<p>I'm interested particularly in these colleges:
UCLA
Cal
UCSD
Occidental College
Claremont McKenna
Pomona
USC
Stanford
UNC-Chapel Hill
Washington and Lee
Princeton
Columbia</p>
<p>My dad and I are really interested in getting merit aid (he is not too fond of paying 50k+ for a non-UC, and I'm not sure I'm fond of going to a UC right now), so I'm wondering which private schools would give merit aid (from 1/2 off to full tuition) to a person with these stats:
SAT: 2320 (760 Math, 780 Writing and CR)
GPA: 3.88 UW (3.94 w/o Freshman year), 4.46 W
12 APs
Pretty good/decent ECs
760 Math I (I'll probably take Math II), 750 Chem, 780 USH: SAT IIs
Non URM, no real hooks (not NMSF or F)</p>
<p>Thanks! (The schools don't have to be on this list, but I would prefer one that is at least somewhat well-known/prestigous).</p>
<p>Many of those schools don’t give merit aid. </p>
<p>Ivies and Stanford don’t give merit.</p>
<p>You probably would get some merit at USC.</p>
<p>Don’t know about the other schools…if they give merit, it could be competitive and directed at students who add to regional diversity or URM numbers.</p>
<p>So…is your dad’s position that he’ll pay up to the amount of a UC, and anything else must come from merit? If so, you need to add some schools that will give you merit.</p>
<p>You are going to have to decide which is more important - merit scholarships or prestige. There are schools out there that give generous merit scholarships, and their graduates do indeed get into graduate schools and med schools. Ultimately it’s the scores on the GRE or MEDCAT that matter most.</p>
<p>You can be happy and successful by going to a less revered school and incurring less debt.</p>
<p>MEDCAT? You mean MCAT? And no, GRE scores do NOT matter most–in most fields (including mine), research experience is incredibly important. GRE and GPA can keep you out, but they can’t get you in. That’s what research experience, LORs, SOP (essay), and “fit” with faculty research interests do. I went to a lower tier school on a big merit scholarship, had a wonderful time, got awesome research experience, and got into multiple PhD programs, two with fellowships. So, it’s definitely possible.</p>
<p>Well, my dad will pay for a UC, but, for USC for example, unless I get a full tuition scholarship it’s unlikely I would choose it over UCLA or UC Berkeley.
I am aware that Stanford and the Ivies lack merit aid, so schools I put down would be like Oxy, and I heard that Washington and Lee is rather generous with their merit money. UNC-Chapel Hill has some scholarships, but I’m not sure if my stats are good enough.</p>
<p>Several students here at CC received large merit-based packages from Santa Clara U, and ended up choosing it over other places. You may want to check it out.</p>
<p>OP, tell us some more about what you’d like to study, and what you’d like to see in a school. Intellectual environment? Nice weather? Small classes? Football? Rural or urban? The schools you’ve mentioned don’t necessarily have a lot in common, so it wll be easier for people here to help you if you narrow the field a bit. Do you intend to work right out of undergrad, or are you aiming at med/law/grad school? What kind of work do you want to do?</p>
<p>i will be a freshman in college next year, and of your list i applied to USC Washington and Lee and Pomona
Pomona only gives need-based aid, but USC and W&L give merit
i received a full ride at Washington and Lee (their Johnson scholarship)
i went for an interview weekend (which the school entirely paid for) and then they awarded roughly 40 Johnson scholarships I believe
i also received the highest merit award at USC (trustee) which is full-tuition
if you have any questions about either of these, feel free to PM me :)</p>
<p>also, if you’re interested in merit money, maybe you would want to consider applying to university of miami
they give A TON of money
their full ride (stamps) includes tuition, room and board, food, transportation to and from college, a computer, personal expenses…basically anything and everything you need (and, it includes a $12,000 stipend for study abroad, unpaid internships, etc.)
they use the common app, so it’d be no extra essays or anything
i thinks it’s worth applying to see what you get (based on your SAT, there’s a good chance you’d get $24,000 k a year to start, and then probably an invitation to interview for more)
they also have programs such as foote fellow which waves all general requirements so you can take whatever classes you’d like</p>
<p>good luck with all of your applications! :)</p>
<p>I don’t really know yet about my APs, since I just took four this year and I’m taking 7 next year (senior). For college specs, I really I would prefer an intellectual environment-although not socially dead, a suburban/urban school, small(er) classes but it’s okay for large ones… most stats are okay, really.
I would prefer not to be in the middle of America, mostly on the West and East Coasts.
Also, to the Johnson scholar, what were your stats?</p>
<p>From the sound of your question you do not expect to qualify for FA. Is that correct? Because if you do qualify for FA I believe that several of schools on your list will meet your need (as determined by the school) without loans. This isn’t the same thing as merit money but it is usally provided in the form of free grant money and workstudy.</p>
<p>I believe that several of schools on your list will meet your need (as determined by the school) without loans.</p>
<p>I think Stanford and Princeton won’t put loans in a FA package, but I think the others will.</p>
<p>That said, I think your assumption is right and the student won’t qualify for “need-based” aid.</p>
<p>*For college specs, I really I would prefer an intellectual environment-although not socially dead, a suburban/urban school, small(er) classes but it’s okay for large ones… most stats are okay, really.
I would prefer not to be in the middle of America, mostly on the West and East Coasts.
*</p>
<p>Hmmm…many “intellectual environment” schools on the coasts are not big on assured merit for stats. Looks like most/all will be competitive merit. </p>
<p>*Well, my dad will pay for a UC, but, for USC for example, unless I get a full tuition scholarship it’s unlikely I would choose it over UCLA or UC Berkeley.
*</p>
<p>So…it looks like you’re saying that you need at least a full tuition scholarship for you to consider choosing it over Cal or UCLA…is that right? </p>
<p>Since you don’t want to go to a UC, then it’s probably a good idea that along with applying for schools with competitive merit, you should apply to some schools with assured merit for stats. </p>
<p>Did I overlook what your major is going to be?</p>
<p>“Also, to the Johnson scholar, what were your stats?”</p>
<p>i had a 35 ACT (never took SAT), took all APs offered at my school and got 5’s, top 1% of class, strong community service, one really good teacher rec
this is just what i noticed, but it seemed that leadership and service were what they wanted most at johnson weekend</p>
<p>Three other schools that come to mind for scholarships are Boston University, Northeastern and Vanderbilt. I know Vandy isn’t East or West but it does have an urban feel that many students love. Since you are a contenter for NM you might research schools that give major scholarships to NMF’s.</p>