@gardenstategal yeah everyone in Hawaii either stays for the state school or looks at Cali, Washington, Oregon. Very few people look East. Probably because we all complain when it gets colder than 70 degrees lol
Have you done the net price calculators (npc) for all those schools? That is a pricey list.
@nw2this yup, the ivies would cost me less than 10k per year, but they’re so hard to get in. I could probably get decent merit scholarships at my safety schools, it’s that middle match/reach range that would cost me 20-30k
UC Berkeley will cost you $60k to attend.
UVa and UNC are willing to meet all need-based aid.
@Otterma Seriously?! My twin sister is applying Berkeley as well, there’s no way my family can afford 120k per year…that’s my family’s total income
Here’a a link to UC Berkeley’s Net Price Calculator:
https://saservices.berkeley.edu/calculator/
I think you are going to be disappointed by the results. You should run the NPC for every college on your list so that you do not waste your application fees and effort.
When you make your list, it is important to understand that getting in is one issue, and being able to afford it is another. NYU, in particular, is notorious for weaker financial aid.
@siliconvalleymom thanks…and you were right, they don’t plan on awarding me any aid, they expect my parents to take out a 50k loan. Times two including my sister. It’s usually that middle range of schools, that is both good academically but not as difficult to get in as those top tier schools that end up being the most expensive…
It is a good thing that you realized this issue before the spring, because you still have time now to create a new list that includes financial considerations. You have terrific stats, so you may want to read through the merit aid threads to look for options.
An updated and finalized list for anyone interested
Stanford, Harvard, UPenn, Columbia
UCBerkeley, Carnegie Mellon, Georgetown, Tufts, John Hopkins
University of Rochester, UW
Also on an unrelated note, I got deferred from Stanford early action. What does this say about my chances at my other schools?
Check out Dartmouth.
-Don’t have to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year (or later), so it is easy and encouraged to explore majors and interests before deciding on a path
-Traditional, gorgeous campus with lots of history. Plus, it’s impossible to beat the New England fall foliage.
-The students are extremely involved in extracurriculars; Dartmouth Outing Club is huge, as are other groups
-Easy to study abroad, and most students study abroad at least once
-One of the top schools for internships: the D-plan allows students an extra leave term to pursue internships during times of year when there is little competition for spots. Most students graduate having done at least two terms of internships (one off term and one summer).
Hope this helps!
You have stats for schools that give high merit aid, but have you figured out your EFC? If you get into a school that only gives need-based aid, would you be able to afford it? And why on earth is Berkeley still on your list after you saw that price tag? Are your parents actually nutty enough to take a 50K per year parent loand?
Your finalized list is STILL heavy on reaches and high-matches, and where did you think you would be getting a big merit award? I see only one school with a pretty big merit program: Rochester.
I think you should add some WUE schools to your list for the tuition discounts and for true matches/safeties.
@CP3333 thank you I will 
that sounds like a school I’d like a lot, but I feel like 12 schools is already a bit much, plus my sister is applying as well. 2k+ in application fees, and sending transcripts and test scores. I’ll definitely check it out though. Thanks again!
Maybe look into Georgetown. While they are a Jesuit school, they are arguably the most diverse Catholic school in the nation and their business school, McDonough, is nothing to laugh about. While they’re situated in D.C. they have their own campus. Moreover their location means tons of Internship potential. Good luck with your search!
@AroundHere my EFC is around 25K per year. And uhh I already applied to Berkeley so by the time I finalized it, it was too late to take it off my list haha… probably was a waste though looking back. And my parents and their friends, encouraged me to apply to less safety’s, according to them two was enough, and my college counselor says she thinks I could get outside merit scholarships I guess
You absolutely cannot count on outside merit scholarships as a college funding strategy unless you are already winning money. You should absolutely fill out as many of the scholarship applications as you qualify for, but you cannot count on them.
Two safeties is enough, as long as they are both admissions and financial safeties. Have you run net price calculators on all your schools? If not, you may have fewer choices than you realize, even among your acceptances.
Remember that Profile schools will give you a higher EFC than the FAFSA.
@CP3333 is nuts - Dartmouth is yet another reach school, not a match for anyone.
Georgetown only gives need-based aid, except for athletic scholarships.
@AroundHere I never said it was a match; OP said her first choice school was Stanford so I named a similar school that she might be interested in. I’m sorry if you had a problem with that.
@CP3333 The subject line is she is looking for match schools to add to her reach-heavy list.
Dartmouth does not add balance to the list she just posted in #29, right above your suggestion.
@jq2017
The fact that you got deferred and not rejected from Stanford says you have a good chance at the other schools, since Stanford is notorious for deferring only a small number of people that they think have a very serous chance of being admitted later. I would say the chances for Stanford and Harvard are more or less similar. The chances at Penn and Columbia are of course better than Stanford/Harvard for anyone, and since you got deferred from Stanford I would say your chances of acceptance at Penn/Columbia are good. Of course these two are still super reaches for anyone.
Also fyi, Penn is more similar to Stanford and Columbia is more similar to Harvard in terms of vibe, culture, focus, campus life etc.
Your chances for admission at all the others on your list is very good.