<p>We're having such a hard time narrowing down all the choices, as I'm sure lots of people are. Would appreciate any suggestions!</p>
<p>My daughter would like to go into medical research - stem cells, cancer, or neuroscience. She'd like a college with plenty of opportunities for undergrad research. We need one that offers merit aid.</p>
<p>Her stats:
GPA: u/w - 4.0, w- 5.1
SAT: 2350
ACT: 35
Class rank: 2/337
10 AP's
Awards / Extracurriculars - NC Gov School, Rensselaer Medalist, President's Volunteer Service Award, AP Scholar with Distinction, several leadership positions held in marching band, town youth council, and other school / community clubs. </p>
<p>We've visited quite a few campuses, and found lots that she liked, but she's concerned about fitting in. Most of the schools were very preppy, and she doesn't feel that she'd fit in. She'd love a relaxed atmosphere where kids wear sweatshirts and jeans. Of all of the schools we visited, she loved Yale the most; the 12 colleges there really appealed to her. Vanderbilt was wayyyy to preppy, and Davidson's students all come from prep schools... not what she's looking for. She liked Johns Hopkins very much. </p>
<p>What other suggestions do you have - we could use other schools to consider. We're in NC, and are looking mostly north - so that she can wear her beloved sweatshirts. :)</p>
<p>well, I’ve not seen sweatshirts as one of the criteria for school selection but I’m still capable of learning new things.</p>
<p>Your problem is that D can get in anywhere, and that she’s going to want to visit anywhere she applies to so that she can check out their fall sweatshirt collection.</p>
<p>Before we go too far with this, how much money can your family contribute to your D’s education each year? have you run the net price calculators?</p>
<p>You’ll find a good representation of prep school graduates at all the selective schools in the Northeast, but that doesn’t mean that the culture is “preppy” in the old sense of the word. Even the prep schools aren’t preppy any more.</p>
<p>If your daughter’s open to small liberal arts colleges with good sciences, then I’d suggest the following for good merit: Smith, Holyoke, Grinnell. Rhodes too, but that may lean toward preppy.</p>
<p>You do know that Yale doesn’t offer merit, don’t you? If you can make Yale’s need based aid work, then she might also look at Williams for very excellent sciences, generous need based aid, and great marching band.</p>
<p>When you say that you need merit, how much do you need? For instance, if you can pay about $17k per year, then your child needs a full tuition merit award so that your contribution can cover room, board, books, etc. </p>
<p>The problem with the NE is that it is not great stomping grounds for large merit. </p>
<p>Are the Women’s colleges ok? My son’s friend got a nice award from MHC. Smith didn’t offer as much. </p>
<p>Are the Catholic colleges ok? They might be somewhat preppy, but some do give nice merit (not BC). UDayton would give a good size award.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if trying to exclude some schools that have some preppy kids is the answer. Some larger schools will have a mix…some preppy, some granola, some whatever.</p>
<p>What about URoch? That seems like it would fit the bill.</p>
<p>Listed national universities that give merit aid to at least 10% of students, and that have the largest average awards, include: Vanderbilt, Boston U., Brandeis, Tulane, Case Western, and UMiami. Brandeis or Case Western may have the kind of casual/intellectual atmosphere you’re after. She might also want to take a shot at one of Duke’s large merit awards. </p>
<p>If LACs have any appeal, check out URichmond, College of Wooster, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Bryn Mawr, Oberlin, Grinnell.</p>
<p>I think we could afford $15-20K. I’ve run the net calculators, and Yale is most affordable for us ($11K). </p>
<p>She’s more interested in research universities than LACs, although I’d love her to be at an LAC. She wants to be somewhere with cool weather (and snow). </p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions so far - will look into them. And yes, I know the sweatshirt thing is odd, but it’s what makes her comfortable. </p>
<p>Not sure if she could get merit aid from Rice, but Rice also has the “college system” just like Yale. Students spend all 4 years in the same college within the school. Great for STEM, and good research opportunities in Houston.</p>
<p>Rice has lower tuition than its competition, too.</p>
<p>Seemed very “un-preppy” to us, very down to earth with very bright, interesting young people attending.</p>
<p>More Midwestern than Northern, but you might take a look at Carleton in Northfield, MN (certainly cold enough). Huge amount of undergrad research, #1 ranking for quality of undergrad teaching among all LACs, ranked #8 in the country overall. Definitely a sweatshirt & jeans friendly campus. Yes, some prep school kids, but since there is a commitment to meet need, there are public school kids in the mix as well.</p>
<p>$15,000 to $20,000 just from the family, or including the student contribution (federal direct loan and/or work earnings) that she is willing to take on?</p>
<p>Have net price calculators at other schools generally indicated affordability (meaning that many schools will be affordable on need-based aid) or not (meaning that most of your search needs to be focused on merit scholarships, other than super-aid schools like Yale)?</p>
<p>Actually, I think we may be looking at this wrong based on OPs post - His student doesn’t need merit, she needs a school that provides good need-based FA. If the Yale EFC is saying $11K, that’s need based FA, not merit. And with those test scores, APs, grades, etc. there’s really no college out of reach. So start with those schools that 100% of need based FA with no loans, I’m sure the list is here somewhere. There are going to be a whole bunch of schools in cold territory that may work, both LAC and university.</p>
<p>I would not suggest relying on “meet need” claims, or expecting other schools to be as good as Yale for financial aid. Better to check their net price calculators.</p>
<p>Of course, but it’s a good list to start with. And some of those schools are surprisingly generous. Yes, always check the EFC, but remember it’s not always accurate either under certain circumstances, and can be either high or low.</p>
<p>Take a look at Case Western Reserve University in Clevelend. Not the least bit preppy, and has outstanding medical opportunities of all kinds. Located within walking distance of Cleveland Clinic and has its own hospital system as well. It could be called the Johns Hopkins of the Midwest. Top notch for science. Merit aid is reputted to be excellent.</p>
<p>Getting an EFC of $11K from a college with one of the highest cutoffs for FA is not going to help at other meets need colleges. I would guess the income is in the $110K range which would probably net an EFC of $25K at other schools like Carleton which only offers $2K in merit for NMFs. </p>
<p>Of course I don’t know the exact financial circumstances of anyone, but running the NPC on some of the Top 20 LACs, I’m getting a surprising low EFC for a family income of $110K gross. Some loans involved, but depending on the other numbers, you may see some EFCs in the Yale range. </p>
<p>Of course, given OPs stats, that Yale number may come into use, it’s not impossible.</p>
<p>I agree with @mom2collegekids. University of Rochester is a great choice. Lots of similarities between Rochester and CWRU. Of the two, Rochester has the nicer campus (more compact and looks nicer too). Both have a lot of snow in the winter but Rochester is buried in snow. Thus, they have a tunnel system which connects the core academic buildings. Their curriculum is one of the most flexible anywhere.</p>
<p>I don’t find the sweatshirt thing odd at all. I looked at how student’s dressed as an indication of the campus culture. Props to your D for knowing what kind of an environment would make her feel comfortable!</p>
<p>look at UAB in birmingham… she will get great merit. they are a tier one "research: schooll. ranked about 147 overall but listed on up and coming schools this year. Incredible sci/tech honors program that concentrates on undergrad research. (son began doing research first semester of undergrad)
urban campus about 11k students. attached to a top research hospital. definitely not preppy or greek. son just completed 4 years there… wonderful experience. feel free to pm me</p>