<p>Okay, please give me some input guys. I have posted before concerning specific schools and what schools I should be looking at, but I now <em>finally</em> have a list that needs some opinions. 6 of the 9 schools on this list are safeties or matches. I'm generally aiming a little lower than I would actually like to go because I will depend VERY heavily on scholarships. Rice,Vanderbilt, and Rhodes are my three reaches; I visited Rice and was quite impressed, but while I think I could be admitted I doubt I would recieve enough scholarships to justify the expense. I plan to visit the majority of these schools, but I really need to go ahead and narrow down. Without boring ya'll too much, here are some basic stats. What I really need to know is which if any of these (mostly very expensive) schools are apt to offer me much aid or scholarships..: 31 ACT in the 10th grade, retaking it this June; 213 PSAT, 3.9 GPA, lots of ECs, and utterly undecided about a major. I'm leaning at the moment towards International relations, or business, or Government- basically something in the liberal arts. I love small or medium size schools with lots of space and friendly people. Ok so here's my list:
1.Rice
2. Vanderbilt
3. Rhodes
4. Wheaton
5. Washington and Lee
6. Wofford
7. Furman
8. U of Mississippi
9. Mississippi State U
I've also heard good things about Emory?
Any input would be greatly appreciated. U of Miss is on my list because they have some great programs and I can afford it; I hate the preppy attitude of the people there, though. If anyone has visited one of these others and felt the same thing, please let me know. My main goal is to settle on one that I can afford and that has that 'thoughtful' air to it, you know? Thanks!</p>
<p>With a 2130+, you would probably get merit money from every school except Rice, Vanderbilt, W&L, and Emory. (for those schools, you would probably need 3.9, 2300ish, and other credentials.)</p>
<p>^^^not entirely true. </p>
<p>Actually a senior at my school got a full ride to Emory with a 3.94 GPA, 2190, and lots of ECs. </p>
<p>Also, not all merit-based scholarships are based on academics; there are lots of community service, leadership, etc. scholarships. </p>
<p>Also, Ole Miss has one of the top honors programs in the country, very well respected. Obviously Vanderbilt, Rice, Emory, etc. are better, but Ole Miss's honors program is respectable.</p>
<p>I think you have a great shot at getting money from Rhodes. They offer very generous merit scholarships. </p>
<p>I know you mentioned that your list was pretty much fully developed, but you should also look at Wake Forest. It's very similar to the schools you've listed an you have a great shot at the deans/presidential/trustee (not sure what it's called) scholarship there. You should also consider Davidson. It's basically identical to the other schools--and credentials--you mentioned. I'm not sure how their aid packages are though.</p>
<p>Good luck...</p>
<p>EDIT: Also, not to rain on your great accomplishments, but Rice is very difficult to get admitted to. A guy at my school this year with a 3.98 GPA, 2180 SAT, and decent ECs got waitlisted, and a girl who received the Park Scholarship at NC State (very prestigious) got flat out rejected. I think you have a great shot, but I wouldn't count on getting in for sure--things happen.</p>
<p>I would take off Miss. State unless there's something you really like about it. You'll get into Ole Miss with money and it's a better school anyways.</p>
<p>Are you sure the kid at your school is not exaggerrating? I know many, many people who have gone to Emory, and never have heard of a Full ride with that type of SAT, even 5+ years ago.</p>
<p>Also - look at Emory Scholars stats from 2 years ago - avg SAT/GPA for Semifinalists, was 1550 old sat/ 3.9+ gpa (only 2/3 tuition). Unless the kid was the Siemens Westinghouse winner or something I can't see a full ride. (which only 25 out of 2000ish applicants get)</p>
<p>Can one of you translate roughly what sort of SAT score mentioned I might expect with a 31 ACT? I have not taken the SAT yet so I really don't have any idea where I should expect to fall in those ranges.</p>
<p>About 1400 math/verbal, 2050-2110 / 2400.</p>
<p>He wasn't exaggerating because they announced that he got a full ride at awards day. And who would lie to lower thier his/her scores? He may have had some awesome hook or something that I don't know of....but I know that other stuff is correct.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice, everyone. Are there any of these schools that are particularly unlikely to give me much aid or scholarships besides ones already mentioned? I really need to find one where I can get a lot of scholarships to go there, not just a bit. I know Rice and Vanderbilt are such reaches that they most likely will not (were I to be accepted even); any more advice?</p>
<p>Schools with 75th percentile SATs above 1300 will be hard to get much aid from. (unless you have something really unique.) In your process, just look at collegeboard.com and see the SAT score range, as well as average GPA/rank, and see what average non-need based aid award is. That should give you some idea of what to expect.</p>
<p>When I first saw the thread title, I thought, "There are schools that give scholarships for HUNTING?"</p>
<p>Guess I'm a little slow today. (Well, it IS a sport...)</p>
<p>how can you consider rhodes a reach and W&L a match?</p>
<p>Eh, my bad. I know more about Rhodes and less about W&L. I'm not about to say I'm conceited enough to think I have a solid shot at either one. Perhaps W&L is more selective than I have been told? Evidently. Ok, add it to the reach list.
rgs321: thanks especially, I will look at collegeboard.com.</p>
<p>OP, if you are a Mississippian you only need one or the other as a safety. Barksdale Honors College at Ole Miss is wonderful. Other posters feel state has better aid and some better science programs.</p>
<p>I'd add Millsaps and Centre to your "look see", and if you are looking for big merit look also at Presbyterian, Samford, Oglethorpe and Mercer. </p>
<p>My daughter improved 70 points over PSAT calculation on SAT first try. Also I'd seriously suggest retaking the ACT. D is an ACT girl and did very well in the scholarship hunt using her ACT score alone. She will be attending Rhodes in the fall. ;)</p>
<p>see the W&L board for stats of this yrs George Washington Honor Scholars - my son got one, turned down Vandy, UVA, Wake, URichmond -- couldn't be happier bc it was his first pick school anyway. </p>
<p>W&L sounds like it would fit your criteria well, but you will have to up your scores a bit to make the scholarship finals (75 percentile SAT I for all students is around 1450). More than 900 applicants this year. 95 finalists. 40 got at least full tuition, rest of finalists got something on sliding scale. It's def not all about stats bc my son's were not the highest in the finalist pool. Note that demonstrated interest unquestionably helps.</p>
<p>Some "General" (pun intended) advice: Your scholarship chances are obviously better at schools where your "stats" put you in the top 25%, so your list should rightly focus on these. But don't assume anything within that group! What we experienced -- much to our surprise -- was that the harder schools to get into (W&L, UVA out of state, Vandy) were the ones that offered him merit scholarships! Nothing at all from Wake (and he's a double legacy!) or URichmond (has loads of scholarship money). Go figure!</p>
<p>thank you! That is encouraging- W&L has been on and off my list simply because I didn't think I had much of a chance for any aid.</p>
<p>What's the worst they can say? "No"? That's the same answer you'll get if you don't try! </p>
<p>So stay realistic based on your final "stats" but just go for it within that pool. My son hoped it would be W&L, but understood that scholarships would be a major factor for us as well. He gamely played out all his options, though it was hard to watch friends get into schools and not have to worry whether they could actually go. He knew all along that it wasn't about where he could get in, but about where weHis dream came true! </p>
<p>Start reading the CC boards for each school on your list and the school publications (newspapers are great), plan a visit (preferably overnight with an on campus interview), or at least contact an alum rep for an interview (W&L has many throughout the country who are happy to meet with you if you contact them - we know ours was a big boost in the scholarship process). Contact the coach/music teacher/EC sponsor so you can meet them when you visit. Go to classes in your major interest. Write the admissions office a letter detailing why you are interested in admission. These are ways to "feel" the place from the outside, and demonstrate your interest as well. When the fit is so obviously strong, that can be an advantage over other candidates with higher test scores.</p>
<p>And it's never too early to start writing your essays! That's the one thing my son would do differently -- start during summer so he didn't have to fit them into his grueling senior schedule.</p>
<p>Good luck -- can I say we're glad it's you and not us again though?! jk - son#2 just finished soph yr so we only have a year off!</p>
<p>With your stats I think you should American University to your list because it will be a safety. Many people I know who take the international relations route usually attend American U. or Cornell. Good Luck :)</p>
<p>U Rochester, Boston U, and Ohio Wesleyan are often mentioned as giving a lot of aid. Are you eligible for any need-based aid? Do you know your Expected Family Contribution? If you can get need-based as well as merit, your job will be a lot easier. Rhodes and Wofford are good choices. Maybe you should add a couple more LACs. They tend to give aid, and have fewer serious contenders for that aid. If you are male- LACs need you, making aid more likely.</p>