Making an initial college list for S24 (homeschooled, undecided major, few strong preferences)

[Lindagaf]

I’m wondering about your NPC numbers. I think it’s unlikely your son will get any merit aid at Northeastern or BU, both of which are very competitive these days and pretty stingy. BC is a high reach and getting merit is very tough.

He is unlikely to get merit aid at Syracuse.

I think he needs to apply to more schools with acceptance rates in the 50-70% range. Especially as it seems he must get some merit aid to make it affordable.

There are a few good suggestions here:

Smallish Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Schools w/Merit?

Hi everyone, We are starting to explore options for our DS '25. We live in MA & he will definitely apply to in-state schools, but I’d like him to have some smaller school options as well (under 5,000). We will qualify for some need-based aid, but not enough to make schools with only need-based aid affordable for us (apart from our in-state schools). Right now, we’re looking at schools in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and mid-Atlantic. He’s extra-interested in schools that are not super-preppy (kiddo is a theater & debate kid, very quirky, LGBTQ+, not an athlete). He is on track to be top 5-10% of his class w/highest course rigor, but of course that could still change (we’ll look at schools with a wide range of selectivity). Leaning toward social sciences at the moment, w/strong public policy ECs. Small schools w/significant merit that I know about so far: Clark University Connecticut College Bard Allegheny Juniata Bigger schools w/merit that could maybe feel smaller: U…