<p>Hey everyone. I'm currently a senior applying to colleges, and discussions with my parents have led me to realize that price is going to be one of the key factors for me in selecting a school. I do not qualify for need-based aid, and my parents said they can afford to pay around ~$20,000 per year. Meaning, I really need to apply to some schools that are likely to give me generous merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Some info about me--
GPA- 3.87 unweighted
Senior Courseload- 7 IB classes
SATI- 2360
SATII- 750 (Lit) 710 (MathII)
ACT- 34
National Merit Semifinalist
I've done a few solid extracurricular activities including two internships, an independent tutoring business I started, competed internationally for DECA, and one very unusual activity that I don't want to get specific about here</p>
<p>I love liberal arts colleges, but most of them are just too small for me- I'm looking to go to a school with at least 5000 undergraduates. I don't want a rural location, and I'd prefer not to be in the middle of a city either. Ideally I'd like to be in a college town or near a city. I'm not too eager to apply to southern schools, mostly because I'm not really into Greek life. I'm okay with it as long as it doesn't dominate the social scene, though. </p>
<p>I've already applied to Harvard, The University of Michigan, Tulane, and Fordham. I am also planning on applying to Brown, Northeastern, Yale, and George Washington. I know that most of these schools are very expensive and I want to make sure I have some affordable options. Do you have any suggestions of schools that are likely to offer generous merit scholarships?</p>
<p>I do not qualify for need-based aid, and my parents said they can afford to pay around ~$20,000 per year</p>
<p>That means that you’re going to need almost full tuition scholarships. Room, board, fees, books, and misc costs can run $15k+ at some schools. </p>
<p>Since your parents are saying “about $20k per year”…that works out to be about $2k per month if they’re going to be making 10 monthly payments per year. </p>
<p>To be on the safe side, you should probably aim for full tuition at least for your safety schools.</p>
<p>Hey I think you could probably stop worrying! Since you have Ivy stats, you will prob get in to an Ivy Caliber school, and those schools have great aid, so if you can afford 20,000 you’ll prob get more than enough in FA, since alot of them go all the way to full tuition aid I think you’ll get a fine deal, unless you make alot of money but the restriction for 20k hurts you</p>
<p>Most Ivies do have good to excellent need-based aid. But first, you have to get in (which is not assured even with the OP’s excellent stats). Second, you have to satisfy their standards of need. Harvard and Yale (plus Princeton & Stanford) have very high ceilings; if your family makes as much as $180K-$200K, you may not have to pay more than ~10% of total income out of pocket. Other selective schools have much lower limits on the combination of income and assets that qualify for need-based aid. None of the Ivies offer merit aid. Competition is intense for the little that is offered at other T20 universities (Chicago, Duke, JHU).</p>
<p>Consider Brandeis, Case Western, or Richmond. A couple of state universities (I think Alabama is one) offer guaranteed merit scholarships for qualifying grades/scores (or NM status). A safe under-$20K strategy probably also involves your in-state public flagship or a directional school within commuting distance.</p>
<p>If you already know you Do not qualify for need based aid, I’m not sure why you’re applying to so many schools that don’t offer merit aid. Financial aid, unlike Mr. Madoff suggests above, does not materialize for those who do not qualify.</p>
<p>With your strong stats there’s a lot of guaranteed aid. Take some time to research these schools based on your hoped for major.</p>
<p>Read through everything that tk just said! Use that link to find other schools. here’s two to add to list though:</p>
<p>My S1 was offered Denison’s Paschal Carter last year (full tuition ride for NMF). His stats are almost identical to yours. This scholarship brought total cost to $14K per year (room and board, travel only!). </p>
<p>You will not get any kind of merit aid from an ivy, so please disregard the above advice about ivy’s having all kinds of aid. It’s need-based aid that they offer. You have to look at schools where the avg. accepted students will have lower stats in order to get merit awards, and you have to look at schools with a HIGH percentage of “non-need based aid”. You can find this in the Common Data Sets of each school. But I think you’d like both the above schools, so start with these two. Then go through the entire list of National Merit Corp. sponsored schools. You should have gotten this list in your application packet in the fall. Some offer more NMF scholarship money than others and the National Merit threads here on CC has lots more info. on where to focus your energy (Bama for full ride, U of Richmond for full tuition ride, etc…). </p>
<p>I would like to point out that a school costing over $50,000/year is not likely to give you about $30,000/year in merit aid. The figure of $50,000/year is conservative at best, because so many privates (and some publics) now exceed 50k/year. Of course many publics these days love those OOS students as they can charge you more tuition. </p>
<p>What state do you reside in? Perhaps we could make some suggestions!</p>
<p>^that’s not always the case. Denison U is $51,000 year and they offer NMF full tuition scholarships. S1 was offered $38,000 per year all four years, bringing total cost to $14,000. Ohio Wesleyan offered him $26,000 per year bringing total cost to $21,000 (they “stack awards”, he was offered Schubert along with a Founders Award). There are many schools that will offer the OP merit awards and he/she has the entire list of NM sponsored schools to choose from as well. Many are full rides and some are private schools that do cost over $50K year.You just have to know where to look.</p>
<p>But you do need to move VERY FAST. Some applications are due December 1.</p>
<p>If your parents can pay about 20k, you make an effort to get a good summer job and save the income for college, and you take out a Stafford Loan each year, chances are you can afford your own home-state public universities. Take another long hard look at them as possible admission and financial safeties.</p>
<p>o Full ride is defined as minimum tuition/room/board.
o Must guarantee at least 5k or full tuition competitive to be eligible for Honorable Mention.
o U=University, C=College
o *=annual class <1k students
o ^=schools I personally find notable</p>
<p>NMF FULL TUITION+</p>
<h2>Publics</h2>
<p>U of Alabama (NMF full tuition & housing+ & NMSF full tuition with 3.5 GPA guaranteed Top Scholars Program - The University of Alabama)
U of Alabama-Huntsville (NMF full ride & NMSF full tuition+ guaranteed UAHuntsville | Financial Aid)
Auburn U <a href=“NMF%20full%20tuition+%20…see%20****%20below”>AL</a>
U of North Alabama (NMF full ride & NMSF full tuition+ guaranteed Scholarships - Office of University Admissions - University of North Alabama)
Troy U <a href=“full%20ride%20competitive%20Undergraduate%20::%20Troy%20Scholarships”>AL</a>
U of Arizona (NMF 15k in-state / 25k OOS, NMSF 8k guaranteed?? 2009-2011 Terms and Conditions | Scholarships| Financial Aid | Office of Admissions | UA | Estimated Cost of Attendance | Financial Aid | Office of Admissions | UA)
Southern Arkansas U (NMF & NMSF 11k competitive Presidential Scholarship 8 Semesters : Financial Aid | How much does it cost to go to SAU? : Office of Admissions)
U of Central Florida (NMF full tuition+ guaranteed / full ride competitive & NMSF 9k guaranteed)
Florida A&M U (in-state full ride & OOS full tuition guaranteed - other qualifications, see University Scholarships - Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 2010)
U of South Florida (full ride competitive - <a href=“http://usfweb2.usf.edu/Admissions/pd...on-florida.pdf[/url]”>http://usfweb2.usf.edu/Admissions/pd...on-florida.pdf</a> | <a href=“http://usfweb2.usf.edu/Admissions/pd...an-florida.pdf[/url]”>http://usfweb2.usf.edu/Admissions/pd...an-florida.pdf</a>)
Boise State U <a href=“NMF%20full%20ride%20competitive,%20full%20tuition%20guaranteed”>ID</a>
U of Idaho (full ride competitive [25])
Eastern Kentucky U (in-state full ride & OOS full tuition- guaranteed)
U of Kentucky (full ride 1st year & full tuition+ remaining 3 years guaranteed)
Louisiana State U (full tuition competitive)
U of Maine (tuition- competitive)
Wayne State U <a href=“full%20ride%20competitive”>MI</a>
^*U of Minnesota-Morris (full tuition guaranteed)
^Truman State U <a href=“full%20tuition%20competitive”>MO</a>
U of Mississippi (NMF full tuition+ equivalent, less for NMSF; see The University of Mississippi ? Office of Financial Aid)
Mississippi State U (NMF full tuition+ & NMSF full tuition- guaranteed)
U of Southern Mississippi (NMF/SF full ride competitive)
Southeast Missouri State U (NMF full ride guaranteed, NMSF full tuition- guaranteed)
U of Nebraska-Lincoln (full tuition+ competitive)
New Jersey Institute of Technology (full ride guaranteed)
New Mexico State U (NMF full ride & NMSF full tuition+ guaranteed)
Cleveland State U <a href=“full%20tuition%20guaranteed”>OH</a>
Youngstown State U <a href=“full%20ride%20with%2030%20ACT/1300%20SAT%20competitive%20%5B40%5D”>OH</a>
U of Oklahoma (full tuition+ guaranteed)
Oklahoma State U (full tuition+ guaranteed)
U of Memphis <a href=“NMF%20%5B9k%20+%20OOS%20waiver%5D%20&%20NMSF%20%5B7.5k%20+%20OOS%20waiver%5D%20full%20tuition+%20guaranteed”>TN</a>
U of Houston <a href=“full%20ride%20guaranteed”>TX</a>
U of North Texas (full ride competitive)
Texas A&M U (full tuition+ competitive)
U of Texas-Dallas (full tuition+ guaranteed)
Texas Tech U (IS full ride & OOS full tuition+ [19.8k] guaranteed)
U of Texas-Tyler (NMF full ride & NMSF full tuition+ guaranteed)
Washington State U (NMSF full tuition guaranteed)
West Virginia U (full tuition- guaranteed)
U of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (in-state full ride guaranteed [~4k OOS tuition difference])</p>
<h2>Privates</h2>
<p><em>Abilene Christian U (full tuition guaranteed)
Alfred U (full ride guaranteed with top 5% rank, otherwise full tuition/ride competitive)
*Alma C (10 full tuition, 5 full ride competitive <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...6-post366.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...6-post366.html</a>)
*Andrews U (full tuition guaranteed)
Baylor U (full tuition guaranteed)
*Birmingham-Southern C (full tuition competitive)
Bradley U (full tuition guaranteed [not advertised, see <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...6-post29.html][/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...6-post29.html]</a>)
U of Dallas (NMF full tuition, NMSF 12k guaranteed)
^</em>Denison U (full tuition competitive)
Drexel U (full tuition guaranteed)
<em>U of Evansville (NMF full tuition & NMSF 75% tuition guaranteed)
*Faulkner U (NMF/SF full tuition guaranteed)
^Fordham U (full tuition+ competitive)
*Harding U (full tuition guaranteed)
*Geneva C (NMF full tuition & NMSF 3/4 tuition guaranteed)
Liberty U (NMF full ride & NMSF full tuition guaranteed)
*Lipscomb U (full tuition+ guaranteed)
Long Island U-C.W. Post (full tuition competitive)
Loyola U Chicago (full tuition competitive [5], 2k guaranteed)
^Northeastern U (full tuition competitive/guaranteed? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...5-post264.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...5-post264.html</a> | <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...5-post331.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...5-post331.html</a>)
*Nyack C (full tuition guaranteed)
*Oakwood U (NMF full tuition+, NMSF full tuition, & NMCommended 80% tuition guaranteed)
*Oklahoma Christian U (full ride guaranteed)
*Pacific Union C (full tuition guaranteed)
*Roberts Wesleyan C (NMF full tuition & NMSF half tuition guaranteed)
*Spring Arbor U (NMF full tuition & NMSF half tuition + one-time 5k guaranteed)
*Sterling C (full tuition guaranteed)
^</em>U of Tulsa (full ride competitive [70-80])
^*Wesleyan C <a href=“full%20tuition%20competitive”>women only</a>
*Westminster C <a href=“NMF%20full%20tuition%20&%20NMSF%20half%20tuition%20guaranteed”>UT</a></p>
<p>NMF HONORABLE MENTIONS</p>
<h2>Publics</h2>
<p>Arizona State University (13k to full OOS tuition competitive <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...7-post358.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...7-post358.html</a>)
U of Central Arkansas (12k guaranteed with 3.25 GPA)
Ball State U <a href=“5k%20guaranteed”>IN</a>
California State U-Fullerton (in-state only: full tuition+ guaranteed)
California State U-Long Beach (in-state only: full ride competitive)
U of Florida (OOS tuition waiver + 4k guaranteed)
Florida State U (6k competitive)
^*New C of Florida (17.5k guaranteed)
Iowa State U (in-state full ride competitive)
U of Kansas (10k guaranteed, 5k competitive [16])
U of Louisiana-Lafayette (unclear - UL Lafayette: Academic Scholarships: High School Seniors)
U of Massachusetts-Amherst (in-state full ride competitive)
Michigan State U (750-2k + in-state 2k & OOS 4k and room/board competitive)
U of New Mexico (~13k [in-state full tuition] competitive)
U of Akron <a href=“6k%20guaranteed%20+%20Honors%20College%203k”>OH</a>
U of Cincinnati <a href=“in-state%20full%20tuition+%20%5B50%20awards%20max,%20OOS%2014k%20difference%5D”>OH</a>
Wright State U <a href=“in-state%20only:%20NMF%20full%20ride%20guaranteed,%20NMSF/Commended%20full%20tuition%20guaranteed”>OH</a>
U of South Carolina (in-state up to 10k, OOS up to 6k + OOS tuition waiver)
U of Vermont (in-state NMF full tuition, OOS “up to 10k” competitive)
U of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (full in-state tuition guaranteed)</p>
<h2>Privates</h2>
<p>^<em>Beloit C (5k guaranteed)
^Boston U (half tuition competitive)
*Calvin C (10k guaranteed)
*Cedarville U (half tuition guaranteed w/ 3.5 GPA)
*Concordia C (14k guaranteed)
^</em>Furman U (NMSF 14k guaranteed)
Gonzaga U (6.25k guaranteed)
<em>Gordon C (75% tuition guaranteed w/ 3.5 GPA)
*Hope C (17k guaranteed)
^</em>Macalester C (5k guaranteed)
<em>Morningside C (“tuition scholarship” guaranteed - Morningside College Admissions: First-year Students Scholarships)
*North Central C (3/4 tuition guaranteed)
^U of Rochester (17k guaranteed)
^Rochester Institute of Technology (15k guaranteed)
*U of Sioux Falls (full ride competitive [1])
^U of Southern California (half tuition guaranteed)
Southern Methodist U (half tuition + 2k guaranteed)
^</em>St. Olaf C (7.5k guaranteed)
^Vanderbilt U (5k guaranteed + 2k if awarded competitive merit)
^Worcester Polytechnic Institute (17k guaranteed</p>
<p>" love liberal arts colleges, but most of them are just too small for me- I’m looking to go to a school with at least 5000 undergraduates. I don’t want a rural location, and I’d prefer not to be in the middle of a city either. Ideally I’d like to be in a college town or near a city. I’m not too eager to apply to southern schools, mostly because I’m not really into Greek life. I’m okay with it as long as it doesn’t dominate the social scene, though." </p>
<p>Here are the OP’s preferences for location, needs merit aid & parents can only pay 20k/yr</p>
<p>Northeastern would fit the bill (except in city). But there are many NMF options under those criteria. OP, just read through the list that dramadad posted. You have so many options as a NMF and with those stats. I hope you are willing to consider smaller LAC’s too, but you have many larger U’s to choose from that will cost less than or equal to your 20K budget:</p>
<p>I’m not sure what it pays now, but when my son was awarded their Presidential Scholarship it covered 100% of tuition and fees so that we only had to pay room and board (and books and incidentals).</p>
<p>Yes, USC is $21,000 this year for NMF and I’ve also heard that they may offer a second award to some students (“stack awards”). So that could bring cost down enough to attend. It’s close to $32,000 year with the NMF award…so worth it to hustle and get the app. in now. I pm’d you about USC yesterday, but didn’t realize how close to deadline for other awards! thanks to Kathy for pointing that out!</p>
<p>Adding one more city school even though I know you said you were’t interested in a city school (because of the northeast location you do prefer and it’s a great school/deal). Boston U. offers $20,000 yr. for NMF. You do have to list them as #1 choice by Mar.1 with NM Corp. I don’t know if this would bring down the cost low enough for you though. They may stack awards, I don’t know.</p>
<p>Another option to consider is honors colleges in public universities - Cook College at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (or something like that), or Barrett Honors College at AZ State are two of the biggies, but there are many.</p>
<p>I agree that American is a good place to look for merit aid, but the Presidential Scholarship isn’t that generous any longer. Last year, it was $20,000/year, which puts a big dent in the cost of attendance, but still leaves over $30K to pay.</p>
<p>lgsr10,
Have you looked into Chapman University in California? I heard someone with your stats just applied. Great school and great need-blind merit-aid. Just an FYI.
[Chapman</a> University - Financial Aid - Undergrads](<a href=“Financial Aid | Chapman University”>Financial Aid | Chapman University)</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for all of your replies. I have some new information now. I was deferred from Harvard early action, and I got a presidential scholarship (full ride) at my state university, Rutgers. At this point my first choice is UMich, which I should hear from today or in the next few days. I’ll have to see a) if I get in and b) if they offer any scholarship money, because I would much rather go there than to my state university.</p>
<p>I took some of the advice in this thread, and I applied to USC before the scholarship deadline. I also applied to Northeastern. Both were regular decision (along with Tulane and Fordham from before.) </p>
<p>I just wanted to make sure I have my bases covered. I think my parents could comfortably spend 20,000-25,000 per year, though of course the full ride from Rutgers must be considered as well now because college for free is a very attractive option. In my heart I really don’t want to go there though and am hoping for a preferable, affordable alternative. I know that Rutgers isn’t a bad school, but I have worked so hard in high school and would like to aim higher than my state university.</p>
<p>I still love Brown and Yale, but the deferral from Harvard was definitely a confidence deflate-er, and besides, there’s no way I could afford an ivy league education anyway. I’d love to apply to those schools but I’m starting to think it isn’t worth it. Is there anywhere else I should apply in the next 2 weeks?</p>
<p>lgsr is National Merit SEMIfinalist… I think most of read it wrong.</p>
<p>That said,
FYI- my son was also, NMsemifinalist…, Similar ACT/ACT. Valedictorian (1/400), 13 AP’s, 4.0UWGA- UB, as safety, gave him $0 merit money. </p>
<p>UMiami- Full merit tuition scholarship. Check out the UM threads. They offer merit on GPA/SAT. You will likely be accepted with 3/4 tuition and an invite for a Singer weekend to interview for full merit. They now also have a scholarship that offers room/board(?) to. That is somewhat new. UM treats their top scholars very well, with great perks. Son graduated last year and is now in grad school. UM was a great experience.</p>