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Um… I have never seen “first-generation” defined to include grandparents. I would assume it to be one’s biological parents, not even counting stepparents. But anyone feel free to prove me wrong with quotes.</p>
<p>Something you should know about Questbridge: if you make Finalist but aren’t Matched, you still often receive admissions preference at QB partner schools (which give excellent FA).</p>
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Scripps has no full-tuition merit scholarships. They have a decent number of half-tuition scholarships (which would give you a “preferential” FA package with no loans or work) and ONE full-ride scholarship.</p>
<p>The OP is right that ND and SD both have generally lackluster state schools… but cheap is good. And high-stat students from either state are HIGHLY underrepresented in elite application pools.</p>