Looking for Merit Scholarships! 32 ACT

Paying for College
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1

Hey,
I’m a current junior in high school from Wisconsin. I’m looking to beat my UW-Madison cost of 25k. Preferably the school has a big greek presence, at a bigger school, with warmer weather. Any help looking for merit scholarships would be appreciated.

My Stats:
32 ACT
3.97 unweighted GPA, 4.26 weighted GPA (5 ap classes)
In National Honor Society, DECA, and Key Club
2020 DECA ICDC participant
3-year varsity golf player
I work as a caddy and outside operations member at my local country club
First-Generation college student, twin sister will also be in college at the same time, 1 older sister
Parents ages of 67 and 53, only 1 works. Adjusted Gross Income of about $150,000.

I have heard that Alabama and Kentucky give good merit scholarships.
Would be great to get Full Tuition +
Thanks again.

2

Check out University of Arizona and Arizona State University.

As a First Gen student with an UW GPA of 3.97, I would also look at test-optional private colleges. With older parents and two kids in college at the same time, you may have good chances at both lower costs and merit aid.

All that being said, be prepared for there to be a lot less merit money available over the next couple of years.

3

I’ll check them out, is there a lot of expected drops in merit aid because of COVID or just in general?

4

Alabama would beat your current UW costs IF automatic merit stays the same (which…is looking unlikely, merit concessions would be a likely downfall of COVID financial deficits). University of South Carolina would match your UW cost and even be a bit less if you got your score to a 33, again assuming this year’s merit distribution (which is a risky assumption). Tennessee wouldn’t beat it but would be price parity if you get your ACT up to a 34 and their automatic merit stays the same. These would all be big, warm schools with active Greek life, but I agree with the poster above, you could get a lot of aid at private schools with a twin in college too. Looks like you have all the info you need to run the NPC’s at schools you like and start building a chart for yourself to compare schools and ready your list for applications this fall! Good luck!

5

Oh and I don’t know how warm they would be or anything about their Greek life but WV and Mizzou would come in slightly under your UW cost based on merit as well.

6

This is important… if you aren’t yet familiar with a NPC (Net Price Calculator) that every school has on its website, that’s one of your first steps.

7

I have run some NPC’s, but many are just the federal required ones without any merit considerations.

8

Does anyone know if Alabama or Kentucky will raise merit credentials for Fall 2021?

9

Do you qualify as an Evans scholar?

10

Yes, I am planning on applying.

11

Ole Miss…Mississippi State

12

University of New Mexico.

Amigo Scholarship will give in-state costs. Tuition, fees, housing & meals = $19K/year.
http://scholarship.unm.edu/devl/scholarships/non-resident.html