<p>Can you guys help me think of a list of some colleges that are
a) have cheap out-of-state tuition
b) have a good merit aid
c) give me the best chances of getting as close to a full ride as I can possibly get.</p>
<p>Background: Before a couple of months ago I was 100% sure I'd be going to the University of Minnesota. And then my parents drop the bomb (at the end of my junior year) that they don't want to pay for my college. They also refuse to cosign any loans. So now I'm scrambling to find a decent list of colleges where I can apply that meet the above reqs because there's no way I can scrounge up 20K plus in 1 year. The current list of colleges is basically all I have right now, but I feel like they wouldn't challenge me academically or provide an intellectually stimulating atmosphere :-(</p>
<p>Colleges I've Thought About:
Louisiana Tech University
U of Alabama-Huntsville
Iowa State University</p>
<p>Predicted Major: International Relations and Pre-Pharmacy</p>
<p>Stats: GPA:3.89 ACT: 32 PSAT<a href="just%20took%20SAT">/i</a>:210
*Rank: top 11% at a very competitive high school
*ECs<a href="at%20end%20of%20senior%20year">/i</a>:
3 years of Science Olympiad including 1st place at Regionals and Captain position
3 years of Peer Counseling
2 years of French Club
1 year of National Honor Society
Awards in local essay contests
Around 100 hours of volunteering
Part-time job every summer since freshman year</p>
<p>Extra:
Around 50 college credits from APs and PSEO at the U of MN
I predict fairly good essays and possibly higher ACT scores.</p>
<p>Any idea what your EFC is? Is it that your parent’s make alot of money and just don’t want to pay – or that they don’t have much and really don’t think they can pay for college. It will make a difference in our recommendations.</p>
<p>UArizona is comparatively cheap for OOS students. Very good merit-aid for in-state students, I could only imagine it is only slightly less for OOS students.</p>
<p>U. of Alabama: Presidential Scholars -
An out-of-state first-time freshman student who meets the December 1st scholarship priority deadline, has a 32-36 ACT or 1400-1600 SAT* score and at least a 3.7 cumulative GPA will be selected as a Presidential Scholar and will receive the value of out-of-state tuition for four years.</p>
<p>Troy University (AL): The Millennium Scholar’s Award -
Pays full tuition,room and board. Requirements are 31 ACT and/or 1380 SAT 1 and 3.7 GPA (4.0 scale) or a National Merit Finalist.</p>
<p>They want me to live at home with them for whatever time I’ll be in college. I might sound like a little kid, but I just honestly can’t do that. I can’t live with them during college. They really are ridiculously strict, and I also feel like I’ll be missing out on an important part of the college experience. </p>
<p>At first it all started with them telling me that I have to go to the University of Minnesota, saying they won’t pay for anything else. Then they added that if I want to live in a dorm I’d have to pay for it myself. So I got a job. Finally now they said that if I won’t live at home with them they won’t pay for college at all. Which brings me to my current dilemma.</p>
<p>Can you try and talk some sense into them? You still have a few months to show them reason and how much an independent college life would be beneficial to you.</p>
<p>Texas publics! If you get competitive scholarships totaling $1000/yr or more, you qualify for in-state tuition rates.</p>
<p>If you’re applying to enroll in fall 2008, it’s too late to be considered for most of the merit scholarships. Possible exceptions may be Southern Indiana or South Dakota. You’re options are limited to: in-state public, community college, private loans (maybe too late?).</p>
<p>Oh, no I’m going to be applying for Fall 2009, I just wanted to start making a college list so I can apply early to be competitive for merit aid. I know a lot of applications are available July 1st, and I’d still have to request my scores for the ACT/SAT. </p>
<p>And although it is possible that my parents, (it’s my Mom actually) will cave if I show them that I have alternatives, I doubt they would change their mind if I just try to reason with them.</p>
<p>Pretty sure they’re not applying until next year.</p>
<p>Make sure you still apply to Minnesota and Wisconsin on the outside chance you get merit aid. Even if you don’t get a full ride, you might be able to make up the difference with outside scholarships. You should also consider talking to your high school guidance counselor about a list of local scholarships you could try applying for.</p>
<p>I think you need to have your first “adult” conversation with your parents. </p>
<p>Their fear-based choice of not allowing you out from their control as an adult (which you soon will be) will have untold ramifications on your personal growth (as you know). Odds are, they’re basically concerned you’re going to run off and have endless sex and drugs and binge drink and everything else college students raised in over protective situations do as a rebellion. If you can quell their concerns and demonstrate that they can trust you, you might stand a chance. If you’re already living hedonistically, you might not. But your stats suggest you’re a pretty darn clean living person.</p>
<p>You should explain your situation that due to their wealth you do not have the luxury of going to school without their support, even though you will be an adult. </p>
<p>It’s much easier when you don’t have money, which was my situation. Then you just get financial aid and loans out the wazoo and pay them back for the rest of your life. You might have to do that with loans, even if you don’t get financial aid. Maybe ask them to compromise in an adult agreement and serve as backers on the loans that you will pay off on your own. Whatever you do, they have to see that you are not their little girl to control any more.</p>
<p>My girlfriend’s parents (who never went to college) fought adamently to keep her at home and going to the local university - money, convenience, fear of losing their little girl. She went half way across the country and grew in ways no GPA or financial aid package could ever calculate. They saw how much she changed (more confident, more worldly) and grew to understand the true value of college.</p>
<p>Rutgers’ website will show you the aid you’re eligible for based on GPA and SAT scores (I forget if there is an ACT option). The also have a college of pharmacy. Reportedly, they are looking to expand out-of-state enrollment.</p>
<p>Are we to assume you’re looking for a big school – or was UMinn the best option you had close to home (a very good option, I might add)?</p>
<p>If you’re willing to look smaller, there are plenty of colleges that would be happy to offer substantial merit aid for someone with your strong credentials. Let us know what you’re thinking, and we can help you generate a list.</p>
<p>Likewise, I think there are many state schools that are harder to get into than the ones you list that would offer aid; many good suggetions have been made, but again, if you give us more of a sense of what you’re looking for, we can be more exact in our suggestions…</p>