If DD loved U Richmond. . .

College Search & Selection
1

<p>. . . what are some other schools we should look at?</p>

<p>For her first round of college visits (summer before this, her JR, year), dd visited one "big city" school - U Pitt, and one suburban idyllic school -- U Richmond.</p>

<p>She (and I) loved the feel of U Richmond. It is definitely "on the list".</p>

<p>We're looking for schools that offer good merit aid -- as in at least bringing the total cost of attendance down to the 25-30k/yr (NO MORE) level. If they don't offer merit aid at that level, it makes no sense to apply.</p>

<p>(Dd will definitely have the option to go to our local uni, WVU, for completely free based on test scores/etc. . . so that is the fall back option.) </p>

<p>So, anyway, dd's first (Sophomore year, June) SAT was 2100 (1400 CR+MA), and she will likely be a NMF (WV's cut off is usually 203-204, and she prepped hard and well after that 2100 SAT . . . and felt good this morning at the PSAT), and she will surely bring those SAT scores higher, too. She is homeschooled, takes very challenging courses, so GPA is vague (4.0, but what does that say with homeschooled), and so, anyway, I won't try to give more stats here, as it is hard to summarize with the homeschooling. Suffice it to say that I believe she should be a good candidate for upper-tier schools, but certainly not a shoo-in for Ivies and the like. </p>

<p>In any event, we aren't considering Ivies or similar schools that offer no merit aid, as dd will NOT be eligible for any need-based aid, but we can NOT actually afford 60k/yr despite the magical calculators that claim otherwise.</p>

<p>So, I am looking for schools of as high a caliber as we can which:</p>

<ul>
<li>offer substantial merit aid (at least half cost of attendance)</li>
<li>promote grad school plans/prospects</li>
<li>collegial, posititive academic enviroment promoting high achievement and deep thought while also being supportive and happy</li>
<li>are either liberal or moderate politically/socially</li>
<li>are in the midatlantic/midwest (ideal) or northeast/southeast (second choice)</li>
<li>not an urban campus (rural, small/midsize town, or suburban is good)</li>
<li>safe campus (not in or very close to a high crime area)</li>
<li>have the feel of a U of Richmond -- small/midsize, safe pretty campus</li>
<li>has opportunities for non-major musicians to participate in ensembles/orchestras/etc. (harpist -- ideally also having a harpist on faculty in some way for lessons)</li>
</ul>

<p>Now, add to that:</p>

<ul>
<li>is strong in math</li>
<li>ideally also offers engineering </li>
</ul>

<p>:) So, really, it's not that I am particular, lol.</p>

<p>Please brainstorm with me . . . </p>

<p>I am trying to prioritize a couple more schools for winter/spring visits this (Junior) year.</p>

<p>Thanks for sharing your ideas with me.</p>

2

<p>Rhodes (good merit aid), Wake Forest (not much merit aid but very similar to U Richmond), UVa, Virginia Tech, Davidson (engineering but not known for merit aid), Lafayette (engineering and generous merit aid). Oberlin and Kenyon and possibly Denison are also worth checking out although math is strong, may not offer engineering unless 3-2 program with partner school.</p>

3

<p>Good suggestions. I would add Washington and Lee, for their competitive full merit scholarships.</p>

4

<p>The University of Richmond’s website, through their office of Institutional Research, includes an unofficial list of thirty peer institutions. You might find that list to be a helpful starting point.</p>

5

<p>[Kiplinger’s</a> Best Values in Private Colleges-Kiplinger](<a href=“http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=lib_arts&state_code[]=ALL&id[]=none]Kiplinger’s”>http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=lib_arts&state_code[]=ALL&id[]=none)</p>

<p>Click-sort on the non-need-based aid columns.</p>

<p>The ones I can think of that have engineering programs (Swarthmore, Trinity) don’t offer much if any merit aid.</p>

6

<p>Check out Elon and Furman</p>

7

<p>U of Dayton offers assured merit aid, no price increase during the student’s time at the school, good engineering program with internships at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the Air Force Laboratories.</p>

8

<p>St. Olaf in Northfield, MN (less than an hour from the Twin Cities) would be perfect for your daughter, and I think you would get substantial merit aid. There are lots of “musical” kids there, the campus is safe and beautiful, and it’s a wonderful supportive environment.</p>

9

<p>First, if she is at all considering engineering don’t apply to schools without it. She really ought to have the opportunity to explore those potential careers.
Second, merit aid is simply a discount off the full price. Merit awards at engineering schools run around 10-20K for the most part. However, as a highly qualified *female *applicant she may be offered more at schools with a gender imbalance. I know someone who got a sweet deal at B.U., and almost as much at Northeastern (she was top of her class, near perfect test scores, extremely well-rounded).
Since substantial merit aid is so hard to find you may have to let go of some other of your requirements!
Lafayette sounds like a good match. They have 40K Fellowships (offered to 20 students) and 24K Marquis Scholarships (go to about 15% of admitted students).
Look into Case Western, Clarkson, RPI, WPI for example.</p>

10

<p>Look at Lehigh as well. William & Mary would be good, offering a very few merit options. Engineering would be a 3/2 option. </p>

<p>UVa, mentioned above, does not give merit aid. There is an outside organization, The Jefferson Foundation, that offers an exceptionally competitive full ride scholarship (40/yr). Nomination is through the high school, interviews regional, then moving on to a selection weekend. VT also mentioned is not known for merit. There is a very limited e’school scholarship, the Dean/Davenport. OOS families are sometimes given $3-5k (hardly a dent). It doesn’t fit the OPs criteria however at 20k+ students.</p>

11

<p>U of Rochester</p>

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<p>Check out William and Mary, UVA, and Georgetown. William and Mary doesn’t have an engineering major but they have an option where she can do four years at William and Mary and get her bachelor’s in anything, then, as long as she got a 3.0 in certain classes, she is automatically accepted to Columbia University Master’s of engineering program. (with a master’s in engineering from Columbia, you’re pretty much set). UVA has the Jefferson scholars program however, that is next to impossible to get accepted into although your D’s stats look semi-competitive for it. Georgetown gives tons of aid.</p>

13

<p>You all are so helpful. Thanks so much. I appreciate the fodder . . . You have provided me with lots of great ideas. I’m busily researching, and I just told my daughter to look at Lafayette for 5 minutes before bed. :)</p>