<p>Hello. I'm dual US citizen living in Europe. I've already taken the SAT twice and my best score is 1950 (CR 580 M 700 W 670). I'm retaking in in November for the last time. I'm about to take the TOEFL exam next week and I'm expecting score around 100. So here is the thing: My family income is less than 30,000$, but as the US citizen I'm eligible to fill out the FAFSA. I'm planning on majoring in something connected with business (but still not sure what exactly). Therefore I've been looking for schools I found in businessweek ranking. I've also based my research on usnews.com ranking (mostly top 100). So that's the list of schools I've compiled so far:</p>
<p>NYU
Fordham
Syracuse
Lehigh University
Villanova University
University of Southern California
Boston University
Northeastern
Penn State University Park
Rutgers
American University
University of Delaware
University of Miami
Ohio State University
Loyola Chicago
Depaul University</p>
<p>I know that it would be hard to accurately estimate my chances of being admitted to those schools since in my country we don't have something like GPA, but please just give me some suggestions based on those SAT scores. Since, financial situation is a big factor here I'm still wondering should I even consider public schools in that case? I really like those public schools with sport spirit and being a part of large community, but I guess there are some private schools as well that can offer me that. Honestly, are there at least 2-3 private schools on my list that I can certainly call matches?
More of my preferences:</p>
<ul>
<li>I don't like small schools</li>
<li>I'd like my school to be in the short distance from the airport, as I may be traveling to Europe sometimes. </li>
<li>I'd like spent my free time in either a large city or at a big campus where I won't get bored. (sports activities, clubs etc)</li>
<li>I'd like my school to offer a good, reputable business programs.</li>
<li>I prefer to stay at the East Coast, West Coast or at any of the big cities inside the US.</li>
</ul>
<p>What are some other reachable schools for me with a low net price? With my parents we estimated that we will be able to spend about 10,000-15,000$ a year + I'll take at least 5,500$ in loans? I've already made some net price estimations and so far BU,Lehigh and Syracuse seem to have the best financial aid considering my situation. Do I have a real shot at any of those schools?</p>
<p>Most of the schools you have listed are private schools and will be very expensive ($40k +). However, you are a really good candidate for financial aid.</p>
<p>Look into: George washington university in DC and Drexel in Philadelphia.</p>
<p>I think you already have a really big list though, I wouldn’t apply to more than 7 or 8 schools personally.</p>
<p>Thank you for that response. Yes, I am aware of the fact that those private schools are very expensive. But from what I’ve seen on their profiles on collegeboard.com most of them offer pretty decent average financial aid packages. Is it better to apply to cheaper state schools that offers not very good financial aid or apply to expensive, but at the same time very generous with financial aid private schools? I’m basically looking for schools in my score range, in which the net cost after financial aid and loans won’t be more than 10,000$-15,000$. What about my chances at those schools? Should I find some more ,safeties’‘? What schools should I definitely cross out (I want to narrow my list a little bit, and make it more reachable). Is George Washington University really a ,match’’ in my case?</p>
<p>Although your could be considered good candidates for them, Ohio State, Syracuse, Penn State and Lehigh are not near major airports or would require connections to get to Europe. Lehigh is not near anything and is a relatively small campus compared to some on this list, though it’s a good school. If you’re going to cut from the list, according to your criteria, it has too many negatives and should probably go.</p>
<p>NYU, USC, and Miami may be a bit tough for your CR score. Don’t know that your math score will compensate.</p>
<p>My relatives who live in State College (where Penn State is) must get to Philly or Pittsburgh if they want a nonstop to…well, really anywhere other than Philly and Pittsburgh. </p>
<p>Since finances are a consideration, you prefer a large university, and you are a dual citizen, I must ask why you are seeking to study in the US…if your other citizenship is in an EU country, I think you could probably get more value from one of the many excellent Universities in the UK or Eire (assuming that you are looking for an English-Language institution) and save on both travel and tuition, plus finish your degree in less time.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Actually that proximity of the airport is not a must for me. I won’t be traveling very often to Europe - at best 1 time a year, so it’s not such a big deal.</p></li>
<li><p>I want to study in the USA mostly because I was born here, I have many relatives on the East Coast and finally I just want to move there anyway. As a matter of fact, prestigious universities in UK are not so much cheaper than those in the USA. (But I’m still aplying there)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Ok, so let’s say I have a good chance of being admitted at Penn State, Syracuse and Ohio State. Can I expect goid financial aid from those schools? </p>
<p>Hopefully I’ll improve my CR score to at least 630-650 on my next SAT’s. Is that gonna increase my chances significantly? What other schools with a good business programs would you suggest?</p>
NYU?? No way. You would be OOS for Penn State so you would only get federal FA. Try going to the Financial Aid forum and looking at the stickies near the top for Merit Aid. You would get some at some schools like Alabama Birmingham.</p>
<p>You will not get “good FA” from those OOS schools. They charge high OOS for a reason. Your parents don’t pay taxes in those states, so those schools have no incentive to help you. they expect you to pay their high OOS rates…that’s why they charge those high rates.</p>
<p>Have you used the NPCs on those schools’ websites? You’ll see that you’ll get little to nothing. </p>
<p>Yes, try schools like UAB or UAH for some merit.</p>
<p>Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. I have a low EFC as well and my net cost is lower than $10,000. Milwaukee is a cool city and it’s about an hour and a half north of Chicago. Gets very cold in the winter though!</p>
<p>Have you considered Emory? You can apply to the Oxford campus at the same time (I know you don’t like small places, but you might qualify for merit aid and you’d spend your junior and senior years in Atlanta).</p>
<p>Oxford’s merit aid requires on campus interviews meaning that the OP would have to buy a plane ticket to and from Atlanta. Hardly a viable option since the OP lives in Europe. I will however second the Oxford suggestion especially if the OP lived in a low CoL EU nation (I’m assuming that’s how his parents can afford $10k per year).</p>
<p>Are you sure you have the numbers on the US dollars correct? If it is correct, you would qualify for a good amount at an instate school or a private school. I am not sure if you have a state here that you can call residence. Is your family in the military? But, a concern is that you have that US dollar number off. If your parents can afford over 10K a year, which is more than a third of their income, and also afford regular trips back to Europe, it seems they would be making a lot more than that. Sometimes, schools ask for income verification. And if your parents never pay taxes in the US, the income verification might not go through. And the ability to travel so much would be a huge red flag.</p>
<p>I shouldn’t apply to any of those state schools mentioned right?</p>
<p>Are there any other schools besides Alabama U that could provide me with good merit-aid (considering my SAT score)? What are some others decent private universities across the country that offer good academics as well as considerable financial aid within my score range? (Whatever location in that case).</p>
<p>Penn State offers virtually no aid other than federal aid. Even for in-state kids, its paltry. Unless you’ve got a large outside scholarship or are well off, PSU isn’t affordable for many people.</p>
<p>*Are there any other schools besides Alabama U that could provide me with good merit-aid (considering my SAT score)? *</p>
<p>Even U Alabama wouldn’t give you much merit at all. Your M + Cr is a 1280. You miss the half tuition scholarship by 10 pts. If you retest with a much better score, you could get free tuition. </p>
<p>Alabama is the highest ranked school with assured merit of the stated amounts and req’ts.</p>
<p>However, UA Birmingham might give you a good award.</p>
<p>Your problem is your scores. The schools that give the best merit or best aid usually require higher scores. There are some rather unknown schools that would give you large merit, but you seem to want “name” schools.</p>
<p>I don’t want to repeat myself, but I do urge the OP to look again at UK and Eire Universities. The EU tuition rate is a better deal than you will be able to get in the US, and you would finish in 3 years for most majors rather than 4. If you are looking at Med/Dent/Vet? You are cutting 6-8 years out of your student experience. A US school really might not be your best bet. </p>
<p>Heck, we are a total pay US family, and my Vet-aspiring daughter is considering U. Edinburgh to save time and money.</p>
<p>If your parents don’t pay taxes in any State, you don’t qualify for in-state status anywhere so very few universities would make financial sense if you have to pay OOS fees.</p>
<p>Public universities that aren’t too costly for OOS students:
Truman State
universities in North Dakota and South Dakota
University of Minnesota Morris (NO OOS surcharge)
University of MN Twin Cities
There must be more, I’m sure others will give you the information.</p>
<p>Some universities, especially in the South, offer merit aid to students with scores like yours. However you wouldn’t get full tuition and certainly not a full ride if you don’t break 2000.</p>
<p>have you talked with your parents? How much can they definitely afford?
To give you a range, a family making less than $30,000, they’d be realistically expected to contribute anywhere from nothing to $6,000 - certainly not $10-15,000. You’d have to take your maximum allowed federal loans of $5,500 unless you apply to a no-loans university, you’d have a work study award for $2,000 or so, and you’d be expected to earn $600 over the summer.</p>