<p>Bump - any more advice on this? Thanks</p>
<p>I would suggest Bucknell too. My D is there with a merit and music (non’major) scholarships (10,000 and 2500/yr). For music Bucknell has a separate application due Dec. 1 with a music supplement. Looking thru Bucknell’s website they offer a merit scholarship thru the engineering program (for women) and the math program, I think 8000/yr each. Maybe if your D got into Bucknell she could appeal for these scholarships. Just so you know it seems that many schools that give out Merit don’t consider giving it to you until after you are accepted. They want you to show interest and it helps if you can show other schools offers. I know a kid who is so confused now with all of his offers that he only got after he asked for the merit money!. Other schools that kids from here have gotten nice merit money from with high stats are Vanderbilt (full tuition), Lafayette (Marquis 16000/yr), Union College, Boston College. just to name a few. So if your D is interested in a particular school, scour their website to see if there are any additional applications. I thought Claremont, and Scripps have merit with additional applications. Good luck to your D.</p>
<p>Oberlin is nurturing, not cut-throat competitive, and can be fairly generous with merit aid (in the mid-teens) for top academic students. There’s a fair amount of cross-over interest with Reed, Grinnell, and some of the other schools on your list.</p>
<p>At 2300 undergrads, Lafayette may the size you looking for. Greek life is present (a handfull each of frats and sororities), but not dominant. It is strong in fields you mentioned. It offers a Neuroscience major. Although not in a large city, it is within an hour from both Philly and NY in Easton, PA. Your daughter would be a strong candidate for a Marquis Scholarship.</p>
<p>From the College’s website:</p>
<p>Academic Scholarships</p>
<p>Lafayette College recognizes its most outstanding applicants with academic merit scholarships of up to $16,000 per year. No special application is required to be considered for a merit-based scholarship. Recipients are chosen from among the most competitive U.S. citizens and permanent residents in the admissions applicant pool.</p>
<p>Marquis Scholars receive an annual award of $16,000 (totaling $64,000 over four years) or full grant-to-need if demonstrated need exceeds $16,000. Other special benefits of the Marquis Scholars Program include: </p>
<ul>
<li>program fee for a faculty-led, three-week, study-abroad course during an interim session; </li>
<li>participation in a number of special activities, including cultural opportunities; and opportunities to work closely with Marquis faculty advisers. </li>
</ul>
<p>Students admitted under both Early Decision and Regular Decision are considered for this scholarship, with final decisions rendered by late March.
We anticipate, once again this year, enrolling approximately ten percent of the entering class as Marquis Scholars. </p>
<p>Who Qualifies?
Lafayette seeks students who have demonstrated intellectual curiosity in addition to their superior academic achievement. Curriculum, grades, rank in graduating class, and scores on standardized tests are all considered. Furthermore, the College looks for students engaged in independent, creative scholarship who have demonstrated significant accomplishments through involvement in school and community. </p>
<p>Scholarship recipients typically have the following profile: top 3 percent or better of their graduating class in the most demanding curriculum available, with SAT at or above 1400 (critical reading and math). Characteristics vary slightly from year to year, depending upon the strength of the Colleges applicant pool.</p>
<p>Thanks very much for the merit aid info, you guys. </p>
<p>We actually did visit Oberlin last year (when looking for schools primarily for D1) and D2 liked Oberlin a lot.</p>
<p>Consider Macalester (noticing the schools below it in the list, because she’s interested in research):</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/676826-ranking-ivies-recent-phd-production.html?highlight=macalester#post1062118154[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/676826-ranking-ivies-recent-phd-production.html?highlight=macalester#post1062118154</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/676186-lacs-future-scientists.html?highlight=macalester#post1062123631[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/676186-lacs-future-scientists.html?highlight=macalester#post1062123631</a></p>
<p>Note that unless you live in the Delmarva area, Swarthmore should be considered as having NO merit aid. McCabe scholarship’s geographic restrictions are non-flexible.</p>
<p>What about Brown? It’s not too big, and certainly fits the bill of your description. Although it doesn’t give much merit aid, it’s a great school that seems fit with your D. Check out PLME (your D might be interested in it). Good luck.</p>