<p>I am going into eighth grade and am a girl, part Middle Eastern, Chinese, and Europeam. I have all A/A-s in my core subjects for the last 3 years and two Bs in specials. I have strong essay writing skills, decent drawing, play the flute and piano, and am registed with CTY and have gone for two summer programs. I am interested in going to Choate, Andover, Exeter, Lawrenceville, and Deerfield. My parents don't want to pay anymore than $15K a year. We don't qualify for financial aid and was wondering if anyone knew any third party scholarships. Thanks.</p>
<p>If you can pay but don’t want to pay… I don’t think that’s going to go over well at all.</p>
<p>@mrnephew is right about that not going over well… I see that you are only looking at the most well known schools. Take a look around at other schools. Here’s a link <a href=“12 Boarding Schools Costing Less Than $20,000”>12 Boarding Schools Costing Less Than $20,000; of schools that cost less than $20,000 per year for tuition. You don’t need a “name brand” school to get a great education and the boarding school experience.</p>
<p>Sorry about that I mean financial scholarships (under 25,000) but we would qualify for minimal financial aid. Not going to boarding school and going to the local public/parachiol school is always an option. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn’t missing some opportunities.</p>
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<p>There are a few merit scholarships available. I’ve been informed by a recipient’s dad that Andover has a full-ride scholar-athlete merit scholarship. As far as I am aware, all other schools give no merit scholarships-- only financial need based aid. Someone please correct me if you know differently.</p>
<p>Schools are generous and sympathetic to families who can’t pay more than $15k. They’re not going to have much patience w families who won’t pay more than $15k. They are offering a discretionary premium product to customers who have a free, viable alternative: public school. And the elite schools have no shortage of highly qualified candidates willing to pay to play.</p>
<p>Peddie has some, I think. </p>
<p>So does Dana Hall. </p>
<p>Here is a link to some schools that offer merit scholarships <a href=“Merit Scholarships for Boarding School”>http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/merit-scholarship-offerd-schools.php</a></p>
<p>If you are willing to broaden your search, Portsmouth Abbey School offers a 4-year merit scholarship each year.</p>
<p>Portsmouth Abbey is gorgeous</p>
<p>Portsmouth Abbey is gorgeous</p>
<p>Portsmouth Abbey is gorgeous</p>
<p>Though they are different, I would have to assume schools prefer to give merit scholarships to qualified individuals who maybe couldn’t make boarding school happen, or at least would partially qualify. Most scholarships come in the form of athletic scholarships, which you didn’t mention at all. and, occasionally and recently, the arts- which takes extreme talent and dedication in a specific artistic field. Those top-tier schools don’t really give out academic scholarships, because they have a large selection of academically gifted and talented applicants to pick and choose from. </p>
<p>It won’t be easy, but you may qualify for aid or grab a merit scholarship. Score as high as possible on the SSAT and build strong foundations and relationships with the schools in question. Finding schools where you would be in the top tier of applicants and students (not a name-brand school) will improve your chances of receiving aid drastically, as schools are more likely to give financial aid to a student they really believe fits and belongs at their school. I wish you the best of luck in this interesting, tough endeavor and hope it works out for you!</p>