<p>I posted this a few days ago, but it was suggested that I post it in a different thread.</p>
<p>I am thinking about going into pre med. I have posted similar things to this but people keep saying, save your money and go to school in state cause pre med is not as important
But I would really like to get out of state and I believe that I have good enough grades to get into a prestigious school. But the main reason is, is that I would need to apply for financial aid, so if I can get into a top school, I might be able to go for the same price as an instate school. So based on my stats, what are the best schools that I can get into (that offer good financial aid) (liberal art or university). Just so I know where to apply. My parents wont be paying for any of my tuition.</p>
<p>From Ohio
tri citizen</p>
<p>GPA
UW 3.85
W 4.55 (4.8 scale)
ACT: 33
9 AP 5 Honors</p>
<p>5 clubs (president of one)
2 instruments
2 varsity sports
student council
150 volunteer hours
I speak English, Spanish and I taught myself sign language.
I have a job
I am 99th percentile in memory
I can write in shorthand
I make movies for my schools film festival</p>
<p>You have good stats…so look at the thread above for guaranteed merit awards. You will probably find some with at least partial tuition to full tuition awards. </p>
<p>Re: those prestigious schools…many, if not most, give only need based aid. Your parents’ income and assets are used to determine the awarding of need based aid. And it doesn’t matter if they are willing to pay…it matters what the school computes as their ability to pay.</p>
<p>I think I replied on your other thread. What is wrong with some of the instate publics in Ohio where your costs would be more favorable? Ohio State has excellent programs, and some good scholarships for instate high achievers. Miami University has a good record for med school acceptances. Ohio university has good allied health care programs and a DO program. You would likely get some merit aid from some of the other Ohio publics…Kent, Bowling Green.</p>
<p>Those other states will still be there in the future for jobs…or med school (although instate for those is wise too cost wise).</p>
<p>But then…the grass is always greener…</p>
<p>P.S. what does it mean to be 99% in memory??</p>
<p>If you look in the part of these board for automatic full tution scholarships and other generous merit money, that’s some of what 's out there in terms of scholarships from schools. You can also apply for outside scholarships by getting lists of what’s out there through Fast Web. But the fact of the matter is that getting a lot of money for college is difficult. You have to be at the very top of the applicant pool fo a school that gives out large merit awards and be selected, which is even more competitive than getting admitted.</p>
<p>Most highly selective colleges give little or no merit money. IT’s all finanical aid and need is determined by your parent’s financials if they are alive and if you are not age 24 or meet other independence criteria, which does not include being actually financially independent. Marriage, having a dependent, being a veteran, a ward of the state prior to age 18 and other such things are the grounds, most young adults don 't make the cut. The schools don’t care if your parents will pay, they will only gauge if they can, because otherwise no one will say they will pay. What keeps the money flowing is that they truly won’t give out any money to those whose parents can pay and so parents know they are on the hook if their kids are to have that option of going to those schools. So tough luck to those whose parents can pay and truly won’t pay. or won’t even fill out the forms. I know plenty of people in those categories. </p>
<p>If your parents won’t be paying any of your tuiton, and their financiala are such that you are not considered needy, then it means you have to get merit money or go to a local school, borrowing the $5500 you are allowed as freshman, once you and your parents fill out the FAFSA. THough they may not pay tuiton, just allowing you to live at home is a savings of $7-10K of year that it costs to live at college. You didn’t expect someone else to pick up your living expenses did you? It rarely ever works that way, I want you to know. Very few full rides out there for those with need, much less without it. Even FULL ROTC awards don’t pay for room, board, discretionary expenses. And if you get those through some awards, they are not tax exempt–go into the taxable income column for the IRS. A lot of kids think that a sleep away college experience is due to them. Nope it’s just as much of a luxury and even more expensive than a new car each year, or a grand tour of Europe, or the world, for that matter.</p>