I’ve applied to seven schools already and I’m looking to add maybe one or two more schools. I can’t really find any other schools though. I am looking for an undergrad business school with really good FA or merit options. I’ve done the NPCs for the schools below and they come around 20-30k/year which is fine. Schools that meet need work financially. However, I want to study business instead of econ and that takes away many of the top schools that have really good financial aid, but no undergrad business school. For the sake of hopefully more acceptances, and more financial aid packages to compare, I’m looking to add one or two more schools, preferably in the high match to reach range. My only other preferences are mid sized in the northeast/mid atlantic regions.
Asian male, PA, business major(no hooks)
GPA: 98 UW, 100 W(4.0 UW on 4 scale for context)
SAT: 1510/1600 New SAT superscored,1480 single sitting— only sending to Georgetown
ACT: 34
SAT II: 720 Bio E, Math II and Lit in fall
Rank- 2/100
Course Rigor- 7 APs, 9 Honors throughout high school, most rigorous in my school
ECs:
Tennis- 3 years- #2 singles on varsity team, club team, local tournaments, clinics etc
Tennis volunteering- summer volunteering at district clinics(75 hrs)
FBLA-2 years- treasurer(11-12)- 1st at regionals, ~20th at states
Model UN- 2 years- treasurer(12)- best delegate, 3 events per year
Students against destructive decisions(SADD)-4 years-treasurer(11-12)
Engineering competition-11-12th- Decent ranking placement at division/state levels
Recycling club- 9-12th- President(12)
National Honor Society
Schools Right Now:
Georgetown(EA)
Boston College(EA)
Northeastern(EA)
Villanova(EA)
Penn State
Ohio State(EA)
Pitt(already accepted!)
Other schools I’ve thought of are Penn(obviously the biggest reach) and Lehigh(easier but still very selective). Any other schools to look into?
I think you could qualify for merit aid at Fordham (and Tulane as well) to bring the cost down. You could look into Cornell (Dyson), Carnegie Mellon, or Emory as other reaches. I do like your other ideas – Penn is great if you want to give it a whirl and Lehigh is a great option as well.
Penn does seem worth a shot, as they probably have better financial aid than any other choices that don’t have high merit aid. And Georgetown is your only reach so far, it seems to me, so another one wouldn’t be too many. Of course, applying to Wharton could make Penn even more of a reach.
I agree with applying to University of Richmond. Strong business program and you have a decent shot at full-tuition scholarships if you apply before December 1st!
@happy1 I’ve heard mixed things about CMU’s financial aid, especially since they don’t meet need for RD applicants. I have thought about Cornell, but their business school is extremely competitive, with like a 7% rate and half the class being athletes.
@wisteria100@RichmondSpider94 Idk if a liberal arts college is for me. I visited one(Bucknell) and I hated such a small college in the middle of nowhere. Most LACs are like that so I haven’t looked into any more.
@guitar321 I’m not looking for business specific. I thought Michigan didn’t have good FA for OOS students either. It’s a little far too.
@wilson98 True, it would definitely be my biggest reach. I tried to be more realistic and conservative in my list, and I think it is more on the safer side right now. I wouldn’t mind adding one or two more high reaches but I tried to avoid the “shotgun approach” and hopefully I get some good news in Dedember.
I’m not a fan of Northeastern for business, but I suppose their money options are good.
Look into UNC and UVa as they guarantee to meet all the aid for accepted students. Boston College might give decent money, I’m not sure. Lehigh is a good choice. Carnegie Mellon might work it if you’re up for quant stuff. I’m a fan of UMich, but they don’t give much money.
@RichmondSpider94 Would I really have a chance at full tuition at Richmond? I know its a solid overall school, so it seems very competitive. Not a fan of LACs because of size/location, but I do like Richmond’s location.
Would Penn/Cornell be worth a shot as reaches? Not sure if that is stretching to too many reaches though, especially if I apply to Lehigh and then I have several high matches too. Seems risky.
Given your test scores I would say you are competitive. These scholarships are very hard to get so there is definitely no guarantees, but try and have a “hook” about you to sell yourself to admissions. I know Richmond is a LAC, but it has a fantastic business school (and the school is great overall) in a great location and it has personally given me an all around college experience. If the application fee isn’t a factor, it is definitely worth a shot applying before December 1st!