I’m a rising senior currently working on my college apps. I have a big need for money as my parents will not be contributing more than a couple thousand each year. I have pretty high scores (34 ACT, top 5% of class) and pretty good participation in ECs (3-sport varsity player, band, lifeguard, EMT-in-training) and I plan on majoring in Chemistry and then going to medical school.
My parents make ~80k and I have 2 brothers, both in college (they will graduate before me).
I’m applying to both need-based FA colleges (Georgetown, Haverford, etc.) and possible high-merit colleges (Temple U, my state school UConn, UPitt, etc.). Problem is, the need-based schools tend to be reaches and the merit schools tend to be safeties (at least in terms of admissions).
What universities are not a lottery for admissions but still give great FA?
When you have “high need” because your parents can’t pay much, it can be harder to find match schools that will give enough aid that your remaining costs are the “couple thousand” that your parents will pay.
You may only have reach schools and huge merit safeties on your app list.
My rising sr’s college list is not categorized by admissions, but by affordability. Her reaches are schools with competitive merit awards that are necessary in order to make them affordable. Her matches are schools with automatic merit that make them affordable. (We can’t afford to contribute what NPCs calculate.). Her “matches” and “safeties” are one and the same bc affordability drives the bus.
@sensation723B about 3.88 UW/4.4 W. Average about an A-. 7 APs by graduation. @thumper1 I mainly had need-based schools in my head when I started this thread but I’m open to suggestions for merit aid as well. I’m applying to both types of schools in that regard.
I’ll check out all your suggestions everyone - thank you!
Ohio State, Ohio University, U Delaware for merit possibilities
Another problem would be a 100% need met school accepting you and giving you enough aid the first year while your brother are also in college, but then less aid in future years once they graduate. You don’t want to have to leave the school because it becomes unaffordable.
$80k with 3 in college (and even with only one or two, actually) seems likely to get some good need-based aid, you might run the net price calculator at schools like Skidmore, Hobart/William Smith, Conn College, Hamilton…I can’t think of others right offhand but we considered those because they meet full need but aren’t super lottery schools. Also consider Denison and Wooster in Ohio, good combos of meed and merit especially if they want you badly. Check here too: http://www.thecollegesolution.com/list-of-colleges-that-meet-100-of-financial-need/
If you input your EFC (or let the site calculate it), you’ll get a pretty good estimate of what the net cost will be for you. It was not far off for us.
The University of Richmond meets 100% of determined need, they are a css profile school. They also give approx 45 full tuition/full ride merit scholarships to incoming freshmen each year. It has approx 3K undergrads. Run the net price calculator with 3 students, 2 students, then 1 student in college to see what your potential efc would be when your brothers are no longer in college. It is a great school with strong sciences, my eldest just graduated with a double major in biochemistry and computer science. She started doing lab research as a freshman and had paid summer internships. She also spent a semester in Scotland at the University of St Andrews. She had great advisors and awesome professors.
Lehigh is a selective school, but I wouldn’t put it in the “reach for everyone” category. It has some amazing financial aid. With net price calculators, Lehigh came out cheaper than Penn and JHU for us! Their FA is also supposed to get even better this year. I would put it in the high match category. Just make sure to show interest.
Dickinson was my highest financial offering school. In the end, between scholarships and grants, they were actually offering me $4000 extra then it costs to go there without any loans too. They’re very friendly and truly want to work with you and a great school. I ended up picking another school but for reasons out of their control.
@Classof2017 , it seems that Lehigh actually admits higher percent of kids from SAT 1400 to 1500, than from 1500 to 1600. Not sure if the same holds true for ACT. Don’t know if that affect OP’s chance.
@SincererLove I think it might have to do with yield protection. If OP shows a lot of interest, goes to events, etc then I don’t see how it should be an issue.
parents make ~80k and I have 2 brothers, both in college (they will graduate before me).
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this sounds like your brothers will graduate before you will go to college? If so, then there will only be one in school …and your family size will be smaller…you, your parents, and any younger siblings you may have.