a “max-budget” (even I though I would like to know), but I know my financial situation and paying under $25k (COA) per year would be great.
I already have my safeties that would give me full, or close to full tuition off. I guess I’m asking for matches, or merit-reaches that would put me under my budget. So basically the best name I can get (help get me to Wall Street) for under $25k (and they would have to be better than UMD, assuming I get in).
The big mistake I’ve made is that I’ve started the process late. I can’t apply for schools with merit deadlines of 11/1, so Indiana is out of the question now 
@deeznuts 11/1 is next week…can you not pull an all nighter and get that app done?
@deeeznuts “I already have my safeties that would give me full, or close to full tuition off. I guess I’m asking for matches, or merit-reaches that would put me under my budget. So basically the best name I can get (help get me to Wall Street) for under $25k (and they would have to be better than UMD, assuming I get in).”
Congratulations. You are very lucky to reside in a State such as MD which has such excellent public universities. And well done to you and your parents for having UMCP as an academically and financially option. (Also, kudos to the MD
State Government for keeping UMCP relatively affordable for middle-class families!). Also, Wall Street is an achievable destination for UMCP grads. One of my former bosses went directly from UMCP to Goldmans where he had a 30 year career). UMCP is just a better all-around option for you than some of the full tuition schools such as Alabama or Arkansas. I think that Indiana U is a great business school, so you should apply there. (You have over a week to get the app in so that is very doable!)
However, as you know, when applying to top investment banking firms, it DOES matter where you went to undergraduate school. You can now aim high with UMCP in your back pocket. Therefore, I would apply to some top schools that are Wall St feeders where you may qualify for need based aid as some of these schools (ND and Northwestern) have increased their available need-based aid. I would definitely apply to the following schools:
Northwestern, Notre Dame, UChicago and Duke (the latter two have merit aid but it is very hard to get)
Schools which may have more achievable merit aid with your stats are Northeastern, Fordham, URichmond, UMiami and Davidson.
Please be aware (as others have noted) that many of these scholarship deadlines are between 11/1 and 12/1, so you need to get working on this ASAP! Good luck.
OP what makes you extraordinary that a college will go to bat for you?
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You were right about using “tuition” lightly, didn’t know the other costs were so expensive. My parents are reluctant to hand me a “max-budget” (even I though I would like to know), but I know my financial situation and paying under $25k (COA) per year would be great.
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Yes, room, board, books, fees, plus misc costs can run about $15k-20k per year depending on the college and where it’s at. So a school with $20k per year tuition, will cost you about $40k per year “all in”. BTW…to get an OOS public’s tuition down to $20k per year, you’re going to need merit at many schools.
Since your parents are being vague, simply say something like, “I’ve found a couple of schools that I like that have a total cost of $35k per year (after merit awards). If we all decide that we like those schools, would you pay $35k per year for one of them.” If they say, “sure,” then fine. If not, then find out their thoughts.
@londondad you explained my situation very well and I’ll take a look at the schools you mentioned. it would’ve been awesome if i was in-state for UVA though :-? But if I go to UMD and work/network my tail off, I like my chances.
@ClarinetDad16 I don’t think I’m extraordinary, but I have the academic stats. With solid extracurriculars and unique essays, I hope to have a shot at merit. Plus I go to a pretty bad high school, so maybe that’s a hook?
@mom2collegekids Yea, I’m gradually giving my parents a reality check. I’ll use your idea though, thanks
@carachel2 do you think I could send in scores/transcript in a week? I’m more worried about that than the actual application.
@deeeznuts This is from the IU website:
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In order to be considered for IU Achievement and Selective Scholarships, you must submit a complete admission application (including official transcript, test scores, and essay) by November 1.
If you meet the November 1 deadline, you may submit updated SAT and/or ACT scores until January 15 for additional scholarship consideration.
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Therefore, you should beg, apologize and beg again to your Guidance Counsellor to send IU your transcript by 11/1. You should also make a request with the ACT today, although it may not get to IU by 11/1. I guess in the meantime, you can self report your ACT on your IU app?
Work within your current time limitations. And pray! Then see where you get admitted, see what the financial picture looks like, make any campus visits and follow up, and pray that you are directed the right way. Working hard and working smart also sometimes takes being at the right place and the right time.
Remember The Big Bang happened because of The Big Banger…doesn’t hurt to have spirituality help you with guidance.
If the OP’s school uses Parchment or another online transcript ordering service, it is not hard to get that IU app doe quickly. IU is now on the Common App, so hopefully OP’s essay is already complete for other schools. IU requires a short IU supplement, which should be able to be written reasonably quickly. For a high stat applicant, those stats are what gets the student in, not the Common App or supplemental essay; same goes for merit awards, they are called “automatic scholarships” for a reason. The OP would be a direct admit to Kelley School, with the largest regular, automatic merit. Just get it done!
@deeznuts you have seven days— why not at least bust your tail trying? Go for it!