<p>Okay, here's my basic dilemma:</p>
<p>I'm relatively academically successful high school senior. Ranked first in my class, 3.9 UW GPA, 2210 SAT, lots of ECs + volunteering, participation in science grant research with Texas A&M University, etc</p>
<p>However, I have a total family income of about $100k making me (according to some sources) pretty unlikely to receive any sort of need-based financial aid. At the same time, my parents (and myself) feel that I should try to get some significant amount of scholarship money/merit-based aid considering my success in high school. But the problem is, I simply don't know where to start, and when. I'm pretty much involved in this process on my own, considering that my parents are busy, so I need some help!</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>What state do you live in?</p>
<p>Texas, not that I’m confined to attend a Texas university/college.</p>
<p>Okay, how much are your parents willing to contribute? Would it cover the cost of UT-Austin or Texas A&M?</p>
<p>Well… it’s complicated. If I got $0 aid, my parents would pay full tuition to whichever school I ventured to attend. However, it seems stupid to go that route. I’m not an expert, but I’m positive there have to be some significant aid/scholarship opportunities that I’m eligible for; whatever isn’t covered, my parents will obviously pay (perhaps with some loans if its too significant an amount), but the more I can get the better.</p>
<p>No, I’m not a National Merit anything 
I scored a 200 because I was largely unaware of the repercussions/significance of the test considering that I moved here from Canada just about three years ago. I am a permanent resident now, however.</p>
<p>Still check out those links.</p>
<p>Are you a Canadian citizen? There are some excellent and affordable options north of the border.</p>
<p>Try applying to private schools that offer a Presidential scholarship or something similar. It should be pretty easy to figure out if your preferred school offers one.</p>
<p>As for need based aid, I think Stanford and Harvard may do something for families making under $100,000. For need based aid elsewhere I’d say you’re out of luck. Maybe if your family made $20,000.</p>
<p>Then again you didn’t have to grow up in a $20,000 year family so you’re lucky there.</p>
<p>Did you calculate an EFC? You may qualify for more than you think.</p>
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<p>Full tuition could vary from $2000 a year or less at a community college to $35,000 or more a year at a private university. NOT including room/board and expenses costs.</p>
<p>I think you may want to get a better idea of your parents’ annual “budget” for your college expenses.</p>
<p>You can get significant merit aid, but it will likely be at schools considerably down the food chain from where you could otherwise go. That’s the trade off. On the financial aid board there’s a good thread to get your search started. Alabama is probably the best known to give kids with your stats big money.</p>
<p>There’s a thread here about schools that give good merit. That will give you a good idea of schools. <em>However</em> it’s pretty useless unless you know what your parents can pay. Targeting a school that costs $50K and gives a lot of $10K scholarships will not help you if your parents are willing to pay $10K/year. </p>
<p>And the above posters are right-- you will qualify for loans and the top schools may give your family some aid even at your level of income. (Look at the calculator right on Amherst’s site, for example.) You need to run the EFC calculators (do an internet search for financial aid calculators-- finaid and college board have them) and see what your parents’ contribution is using IM (institutional methodology). If they can afford that, you should target meet full-need schools. If they can’t or you want to stay close to home, target merit aid.</p>
<p>It seems to me that you have your safeties covered in that you are pretty much assured admissions to UTAustin, Texas A&M, both very fine schools and affordable to in staters like you. I don’t know what scholarships Texas, and its universities offers its top students, but you would definitely be in the running for any of such monies.</p>
<p>With your safeties covered, you are pretty much free to apply where you please, seeking the best scholarship/aid combos. What schools interest you? Make a list from that, seeking those schools that look like they would offer you some nice merit/aid packages.</p>
<p>*Well… it’s complicated. If I got $0 aid, my parents would pay full tuition to whichever school I ventured to attend. *</p>
<p>I think you need to get a firm max amount from your parents. If your parents make $100k per year, and don’t have big savings, then it’s doubtful that they will pay $50k+ per year for a popular private or $35k-45k for an OOS public.</p>
<p>And, if your parents have a lot in savings/investments/assets, then your EFC could be quite high. </p>
<p>Many top schools do NOT give ANY merit aid.</p>
<p>If you want some big merit, you need to apply to the schools that give big merit.</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</a></p>