<p>Hey guys,
I am an upcoming Senior and am looking for some safety schools to apply to. I am looking for a midsize school from 2000-12000 students. Suburban is my preference but is not necessary. I plan on majoring in Environmental Science (not studies!) or some sort of science (maybe engineering?). I am open to all geographic locations. I would prefer a college that isn't too conservative/liberal or preppy. Merit aid would be nice too. I am just having a hard time come up with safety schools I would like. The other schools I am probably going to apply to are (not safeties): Tulane, BC, Northeastern, Duke(Just because Yolo and because ever since I was like 5 I've like it), Tufts, and some more.I realize these schools are not a all alike and I am not looking for a school that is specifically one way, as I am open to all kinds of colleges.
Stats:
UW GPA: 3.62- big upward trend since freshman year (3.87 UW 2nd Semester Junior Year)
ACT: 33 Composite (34 Super-scored)
APs: APES, AP EURO, APUSH, APLAC, AP Calc AB/ Senior Year APs: Calc BC, Econ (Macro and Micro), AP Lit and comp, AP Physics.
Typical ECs: double Varsity athlete, volunteering, etc. Nothing outstanding.
Thanks (any info is greatly appreciated)</p>
<p>What state do you live in? How good is your state flagship? Are you full pay? Are you female? How important is merit aid to you?</p>
<p>BC and Duke are really, really preppy. </p>
<p>@enigmaticescape I live in Illinois so U of I is pretty expensive for IS. I am a guy. For safety schools, merit aid is pretty important because, even though I do live in a household that won’t get any need-based aid (possibly a little b/c brother is at college too), I would like to reduce my debt to my parents after graduating because my parents are paying full tuition so no interest but I am repaying them afterwards. So merit aid would be great</p>
<p>@Lacoste, I understand but I visited BC and it wasn’t as preppy as say Notre Dame. I mean preppy isn’t too bad I guess haha. And as for Duke, theres like no chance I’ll get in so it won’t matter anyways</p>
<p>Ok. I have not been to ND but visited BC and loved it. I liked the preppy nature.</p>
<p>You can probably get some merit aid at the University of Illinois with that ACT, GPA, and resume. However, you’d have to cover the rest with summer jobs, part-time jobs during the year, and whatever co-ops/internships are available.
If you think you won’t qualify for financial aid at UIUC, what makes you think you’ll qualify for FA at Duke, Notre Dame, BU, etc.?
Alternately, you could apply to the Illinois Pathway schools and transfer to UIUC later.</p>
<p>@Fredjan I understand at my reaches/matches I probably won’t get any aid. I am just saying for a safety school it would be nice to get some aid. And U of I is very restrictive in giving any additional aid other than in state tuition (which is like a 5k discount :/) because Illinois is broke. The other schools listed were my reaches/matches and are a completely different subject. I am strictly talking about safety schools, because I am set on finding matches/reaches</p>
<p>@randomstudent15
Well, you’d better think about this extremely well. Even at a merit-heavy school like U of Alabama you’ll still end up paying about 15k per year.
In my opinion, the most financially wise decision would be to enroll in the local CC (and see whether you like environmental science or engineering better) and then transfer to UIUC later. However, I’d hate to a see a student of your pedigree opt for this option.</p>
<p>@Fredjan I am not saying that I need 100% financial aid…I would just prefer to not be paying 55k a year. Merit aid is NOT required but it would be nice to have. I am not saying I need a full ride, but a 10k scholarship would be nice. Plus, U of I has 32000 undergrads…which doesn’t fit a “midsized” description.</p>
<p>@fredjan my family is capable of paying for my tuition but expects me to partially pay them back after college through a job. Any amount I would be awarded would reduce this “debt” I have to my parents</p>
<p>@randomstudent15
I’m sorry if it appears that I’m trying to push you into U of I.
You could try:</p>
<p>St Edward’s University in Austin, TX - 5000ish students. Your price will be about 40k per year.</p>
<p>Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX - 1400ish students (too few?). Sticker price is about 46k per year, but you can likely get some merit aid.
<a href=“http://www.southwestern.edu/aid/types/scholarships/merit.php”>http://www.southwestern.edu/aid/types/scholarships/merit.php</a></p>
<p>Trinity University in San Antonio, TX - 2500ish students. Sticker price is about 46k per year, but just like in Southwestern, you’ll likely get merit aid.
<a href=“http://new.trinity.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid/academic-merit-scholarships”>http://new.trinity.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid/academic-merit-scholarships</a></p>
<p>Additionally, run the net price calculators for Duke, BU, Notre Dame, etc. You might actually qualify for FA there.
(My original comment about financial aid should have been: If you think you won’t qualify for financial aid at UIUC, what makes you believe Duke, BU, Notre Dame, etc. will be cheaper?)</p>
<p>@Fredjan Those are good suggestions. Thank you. I just feel that Texas schools would have too much of a southern vibe. Sorry I should have put this in before but the farthest I will probably go south, other than Tulane, is North Carolina…thanks anyways!</p>
<p>Grinnell, maybe?</p>
<p>Also if some NY resident could talk more about the SUNYs and their OOS scholarships…</p>
<p>I think, with your stats, Willamette would probably be pretty safe. It might be smaller than you’d like (it’s right around 2000 undergraduates), but I think you’d probably get a decent scholarship. My son applied under their non-binding Early Action (the application is also free), and received a very generous financial package. Your stats are higher than his. </p>
<p>Thanks, I’ll check those out. Any other suggestions?</p>
<p>I think Temple would definitely be a safety for you and it looks like you would qualify for substantial merit. They have an honors program that offers special housing as well as classes. It is large but the honors program might make it feel smaller.
<a href=“http://admissions.temple.edu/sites/admissions/files/uploads/188_1213_scholarship_info_sheet_sl_2014FINAL.pdf”>http://admissions.temple.edu/sites/admissions/files/uploads/188_1213_scholarship_info_sheet_sl_2014FINAL.pdf</a></p>
<p>I don’t know if its a safety but University of Minnesota has a reasonable tuition for OOS. Also University of Rochester is strong in the sciences and offers merit aid. <a href=“http://enrollment.rochester.edu/financial-aid/undergrads/#tab3”>http://enrollment.rochester.edu/financial-aid/undergrads/#tab3</a> University of Pittsburgh also offers merit. <a href=“https://oafa.pitt.edu/learn-about-aid/academic-scholarships/”>https://oafa.pitt.edu/learn-about-aid/academic-scholarships/</a></p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>University of Rochester would already be a low reach at best for this student so I doubt he’d get merit aid there …</p>
<p>I talked to my counselor and they said that it would probably be a low match.
My weighted GPA is a lot better and I am in the top 10% of my class</p>