<p>Off the top of my head, I think you have a list that is generally quite low on merit aid. Ithaca - I think you need higher stats to make a dent. The SUNYs - no. Other state schools - very tight, probably not. Pitt - maybe, I think your SATs are a little low. Juniata, maybe. Mercer, not familiar with.</p>
<p>Have you looked up these schools to see how much merit aid they generally give out? Check collegeboard.com or pay the cheap $15 for a US News online subscription. Also check the thread on the parents forum about merit aid schools. </p>
<p>Being from Georgia, you do represent nice geographical diversity to some of these schools, so that should work in your favor. Do you knwo what you want to major in?</p>
<p>Your list seems like its lots of different kids of schools (for instance, OSU is SO different from Juniata). What is your ideal size/location/type of school?</p>
<p>See, that's what I don't know. I'm going to go visit 7 schools in October.
Ithaca, Albany, Rutgers, Temple, Juniata, Binghamton, and Pittsburgh. I can hopefully get a feeling from what I like on that trip.</p>
<p>Good idea. Visiting is hugely helpful! Maybe you should swing by University of Rochester too. (Perhaps instead of SUNY Albany?) Maybe hit Hobart on your way through. WHile you're in Pittsburgh, maybe check out Duquense. It's right in the city, but with a real campus. You'd be high stats for them. While you're near Juniata, maybe swing through Allegheny. They give good merit aid.</p>
<p>Well, I HATE to say this - but I kind of think if you've seen one SUNY you've seen them all. (I graduated in 1979 from Binghamton.) (And, actaully, if I had to pick one or two right now they would be Buffalo and Geneseo - not Bing or Albany.)</p>
<p>Hobart is a small LAC, it's very nice, and I think you'd get good money there.</p>
<p>I think your visits will tell you a lot. Try really hard to talk with kids at these schools. Make sure you can "see" yourself there. I think you'll find that they have much different feelings. Are you originally from Georgia? Are you looking for dance program too?</p>
<p>If you are a top ten percent Georgia graduate, don't you get free tuition at your state schools? It will be hard to beat that. State schools other than your own will not give aid in most cases. Private liberal arts colleges at which the average student has much lower statistics than yours are a better bet. You can use websites such as Petersons to determine how much aid each gives before applying.</p>
<p>I don't think you'll get any merit $ at RU. Competition is tough. The highest merit award requires top 5% of class and 1500/1600 SATs. I think RU MAY give out lower amts but I think that's to kids that just miss the top award. In any case, make sure you get your app, essays, and all other info (scores, etc) in before Dec 1. RU also wants you to fill out FAFSA. Search the Rutgers forum for threads on merit $ to get a better idea. RU used to give out $ according to a chart, with graduated stats & amts. Those days are over, it appears.</p>