<p>The answer to your question however always depends upon the particular field. However, I am a very strong believer- and have evidence to support it- that if you can do research with faculty while an undergrad, who will give you the experience and publications you need, the letters of recommendation you need, you will have no problem going to a top US school for grad. It is why students from LACs- even not ‘top 10’ ones have relatively high rates of PhD success (e.g. I was just reading about Hope College and chemistry for example…). And it is why I would totally support my children going to Mt. Allison if they could confirm that they can be active researchers while in undergrad there (assuming they had intentions to go to graduate school). </p>
<p>How do you find that out? Email the econ faculty. See if they write back and how long they take. See what they say. Look up the Economics Student Society (or its equivalent) and write to the current president. Ask for facts. Not just CAN you do research but how many DO research? How many present papers? Any get publications in recent years? What grad schools are they going to? What do they like and not like about economics there? What are the profs like? The class sizes like? The students? The research focus? </p>
<p>Do that for Mt. Allison, and do that for the other schools you are considering. It will give you answers that national magazine statistics and anonymous students on CC can not give you.</p>
<p>This is such a good point. Need to find what your parents can cover first. Mt. A will cost you almost exactly $20k when all is said and done (excluding transport as I don’t have a clue about that one). </p>
<p>However, you would get an automatic scholarship of $1500 a year with your stats but there are also major scholarships I think you’d be quite competitive for, and likely the renewable entrance at $2000 which is renewable. There are also bursaries you may qualify for (the college has a very strong endowment). </p>
<p>And these numbers are with the US dollar on par-- a rare event- so if it the Canadian dollar drops back down to normal levels-- will get significantly cheaper for you. There is an econ problem for you to solve! </p>
<p>Money issues are a little complicated–my mom and dad are divorced, but neither has official custody over me because they luckily get along fairly well. I live with my mom, who makes ~$50,000/year which would put me in a good position for a lot of financial aid; however, my dad, who lives in Rochester, makes about ~$100,000/year. They both have saved $20,000 plus another $5,000/year from my grandmother, but I have no clue how the situation with my parents will play out for financial aid</p>
<p>You need to figure out the aid because while you may get into many of these schools, you will probably not be offered much aid. With combined income of $150K (and step parents will count too) and assuming typical assets, schools like Colorado College willl expect you to be full pay. At that level of school money matters a lot, so you need to do calculators and understad what financial safeties will be. Only the very top schools (generous ivies) would probably give you anything.</p>
<p>It would only be at FAFSA only schools that you could only use your mom’s income and there are few LACs (only a couple of state ones) that are FAFSA only.</p>
<p>It does not matter how strong aid is if you’re not seen to have need.</p>
<p>I’m just making this up but working with Mount Allison as an example. Total cost a year $20k (maybe less if you got a higher scholarship). So far between savings and grandma, they have you covered by $10k. Methinks parents earning $150k can handle a $5k a year bill (if they are willing) so now you are down to just needing another $5k a year. Summer and part time work should cover that.</p>
<p>*my mom and dad are divorced, but neither has official custody over me because they luckily get along fairly well. I live with my mom, who makes ~$50,000/year which would put me in a good position for a lot of financial aid; however, my dad, who lives in Rochester, makes about ~$100,000/year. They both have saved $20,000 plus another $5,000/year from my grandmother, but I have no clue how the situation with my parents will play out for financial aid *</p>
<p>Yes, some schools will consider both parents’ incomes for financial aid. Plus, if either parent has remarried, those incomes can also be considered.</p>
<p>for schools that won’t consider your dad’s income, they will consider the income of a stepdad, if your mom has remarried.</p>
<p>WiscoKid, merit aid is what you probably will need to be able to afford expensive private colleges at your parents’ combined income levels. Middlebury and Carleton give very little or no merit aid (only need-based). I’m not saying don’t apply to those schools, but you may want to consider some other LACs that offer merit scholarships. CMC and Colorado College do. So do Grinnell and Oberlin. But the chances of larger merit scholarships tend to increase at schools that are a little less selective. Possibilities: Lawrence, Rhodes, Beloit, Earlham. Centre College (Kentucky) is an excellent small college that can be a good bargain after merit aid.</p>
<p>You need to talk this over with your parents and run the numbers through an online EFC calculator. Various factors besides income come into play (such as your parents’ ages, other siblings, etc.)</p>
<p>Well if they take into consideration the income of a step-mom, there’s no way I will get need-based aid. I looked into Rhodes, but the neighborhood seemed a little bit of a issue. I also looked into SUNY-Geneso, but I’m not sure if I would be qualified for in-state tuition because my dad lives in NY, but I do not. Mount Allison seems very appealing, and I will definitely be in contact with someone there soon.</p>
<p>Also, I don’t know if this will have any impact, but I am attending meetings lead by Bilge Mutlu at UW-Madison regarding HCI research, and I may be able to get involved in some of the research, and at the least be able to get a very nice recommendation</p>
<p>Case Western! Although its acceptance rate is somewhat high (70%), it has a self selecting pool of applicants. (Average ACT score of 30). It supposedly gives great merit based aid, too!</p>
<p>SUNY schools have relatively low OOS tuition.</p>
<p>Other schools to consider: U. Richmond (has good merit aid), TCNJ (small public LAC-like University in NJ trying to attract more OOS students), and U. Pittsburgh (good merit aid, although it is probably larger than you want).</p>
<p>Another thing to consider about small LACs that do offer merit awards: You may have to complete additional application materials—most typically an additional essay. There may also be an earlier deadline than the usual RD deadline.</p>
<p>This year at College of Wooster, for example, the RD deadline was 2/15. But if you wanted to apply for the College Scholar (merit) Award, the deadline for your full app + the extra essay was Jan. 1. [The College Scholar Award is their top award and pays for 2/3 tuition as I recall.]</p>
<p>So read the websites carefully about what’s required for merit aid and when it’s due.</p>