Mainly Safeties and Matches for Econ Major

Son is a junior trying to add more safeties and matches to his college list. He is a Harvard legacy and will be applying REA. He really enjoyed his visit to Williams, he was drawn to both the rural setting and the tutorials.

His current list is Harvard, Williams, Grinnell, Bowdoin, Yale, Princeton, UMCP. So obviously needs matches and safeties. Will need financial aid, situtation is complicated by death of Dad past June so will probably have to contact each school individually.

GPA 4.0 Weigted GPA 4.8 (8 AP’s through junior year, probably 5 more senior year)
SAT 1530 (1540 super score)
Activities: Marching Band, County GT Synphony Orchestra, MUN
Awards: National and International award that would identify him

He is leaning towards consulting over finance. Is currently taking Calc A/B will take C next year. Prefers not hot areas.

This site includes liberal arts colleges with noteworthy economics programs: Economics rankings: US Economics Departments at Liberal Arts Colleges | IDEAS/RePEc.

These schools appear to offer an overall classroom experience similar to that of Williams: https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=great-classroom-experience.

Assuming that UMCP is in state. If it is, if he is ok with it, and it is affordable, he may not really need any other safeties assuming his grades hold this year. When you get to the match schools, I wouldn’t really worry about the major (Econ). There likely will not be a significant difference. Just think about the school as a whole.

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He doesn’t like anything about UMCP, I put it on the list for him insisting he have at least one in-state. Maybe I should bring him to visit St. Mary’s.

Hamilton is on the list of schools to visit and I think he will end up applying.

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Run the NPC at Miami of Ohio.

This site can be helpful when researching economics departments at larger schools: Economics rankings: US Economics Departments | IDEAS/RePEc.

U of AZ and Alabama are slam dunks cost wise as is Florida State and Arizona…all safe, all huge. U of SC, Miami of Ohio and Ohio U too.

Sounds like he wants smaller - so any of the LACs with merit could be great - from a Skidmore to Hobart to Dickinson to Dennison to Washington & Lee to Wooster or Allegheny, you name it. Any 2nd/3rd tier will have merit.

I am sorry for your loss. When you say you’ll need aid, will the colleges agree. If so (run an NPC), you need to apply to schools that meet 100% of aid. If the college shows no aid, then it’s more, I need it (but they don’t agree).

The publics I listed have huge auto aid or merit aid. U of SC, for example, is the #1 Honors College and you’ll get a boat load, etc.

Here are all colleges that meet need. There’s strong mid-large (like Miami) and LACs.

Good luck.

Here’s Every College That Offers 100% Financial Aid (prepscholar.com)

Vassar could make a good potential addition to your son’s core list, at least for a visit.

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Is URichmond too hot? Lawrence University (WI) is likely a safety from an admission perspective. The hard part is understanding if a school will be financially affordable. Where you married to his dad? If you received a large life insurance payment, that will be treated as an asset. I don’t know if full need schools treat that any different than any other asset. If you son received any inheritance outside of a retirement account, expect that to be used at a high rate. I would run an NPC at a few schools removing the Dad’s income but treating any inheritance (not in a retirement account) as a normal asset for both of you. That should give you a worse case scenario. You don’t need to run every school right now, but I would run a few at least Harvard (since he wants to SCEA), and maybe two that are less generous. Note, if you were un/under employed, and have/will change that, I would do another NPC run including your new expected income. Otherwise you could have a bad surprise in his later years.

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Yes, married to Dad for 27 years. All the life insurance is in my name (not large, not small) and will be partially depleted by living expenses. I have been a SAHM since oldest was born 26 years ago so any job I get will not have a significant income (but would be great for health insurance). I will begin to get his pension after twins graduate. I will run more NPC after this years taxes are done and will proably call some financial aid offices. Son is also a twin, so not sure how change in FAFSA will impact cost. Yes, hard part is understanding financial affordable without depleting retirement founds which is why I think a lot of applications will have to be submitted.

URichmond may be too hot, but I like it because it’s closer, something to consider. Will investigate Lawrence.

I think that it is important for someone to tell you that your your most important thing is YOUR financial future and safety. Don’t over spend on your kids education. Now depending upon your actual financial situation, some of the lowest cost could be the big financial aid schools.

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Just a reminder, if applying to UMCP, it is very worthwhile to also apply EA, with a deadline of November 1, to be considered for the Banneker Key and other merit scholarships. I think that your son stands a good chance for a full Banneker-Key, which pays for tuition and room-and-board.

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Furthermore, he’s a likely rejection if he doesn’t. UMD admits few after the EA deadline.

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Application to UMD will be in before Nov. 1. HS guidance department is very much on top of MD EA deadline.

The kids who get Banneker Key usually have a lot more community service. It’s really hard to make sense of the selection process. I think he would get a little merit, but not BK.

I agree about my financial future being most important and the possibility that full need schools may be most affordable.

The stressful thing is there are too many variables and after being a caretaker for my husband with incurable cancer for 6 years we are all craving a path with clear answers and happy ending (fully aware that is not real world).

We (sons and I) are trying to gather as much info as possible. I don’t want to miss something. After going through college application process twice before, I thought this would be easier, it’s not.

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I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve read some of your threads and your boys sound like great kids. Good luck on the search we’re rooting for you.

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I’m very sorry for your loss as well. Two schools that would probably be academic and financial safeties that are not in hot climates are the U. of Maine and the U. of Idaho.

U. of Maine: Offers full tuition to national merit semi-finalists; in-state finalists get a full ride, and I’d be surprised if they wouldn’t do the same for out-of state students. (Source)

If your son becomes a NM Finalist, then U. of Idaho would also provide a full-ride (Source).

My deepest condolences on your loss and best wishes for this college search.

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Indiana for business school is a great back-up but it could run mid-$50s unless he gets some aid.