(Apologies if this is posted in the wrong section…)
Can anyone suggest some schools I can look at to get merit aid? 1560 SAT, 3.8 UW, NMSF; from Connecticut (and applying to UConn). I’d prefer to stay in the NE/Mid-Atlantic region, and would prefer mid-sized schools that aren’t rural, but am definitely open to suggestions.
Have a look at these pages:
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/
https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php
https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=lib_arts
The Kiplinger pages allow you to click-sort on any column, including the two for “non-need-based aid”.
How much merit do you need? What can your parents pay? What is your possible major?
And the more open you are to leaving the NE/MidAtlantic, the better your shots at merit will be. You would be competitive for Tulane’s full tuition scholarships. You must apply EA or ED. EA deadline is Nov 15. Scholarship application due first week of Dec I think. SMU also has an outstanding full ride. Both schools are competitive, not automatic.
Your stats are great but many if not most colleges require EA for scholarships with deadlines in November. You need to act quickly.
There is still good money out there for NMF as well. Some schools dropped award amounts but still substantial. Bama, Oklahoma, Univ of AZ and ASU, Baylor. There are more. I believe all of these are stat based.
@twogirls I think my family can probably contribute 30k or so (but not sure; I’ll check with them); as for possible major, I’m pretty open, but considering English and Math.
@Sportsman88 thank you- I’ll keep those in mind. However, I already applied SCEA somewhere- which means that I would not be able to apply early to Tulane/other schools?
I’ve heard there’s schools with December 1st deadlines for merit, and have been looking into those (Rochester, Richmond, BU, but those are competitive of course with no guarantees)
@tk21769 thank you so much, these are very helpful!
You have to watch the deadlines… several may have have passed and most ( not all) of these awards are competitive and not guaranteed.
Richmond
U Maryland
Ohio State
Alabama
Tulane
U of S Carolina
Lafayette
Michigan State
Rochester
Emory
Vanderbilt
Lehigh
U of Miami
TCNJ
You need to check the deadlines… immediately.
A few colleges with Dec 1st scholarship deadlines that I know of: Grinnell, Washington & Lee, U Southern California.
Based on your stats, you would most likely be eligible for a full tuition scholarship at Temple University in Philadelphia .
<<<<<think my="" family="" can="" probably="" contribute="" 30k="" or="" so="" (but="" not="" sure;="" i’ll="" check="" with="" them);="" as="" for="" possible="" major,="" i’m="" pretty="" open,="" but="" considering="" english="" and="" math.="">>>>
Did you ask them? If not, please do. We’ve seen way too many posts from students who think their parents ca pay X only to later find out that parents will pay a much lesser Y.
And we’ve seen quite a few students who’ve been told to ‘not worry about money’ and just apply …only to find out in the spring that the parents expect their kids to BORROW all that money or the parents wrongly thought that there would be big merit or FA awards.
Some families are able to contribute about $3k per month towards college, but most cannot. Sometimes it’s hard for a young person to fully grasp that. But, hey, your parents may have a healthy college fund for you and/or are fully prepared to pay $30k per year. But please get clarification in that regards.
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1560 SAT, 3.8 UW, NMSF;
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You’ll have options, but may not be in the NE or midatlantic since those aren’t good merit regions.
Math or english major…what is your career goal
Have you ruled out the possibility of need-based aid? If you haven’t already, run the online net price calculators for a few schools that interest you. For $30K or more, you may (depending on eligibility) be more likely to get it from need-based.
Have your parents run the npc. Likely the student won’t know all the savings details and retirement contributions.
@bogeyorpar @midwest98 thank you! I’ll look into them.
@mom2collegekids Thanks for the advice- I have had “the talk” with them and they are still not being completely direct about finances (a lot of wishful thinking going on, unfortunately). My worry is not having financial safeties- so I’ve been on the hunt for some merit schools I can apply to.
As for career options…I’m quite open, to be honest. Nothing really in mind yet.
@tk21769 I haven’t yet, but my parents aren’t being especially direct about need-based aid (see above).
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have had “the talk” with them and they are still not being completely direct about finances (a lot of wishful thinking going on, unfortunately).
My worry is not having financial safeties- so I’ve been on the hunt for some merit schools I can apply to.
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When parents are engaging in denial or wishful thinking, then it’s best to assume that their contribution will be minimal or less than you originally thought. So find a couple of schools that will give you HUGE merit where your net cost will be very low. If come spring they figure out that they can pay more than you’ll have more choices.
have you submitted your NMSF forms? If you make NMF, you’ll have some big merit options.
If you make NMF, U of Kentucky in Lexington has an automatic scholarship, the Patterson, which is four years of full tuition, and a $10K housing stipend (on-campus only) for the first two years.
Watch the application deadlines. http://www.uky.edu/financialaid/scholarship-incoming-freshmen
The Patterson is not as generous this year as it was in past years, but it is still an amazing offer. It has meant everything to us!
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/ has a list of National Merit based scholarships. Check on college web sites because some may have changed.
I sent you a private message. 
Check the SUNY schools. Some do give merit aid @sybbie719 might know which ones…to OOS students.
Op has to check each individual school as not all schools offer the same scholarships for the same programs. If Op is looking for a full ride, that is going to be highly unlikely at most of the SUNY schools
Apply to U Alabama before December.