<p>I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this (brand new here), but I'm fishing for merit-based scholarships and, especially, college sponsored merit aid. I'm stuck in the situation (as I'm sure other people are) of having parents' income that gives me no need-based aid, but they're not chipping in anything close to full cost.</p>
<p>Here's some of my stats:</p>
<p>SAT: CR: 800, M: 770, W: 750
ACT: 36 (w/o writing)
SAT II scores for physics/us. hist./math II pending
5 AP tests, all 5's
NM Semifinalist, Finalist status pending
GPA: UW 4.00, W 4.88, #2 of ~800 in class
plenty of ECs, volunteering, etc.</p>
<p>I'm not concerned about being accepted into schools, but paying for them--I have no interest in going Ivy and graduating $200,000 in debt. I've looked through some of the threads here, but they seem mostly related to need-based aid or acceptance. My goal is to be able to graduate completely debt-free. Thanks for any suggestions.</p>
<p>I will let Mom2collegekids give you the details…but I think the stats you posted would put you in an excellent position for very significant merit aid at University of Alabama. If you achieve NMF status, the money goes up. School has many good programs.</p>
<p>If NMF you would get a full riide at University of Alabama BIRMINGHAM (UAB) If you are interested in sciences or anything health related this is a strong school. Tier 1 research university. urban campus, 11K undergrads ranked 5th for diversity, 11th for student happiness. Strong honors colleges . Has full compliment of majors/minors but i am most familiar with the science side and sci/tech honors.<br>
[url=<a href=“http://www.uab.edu%5DWelcome%5B/url”>http://www.uab.edu]Welcome[/url</a>] glad to answer any questions you might have</p>
<p>I think you would also get very significant merit aid at U of Alabama Tuscaloosa (which I think is the main campus…right…?). Hopefully Mom2 will pipe in.</p>
<p>thumper1 University of Alabama system is comprised of 3 universities. UA in tuscaloosa, UAB (birmingham) and UAH (huntsville) It gets confusing sometimes… All very different, with different vibes, different strengths, different type campuses :)</p>
<p>thumper if nmf they get full ride at ua tuscaloosa too. and an ipad! think they both give the extra stipend for study abroad or research.
both schools have full rides for national merit and achievement scholars…UAB also has full ride for nat hispanic scholars (UA doesn’t)</p>
<p>Free tuition
Free housing (including honors)
1000 per year
study abroad money
iPad</p>
<p>And, since I think the student is going to **major in engineering, then he’d get an additional 2500 per year. **</p>
<p>If for some odd reason the student didn’t make NMF, he’d still get the free tuition. And if an engineering or comp sci major, he’d also get the 2500 per year. And with his ACT, Bama would likely give him another scholarship. But, since he’d very likely make NMF, the above-mentioned scholarships are more likely.</p>
<p>The app is quick and easy…no essays, no teacher recs.</p>
<p>Over 50% of the frosh this year are from OOS. Bama enrolled 183 NMFs freshmen this fall…so there’s about 550 - 600 National Scholars on campus.</p>
<p>Take a look at Pitt (apply ASAP) and UMinnesota too. And with your stats you should also be trying for a few more selective schools too, for example, Tulane, BU, Brandeis, perhaps Rice, Emory and WUSTL. And there are many LACs too that offer substantial merit aid to top students.</p>
<p>It would help to know how much you actually need: tuition R&B, full tuition, half tuition…</p>
<p>If accepted at USC [ U of S. Calif, USNWR # 25] which I’m sure you would be, you’ll automatically receive a 1/2 tuition merit scholarship + $1000/yr for add expenses. If you complete your application by DEC 1, you will be a STRONG contender for one of 160 FULL Tuition Trustee scholarships. [ applying to USC early will not prevent you from applying SCEA to any other U, as the early deadline is required for scholarship consideration.] If you are invited to interview for a Trustee scholarship in mid FEB- GO ! The Interview is REQUIRED for Trustee scholarship consideration.
DS was a very strong student, though his GPA was not quite as hi as yours, but he was accepted at 2 Ivys and every other college he applied to. He graduated from USC in May and is now a PhD student at Cal Tech with a very nice fellowship- debt free!</p>
<p>You should ALSO consider Rhodes, which has a great natl sciences program and awards top $$ to highly qualified students such as yourself. Another CC parents DD was accepted at Yale UG, but decided on Rhodes after being awarded a full ride there. She is now in Med school at…Yale!</p>
<p>"I have no interest in going Ivy and graduating $200,000 in debt. "
The TOP Ivys HYP+ Stanford have very, very generous FA [ all grant, no loans] programs. Your debt upon graduation would be minimal if your parents income is below $75 K.</p>
<p>You have been given good advice above. In addition to the close-to-guaranteed schools mentioned above, you might want to take a look at the three full-tuition merit award programs at Vanderbilt. All are extremely competitive; each has a different focus, which you can read about on the VU web site. A separate application is required for each of the merit categories. Your scores and gpa, and presumably rank, put you in contention. A lot depends on other factors. These are not full-ride, but they are full tuition. They might cover some fees, depending on which college you are interested in. Vanderbilt also offers a scholarship for NM Finalist status–if you have another merit award, it is for 2K per year. </p>
<p>Don’t overlook the suggestions for schools at which the awards are automatic or less competitive. Just think about adding Vanderbilt, Wash U, Rice etc. in addition to those schools if they appeal to you.</p>
<p>"'I have no interest in going Ivy and graduating $200,000 in debt. ’
The TOP Ivys HYP+ Stanford have very, very generous FA [ all grant, no loans] programs. Your debt upon graduation would be minimal if your parents income is below $75 K."</p>
<p>I originally had the “Ivy-or-bust” attitude, but the finances won’t happen–I’m stuck in the situation that my parents make quite a lot of money (above any aid at even Stanford or Harvard), but they believe that I should fund my own education. I respect that, but it is difficult explaining this to fin aid officers…particularly at a top-tier school.</p>
<p>At a minimum, I’m looking for full or very-close-to-full tuition, with R/B an extra bonus. Because I plan on pursuing a graduate degree, I’m willing to enroll at a “lesser” school (i.e. non-Ivy, even though I realize that all of the suggested schools are great institutions)–graduating with minimum debt is more important.</p>
<p>Also, in response to an earlier question, I’m ranked #2 of about 800 (big school). </p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your suggestions! If anyone has any more great schools and scholarships they know of, please let me know…they’re much appreciated.</p>
<p>Check out UMichigan’s Shipman scholarship. It used to be full tuition R&B for OOS students, but I think it might have changed a couple of years ago.</p>
<p>Some other colleges with substantial merit that you might want to check out are: UChicago, Case Western, Davidson, UMiami, Fordham, Centre, & Denison. </p>
<p>Best of luck, you have a wonderful attitude, I’ve no doubt you will find your way and accomplish great things.</p>
<p>so your parents say wont pay for FOOD or Housing while you are in college?? Are they planning on kicking you out of the house when you graduate from HS? Have they told you you’re on your own at that point? If that is not their intent, then they should at least be willing to help you pay for food and a roof over your head while you go to college, since they would be still paying to support you at home. Have you asked them specifically what they will pay IF you are lucky enough to win a full tuition scholarship? You should.</p>
<p>My parents have some money set aside in a 529…basically, it would cover R/B for undergrad. They’re not totally cutting me off :). However, I’m hoping to save this for grad school, since the scholarships seem to be much more substantial for undergrads. Correct me if I’m mistaken in this.</p>