This is exactly what I’ve been saying, as a parent of 2 college graduates, an upcoming college senior, and 2 rising college freshmen. SUNY Binghamton offered my daughter enough merit to bring costs down to $28500 a year. If the OP wants to stay in this area of the country, I think she needs to be more realistic about how much merit will be offered, especially TO. It was very eye opening for me with my oldest.
Mississippi State. It would give you specific merit aid based on your stats. It also awards scholarships for GS Gold Award. All of this is searchable on the university’s website. It has a good honors program in Shakouls.
My two reaches I didn’t expect to be affordable. Some of my matches I’m hoping are with merit. I do truly think I have a shot. WVU is my only safety that I actually like. I look into Truman State. Do you know any other expensive schools I’d have a good chance of merit at?
The thing is, I think I’m going to get some financial aid, just not a ton to bring a 60k college down to a 30k. I still want to apply to some good schools with a good chance of me getting merit, which I’m currently figuring out. I just don’t know any safety schools, except wvu
I actually haven’t heard of any schools that do that. That’s a good point. Thanks.
That’s the thing, most of these “safeties” don’t really strike my interest except for WVU. I understand that I can’t be picky, I just want to be happy wherever I go, and I want them to have a good program for my major.
My mom wants me to apply to a T20. So I’m just doing one to see what happens, I could care less about them. What universities did your kids attend, and did they get any scholarships?
Listen, I’m trying to be realistic. If I get merit aid, I know it’s not gonna be a free ride or a tremendous amount of money. I do NOT want to stay in PA or anywhere Northeast if possible. I like TN, VA, WV, NC, SC, and possibly GA and FL. I know that’s picky, but if people are going to give suggestions, I’d like them to think of ones in those areas. PA schools are fine for suggestions, but I prefer the states I just listed
I’ll look into them a bit more for sure
Also, doesn’t JMU not give good merit?
Check Flagler in St. Augustine FL. Price to attend is pretty modest, and you likely would get good merit aid. Gorgeous campus too.
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I’ll check into it. Thank you.
Good Merit Safeties and Matches
ASU, Miami Ohio, Alabama, Ole Miss
Eckerd was mentioned so i will add University of South Florida. The main large 30000+ campus is in Tampa and they have a smaller campus about 4500 students in Downtown ST Petersburg, Same Degree either campus but totally different vibe S21 like the St Pete Campus compared it to living in Brickell or the grove which are trendy parts of Miami.
Have you considered going to community college for two years to get your general education requirements completed more cost effectively? Since you are very limited in terms of what you can borrow, and your parents are not willing or able to contribute, finding a school you can afford is going to be a challenge. Even if you can get the COA down to $22k, how will you find the extra $15k? In reality, your budget is $5,500 which is all you can borrow. Even if you can convince your parents to co-sign for more, do you want to graduate from college with $88,000 in debt? I hate to say this because you sound like an awesome student and you have been dealt a really lousy hand.
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I’m actually considering applying to Miami Ohio. I’m trying to figure out what my costs would be at after a merit scholarship.
Honestly, I’ll apply to CC as a worst case scenario. If push comes to shove, I’m attending WVU (but I like it there anyways). I honestly don’t want to go to CC because I think it’s going to harm me more than benefit me, and I keep hearing the horror stories of how credits aren’t transferring. Also, considering the career path I want to pursue (complex major), I just don’t think it would be good. I’m gonna apply to some safeties (once I figure them out), some reasonable reaches like GMU possibly, then a reach or two and see what happens.
Not one of the states you’ve listed but University of Alabama-Huntsville has a great academic reputation and has auto-merit listed on its website. You’d have to submit a test score but looks like your COA would run around $21k/year. If you could get your test score up a little you’d get another $4500. My understanding is that Huntsville is a nice town and UAH is well respected. I’ve not been there to see the campus but from my research it seems to be a great bang for the buck.
Honestly, I would like to apply test-optional if possible. I think it would just be better. But I’ll look into the school
How are you going to even afford WVU? You say you don’t have savings and that your parents won’t contribute anything, but you can only borrow $5500 so where is the rest of the $ coming from?
My S21 Stats were a little below your GPA. 7 AP 10-12 honors and i think he got 21K or 23K from Miami Ohio, Political Science major