<p>Thanks everybody. Now off to the merit money thread!</p>
<p>AS a non-East Coast option, you may want to add Pepperdine to your early list. It has about 3000 students, a gorgeous location, and offers substantial merit aid (close to 20,000 average to 7-9% of its students.)</p>
<p>It is, however, mostly know for its business and communication programs. </p>
<p>PS If you consider California and look a few "more" notches down from MIT, Santa Clara is a Roman Catholic school worth checking out.</p>
<p>Here's a link to Catholic universities and colleges:</p>
<p>MIT would be a fit in that it is apolitical, and also okay for a non-partier. There is some kind of summer institute for high schoolers that may expose her to it more. Sorry, I'm not sure if it is intended for minorities or for girls--the girl from our high school who attended is both. You daughter is definitely competitive if her math score is 700 or not too much below.</p>
<p>Since she liked MIT a summer program there after junior year might be just the thing to get her used to being so far from home.</p>
<p>RSI is run by the Center for Excellence in Education. It's a free 6 week program. <a href="http://www.cee.org/rsi/index.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.cee.org/rsi/index.shtml</a></p>
<p>The one for women is Women's Technology Program: <a href="http://wtp.mit.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://wtp.mit.edu/</a> The cost is $3,000, but financial aid is available.</p>
<p>The other used to be for minorities. <a href="http://mit-mites.org/application/%5B/url%5D">http://mit-mites.org/application/</a> Now it is for the following:
Additional factors that are considered for selection as plus factors (not entry requirements) include whether:
-the individual would be the first in the family to attend college;
-there is an absence in the individual's family of science and engineering backgrounds;
-the individual's high school has historically sent less than 50% of its graduates to 4-year colleges;
-the applicant attends a school that presents challenges for success at an urban elite university (e.g., rural or predominantly minority); and/or
-the individual is a member of a group that is under-represented in the study and fields of science and engineering (African American, Latino or Native American).</p>
<p>Members of all races and ethnicities are considered. We look particularly for students who come from challenging backgrounds and those who must overcome significant odds to pursue their dreams of becoming an engineer or scientist.</p>
<p>I'd try Carnegie Mellon. The caliber is just as good as MIT, perhaps without the added stress of being MIT. Son finds that Pittsburgh is very much like Portland or Seattle; compact, water, parks, hilly, progressive, easy to get around and with weather that is similar to PDX, SEA but without the rain. Airline connections are excellent with SEA being a great value. The school is evenly divided between undergrad and grad with great opportunities for undergrad research participation. Total population of a bit more than 8000. Guaranteed student housing, 4 years!
Also close enough to other big metro areas for quick 3 day weekend trip. </p>
<p>You should review CMU's policy for merit aid. West Coast states are underrepresented as are women. </p>
<p>GL</p>
<p>Well since a few people mentioned CMU, and you are interested in financial aid, I am going to remind you again about U of Rochester and the Bosch and Lomb Award (and U of R has Humanities/Social Sciences Award and Kodak Leadership). My d was awarded $8,000/yr from CMU. She received the Humanities and SS Award from U of R. As that was an award that was listed on her application, CMU was well aware my d would be receiving $11,000 from U of R as she is a NYS resident. I truly believe that CMU offered the $, because they realized they were in competition with U of R. When we went to the "sleeping bag week-end" at CMU,we found out that alot of these kids apply to MIT, CMU, U of R and Case Western (also known to be generous with financial aid). It was never our intent to play one school against the other for merit aid, but having an award such as Bosch and Lomb or Rensellar Medal etc. on an application clues schools into potential merit aid being offered. And sometimes the other school will make a nice counteroffer without even being asked.</p>
<p>Mombot: for Catholic colleges on the West Coast with merit aid, check USF (University of San Fracisco) and St. Mary's (Just east of San Franciso).</p>
<p>Not sure what else to recommend at this point.</p>
<p>Marney: Your DS chose which school, If I may ask.</p>
<p>Question - Is she willing to consider a school outside the US?</p>
<p>Hi itstoomuch- My d is now a soph at Cornell- in their Industrial Labor Relations program. As we are NY state residents, it actually costs a bit less to go to Cornell than U of R or CMU even with the merit aid. She also became more interested in the Labor Relations program as she became more familiar with it. If she had maintained her interest in psychology or cognitive science, she probably would have gone to one of the other schools, but her AP psychology class in HS, made her rethink her desire to study psychology in college.</p>
<p>Yulsie--as a matter of fact she's looking into Canadian schools because of they are such a great deal.</p>
<p>Xiggi, I beg to differ with you about Pepperdine. They are not known for either merit aid or financial aid. In fact, they are known for being one of the top schools for offering large loan packages instead of grants and they are rather stingy with the percentage of students who actually are offered merit aid.</p>
<p>You are right about Canadian universities but being an American citizen with top marks she will probably get her best deals in the states. Just research the schools, choose well, and you will all be pleasantly surprised. That said, if she wants a change of place and pace, Canada has many wonderful programs and schools.</p>
<p>Overseas: she's intrigued by Queen's. She's not very focused right now but in the next few months things will be clearer. We are fortunate that she has two great fallbacks: the state U. here and my alma mater where she can get into the honors college and qualify for a big tuition discount.</p>
<p>I think two of our teachers are graduates of Queens. We have students go to U of T from time to time and my son's good friend is at York. I am surrounded by Canadians (they like warm weather) and so therefore hear about the schools. Their colleges and universities are certainly well priced even if you pay the full tuition. Many have good to great reputations.</p>
<p>We got the PSATs and her math score is unchanged from last year--selection index is 99th percentile though because of writing and CR. At least it convinced her to look at a prep book before the SAT. She really does want to drag the math score up above 700---right now she's tracking at 630. I just re-read this thread and thank everybody for their ideas. I should have posted her other ECs, so I'll post a full profile and see if anything comes to mind.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.95/4.0 in core classes
PSAT: 215
APS: 11th grade enrolled in physics B, calculus AB, US History, Spanish
ECS: Newspaper editor, Captain, X-C, Teen Court, Link Crew, Peer Advocates/Mediators,NHS, Science club, Math club, piano
Community Service: math tutor, UW Hospital volunteer</p>
<p>Mombot, </p>
<p>Check out Haverford. </p>
<p>Top LAC that has a Quaker heritage; not religious per se but the tone is very thoughtful; concerned with ethics, consensus, honor code, etc. Haverford is part of a consortium with Swarthmore and Bryn Mawr; one can take classes at all three. Located in beautiful leafy suburb just outside Philly; gorgeous campus. Outstanding education, friendly, warm kids, low key social life. Extremely good XC team too.</p>
<p>However, I think Haverford offers need-based aid only. Bryn Mawr may have merit aid though. The two schools have many links; certain depts shared, can live on either campus, etc.</p>
<p>I think Haverford is an outstanding school (despite the fact they did not admit my D!) It has a very unique atmosphere that might appeal to your D.</p>
<p>Mombot, This is totally off track with this discussion, well kind of. Make sure to keep in mind that going to a school with an airport nearby (a cheap cab fare) if she goes away is a real plus!!</p>
<p>mombot, This is the picture I get: good scores, great grades; enjoys sports, music, dance;science/math focus with strong humanities/social studies adjunct; sociable but not much of a drinker; politically centered; understated, seeks a warm and supportive community, small classes, accessible professors, smart, non-competitive kids. For Eastern-ish LACs I'd suggest Bowdoin, Hamilton, Bucknell, Skidmore, Holyoke, Kenyon, Amherst, Williams. It sounds like shell have lots of good choices</p>
<p>For more socially conservative yet academically challenging I would suggets Notre Dame and Wheaton College (IL).</p>