<p>*We have found that our university 1.5 hours away will give my daughter $8000 merit scholarship where arkansas will waive out of state and give $12000 (now actually cheaper) and alabama would be tuition free. *</p>
<p>that’s how Alabama is able to grab high stats kids from states with pricey instate rates. Illinois is happy hunting ground. What state are you in?</p>
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<p>My D, a junior in HS, spent a week on campus there last summer doing an engineering program. She didn’t go off campus so I can’t speak to that other than to say that it seemed perfectly fine to me in the daytime. I can speak to security on-campus. It is extensive. There are a LOT of cameras, campus security on bicycles. It is very well patrolled. </p>
<p>Temple has also been buying up land around it, I’ve read, much as some other large Us in cities have been (OSU, Columbia, etc).</p>
<p>If he could get his SAT up TEN points he’d get $8K a year from Temple, as it is he’d get $5K guaranteed merit: <a href=“http://admissions.temple.edu/sites/admissions/files/uploads/188_1213_scholarship_info_sheet_sl_2014FINAL.pdf[/url]”>http://admissions.temple.edu/sites/admissions/files/uploads/188_1213_scholarship_info_sheet_sl_2014FINAL.pdf</a></p>
<p>Also, when visiting Carnegie Mellon with my D last week, I was surprised to learn that they do not o**** freshman GPA in their GPA calculation. I know CA state schools don’t either so that may be more common than I thought. If his GPA would be higher without 9th grade factored in, that might make a difference.</p>
<p>Also, do look at the auto tuition/full ride scholarship schools. There are a few he’d qualify for now.</p>
<p>Hello, just a note to encourage you and your S. A couple years ago I came on this website for advice on my D’s college search and had a similar experience. It is shocking to realize how expensive, how complicated and how competitive it is. You are not the only parent to go through a rude awakening, and lots of us have felt your pain!</p>
<p>One thing that did help us was to apply to several schools, 10. Plus another that had an on-the-spot acceptance. That way we could compare the financial aid offers. We did public and private and ran net price calculators everywhere. The state schools were affordable and we made sure to apply to three, just in case. At one private school she got a decent offer (not as much as it would have been if her SATs and GPA were just a few points higher but decent). She ended up getting into a program at another private college funded by the state, so that was her best option – although she could have been happy at her favotire of the three state schools. A marching band sounds like it would make your S happy so do look at schools that are maybe not as competitive but where the music would sweeten the deal for him.</p>
<p>Let me reiterate other posters, it would be a good idea to take the SATs again. Also be sure that none of your son’s schools require SAT II tests, they are additional exams.</p>
<p>Matriculating at a school that accepts AP and dual enrollment credits might save you some money, but be sure to check on the specifics since some do and some don’t, and some require a 4 or a 5 score.</p>
<p>Lastly apply to several schools! The FAFSA lets you list 10. I know that app fees are expensive so you would have to take that into consideration but it is worth it to have some options.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you and your son!</p>
<p>Missouri is where we live. My d found she could go to alabama and houston for nearly full ride with her numbers. Mu is losing smart in state students and alabama is in St. Louis ALL the time recruiting. Plus automatic honors college and guaranteed internships. Their business school is ranked higher than mu ( I know rankings!). Arkansas is also a nice business school backed by millions from the Sam Walton family.</p>
<p>Can not stress enough to get on the scholarships NOW! Lots of big ones out there and plenty of smaller local ones. Look to your son’s guidance counselor for help. Our counselor sends a list of scholarships out monthly. Plenty of guides on the subject. Become better acquainted with his counselor. My daughter checks with her every other week or so. She has helped her go for awards and such which help on the application.</p>
<p>Dual high school and college credit could give you a jump on college classes before next fall if that is possible at your son’s school.</p>
<p>This is a great feed. Thanks to everyone I’m learning so much.</p>
<p>One thing you might consider suggesting is looking at if there a community college courses to help with some of the base core requirements at the college he chooses to help offset the costs. The key is ensuring the credits will transfer first. Some colleges won’t accept transfer credits but part of the college decision making process for my D was to ensure they did. In the summer following senior year of high school D completed 14 credits vs a part time job. I figured she saved more on tuition than she could have earned in a part time job. Following her freshman year of college D worked but also took a summer course to help defray costs. Had to jump through a lot of hoops to get school to approve prior, but they did. I found if you do a search on the college name and ‘transfer credit tool’ it will allow you to see if and what will transfer. The admissions person at the college isn’t usually very helpful since it is less tuition for them, but doing some homework via their websites and then get up front approval. Here is website for Penn state. [Transfer</a> Credit: Penn State University Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.psu.edu/info/future/transfer/credit/]Transfer”>Transferring Credit to Penn State from other Colleges as a Transfer Student - Undergraduate Admissions)</p>