I have good stats [4.0, 1540, likely NMSF], but I am completely lost in the admissions process [PA resident, <$15k parent contribution, PSU and Pitt NPCs say too expensive]

In your case it makes sense to me why you are applying to all the Ivys because #1 you are considering finance which is still prestige sensitive and #2 the Ivys give great financial aid. Of course even with great stats like yours, the Ivys are a huge reach for anyone who isn’t hooked, i.e. the child of an alum or faculty member, a recruited athlete or a major donor.

Not sure MIT is a fit, though. Many graduates do end up in finance, but you need to be willing to go through a hardcore STEM degree to get there. Are you genuinely passionate about STEM?

Do you have interest in elite liberal arts colleges such as Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Pomona etc.? These schools have good financial aid too, and can recruit into finance.

For any school you are interested in, it is worth running the Net Price Calculator, if you haven’t already, to give you an estimate of what you might pay (search: NPC plus Name of School)

It is usually worth applying to the honors college of your state’s flagship as well (maybe that is Virginia for you? If so that is a great option.)

For other schools that give big merit for NMSF/NMF look at this thread:

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