So I’ve already applied to 10 out of my 12 schools, and I’m now panicking and thinking that I need to add more schools to my list. I feel like a lot of the schools I applied to even last month aren’t a great fit for me, and I want to add one more school that I can really see myself attending and loving.
That said, I am looking for a school that I can get a pretty significant merit aid award. I have Conn College on my list right now, but I just saw that the NESCAC schools don’t give merit aid and I’m thinking of taking it off my list. I’m looking for a liberal arts or school similar to a LAC school in the northeast or mid-Atlantic. After doing some research, I’m considering Dickinson, Villanova, and Susquehanna (though not sure if I’m crazy about it). I really am just hoping to add one school that I can get some merit aid from, and that is small to mid-sized and liberal arts or similar. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know before I have a nervous breakdown or something!!!
My stats:
GPA:
W: 4.24 (School doesn’t rank UW; GPA is out of 4.0) Rank: Top 10% (approx 800 students)
I have taken 5 APs, a dual enrollment class w/ local community college, and two biology courses with a large uMASS university
I’ve gotten mostly all A’s and some Bs. I’ve gotten one C in latin my junior year but second semester brought it up to a low B, (but this has really been the only class I’ve struggled with)
ECs:
4 year member of Varsity Swim team, voted Captain my senior year and led team of over 50 girls
2 year member of Lacrosse team
Congressional Debate Planning Committee senior year- planned and helped run a Congressional debate at my high school, worked as a question runner as well
Student Council member for 2 years
Lots of Community Service- over 120 hours for an organization that helps families during Christmas time, other hours working for local Food Bank
Member of the BPA, Science Club, Yearbook Committee
Worked 36 hours/week over the summer as a lifeguard and a swim lessons instructor, have many certifications that include a Management Certification
SAT:
CR- 670, Math- 650, Total- 1320
Essay- highest score 19/24 (Superscore (???) would be a 21)
I think my essay is good, also good recommendation letters.
Also- I realize that for a lot of schools the priority deadline has passed- so I’m looking for a school that I can apply to RD (or EA if they have a late deadline) and can still get merit.
Your scores are on the low end for merit from Dickinson, and they also expect candidates to show interest. I would call it a match IF you show some interest. Not a safety.
Maybe Muhlenberg or Gettysburgh? I don’t think you’d get their top merit awards but you could get some. Hobart and William smith? Showing interest would help at all of them.
@merc81 from what I saw briefly after looking it up right now, it fits with what I’ve been looking for! their acceptance rate is somewhat low, do you think I could get merit from them?
Also, if you tell us what you’re thinking about majoring in that might help generate suggestions. Have you heard back from any of the 10 schools you applied to yet? (i.e. EA) - Which of the schools on that list could you see yourself going to? And do you think you might get some merit $$$? Will you also apply to your state flagship? What is your EFC on the NPCs at the various schools? How much do your parents say they can afford per year? A little more info might shake loose some more good suggestions for you.
Act fact! Sometimes the application deadline for merit scholarship consideration is earlier than the application deadline. December 15 is right around the corner.
I also recommend Dickinson and Denison. You might also investigate Muhlenberg, Ursinus, College of Wooster, Case Western, and Clark University.