I could REALLY use some help..

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Soooo I got my whole list together aaaaand now my parents are telling me that we can't afford any of the schools on my list. So i guess i have to make a new one...and i dont even know where to start. I'm a senior...so i dont exactly have much time.</p>

<p>Basically I really liked Penn and Columbia...i was really hoping i'd get in to one of those two schools. but now i dont think im even allowed to apply lol. sooo i guess ideally im looking for schools that are comparable to either one of those two (liberal arts feel, but not devoid of pre professionalism by any means...city feel...smart kids...) with the only difference being affordability and the presence of merit scholarships.</p>

<p>The only school I like that seems realistic anymore that I like is lehigh.</p>

<p>I live in NJ....have a 2300 (800m, 720cr, 780) and two (maybe three depending on how the other day went) 750+SAT 2s, top 2% of my public high school with a class of 300 kids...4.0 unweighted gpa...my weighted gpa is some meaningless high number that means nothing to people who dont use the same scale...uhhh i have fairly solid ecs....</p>

<p>I'm deciding between engineering or just like math/science major. or premed. or something else...who knows.</p>

<p>any suggestions?? i dont really want to go crazy far...5 hours is probably pushing it.</p>

<p>i really need some help! please suggest some schools!</p>

2

<p>Have you talked to them about financial aid and everything? Ivy League schools generally have plenty of aid money to throw around, and your stats make you a solid applicant at Penn and Columbia.</p>

3

<p>The Ivies and other top colleges in the country do tend to offer the most financial aid, and many of them guarantee to meet 100% of need-based aid. Tell your parents to look into this and to not judge a school based on its sticker price. If your parents will not “let” you apply there because of sticker shock, they need more education on this topic. Most importantly, you need to be adamant if these are really colleges you’re interested in.</p>

4

<p>You do need matches and safeties though. Schools like Lafayette, Richmond, and Denison would be good fits also. Make sure you apply to a “financial safety” school to make your parents happy.</p>

5

<p>put njit and stevens on the list just to make your parents happy.</p>

6

<p>Look for schools where you are in the top 25 percentile, or more, to expect good merit aid.</p>

<p>My own son is a senior at UMiami and was offered and accepted full tuition (plus other great perks.). This scholarship is based on stats, for the most part, and I think you have an outstanding chance. You will likely get 3/4 tuition merit aid and be invited down to see the school and interview to receive the full tuition scholarship.</p>

7

<p>If you were sold on engineering, there is Cooper Union, real smart and no cost if you get in, take the subway home on weekends.</p>

8

<p>Thanks guys…more suggestions would be appreciated!</p>

<p>and yeah i know plenty about the ivy league merit aid deal. Essentially…my family will qualify for an excellent amount of need this year due to recent unemployment…but will not in future years because my dad should start earning again. Though we’ve got enough to pay 8,000 a year (which would approximate my first years tuition if i went to penn), we do NOT have enough to pay for 20,000, which is what the price looks like it would go up to if my dad starts earning. soooo its kind of a catch-22.
Basically…our income is going to fluctuate a lot over the next few years…so we’ve been advised to rely as much as possible on merit aid, which won’t change in accordance with our financial situation.</p>

<p>more help please!</p>

9

<p>***i meant ivy league need based aid deal. not merit aid. that doesnt exist!</p>

10

<p>Lafayette College, a LAC with ~2400 undergrads (~25% engineering majors) offers 4 ABET accredited engineering majors: chemical, civil, electrical/computer, and mechanical: [Division</a> of Engineering: Home](<a href=“http://engineering.lafayette.edu/]Division”>http://engineering.lafayette.edu/)</p>

<p>If you are not sure about engineering, LC offers a total of 47 majors across 4 academic divisions: humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering: [Departments</a> and Programs Academics Lafayette College](<a href=“http://www.lafayette.edu/academics/departments-and-programs/]Departments”>http://www.lafayette.edu/academics/departments-and-programs/)</p>

<p>Good merit scholarships: [Lafayette</a> Scholarships Tuition & Aid Lafayette College](<a href=“http://finaid.lafayette.edu/financing-your-education/types-of-financial-aid/scholarships/]Lafayette”>http://finaid.lafayette.edu/financing-your-education/types-of-financial-aid/scholarships/)</p>

11

<p>thanks!
bump</p>

12

<p>*Soooo I got my whole list together aaaaand now my parents are telling me that we can’t afford any of the schools on my list. So i guess i have to make a new one…and i dont even know where to start. I’m a senior…so i dont exactly have much time.</p>

<p>Basically I really liked Penn and Columbia…i was really hoping i’d get in to one of those two schools. but now i dont think im even allowed to apply lol. sooo i guess ideally im looking for schools that are comparable to either one of those two (liberal arts feel, but not devoid of pre professionalism by any means…city feel…smart kids…) with the only difference being affordability and the presence of merit scholarships.</p>

<p>The only school I like that seems realistic anymore that I like is lehigh.</p>

<p>I live in NJ…have a 2300 (800m, 720cr, 780) and two (maybe three depending on how the other day went) 750+SAT 2s, top 2% of my public high school with a class of 300 kids…4.0 unweighted gpa…my weighted gpa is some meaningless high number that means nothing to people who dont use the same scale…uhhh i have fairly solid ecs…</p>

<p>I’m deciding between engineering or just like math/science major. or premed. or something else…who knows.*</p>

<p>*Though we’ve got enough to pay 8,000 a year *</p>

<p>Ok…since you can’t rely on “need-based aid” because of fluctuating income and parents’ ability/inability to pay whatever they’re expected to pay,** you need schools that will give HUGE merit…Modest merit scholarships aren’t going to work for you.</p>

<p>You need schools that will give you AT LEAST full tuition scholarships** so that your parents’ $8k contribution and perhaps a small student loan can pay for room, board, and books. </p>

<p>Frankly, I think you need to expand your geography since you need such big merit. Schools around your area don’t typically give full tuition scholarships…they’ll give $10k or $15k or so, but that’s not going to get your COA covered.</p>

<p>While it’s fine to apply to a couple of schools with competitive big merit scholarships, you definitely need to protect yourself by applying to a couple of schools that will give you ASSURED full tuition scholarships for your stats. </p>

<p>ASSURED SCHOLARSHIPS…$$$ CC Important links to Merit Scholarships given for stats… </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>Are you a NMSF???</p>

13

<p>Yeah i am…but I don’t think I’m going to make it to the finals. I barely made the nj semifinal cut off.</p>

<p>Thanks! I suppose i may have to expand my horizons a bit.</p>

14

<p>If you get your documentation in, have a GPA and regular SAT scores that support your PSAT then there is no reason NOT to make finalist. 15000/16000 make it from NMSF to NMF. In most cases it comes down to not getting the documentation in.</p>