<p>Thanks Bobby! I will follow that plan.</p>
<p>Is there a list on the boards or elsewhere of the best merit aid schools based on GPA and test scores? Thanks!</p>
<p>@scsiguru: There is a Financial Aid Forum here on CC which has a lot of threads on the issue. There is also a thread on the Parents Forum called “Schools known for great merit aid”. It is one of the first threads listed. It is a lot of information to go through but it may be of help. There may be some consolidated summary of college merit aid elsewhere.</p>
<p>Hi, parent of a class of 2013 senior 3.0-3.3 GPA here.</p>
<p>Here’s what I think was the near final list of where our thread’s students were accepted, and merit aid in parens. Your mileage may differ, as they say, but I hope this helps someone on this year’s quest. Best of luck. It does all work out just fine… </p>
<p>Agnes Scott
Albright
Adelphi x 2
American (WMP)
Anderson University (with merit)
Arcadia x 3
Baldwin Wallace
Beloit x 3
Bellarmine
Bryant
Cal Lutheran ($11K) X 2
CSU Fullerton
CSU Monterey Bay
CSU Sacramento
Catholic University (DC)
Champlain
Chapman
Christopher Newport
Clark
Coastal Carolina
College of Wooster
Colorado State (5K Dean’s/OOS)
Cornell College
DeSales
DePaul
Drew
Earlham x3
Eckerd x 3 (13.5K)
Elon (fall admit)
Elon (admitted Spring, waitlisted Fall) x 2
Fairfield
Fordham
Fort Lewis College
George Mason
Gonzaga (3K)
Goucher x 6
Guilford x 3
Hampshire
Hofstra x 3
Humboldt State
Indiana University
Indiana Wesleyan
Ithaca x 4
James Madison
Kenyon
Knox x 2
Lake Forest
Lawrence (WI)
Loyola Maryland
Loyola New Orleans
Lycoming
Mt St Mary’s U (MD)
Marlboro
Marquette
Methodist University
Miami OH x 3
Mills
Monmouth University (NJ) x2
Montana State (with 5k merit)
Muhlenberg
New College of Florida
Northern Arizona U
Ohio Wesleyan x 5 (23K) ($25.5K)
Oregon State (2K/OOS)
Penn State - Behrend
Reed
Rider x 2
RIT x2 (but admitted to 3rd choice major)
Roanoke X 3
Roger Williams U (11k merit)
San Diego State (in region)
St Anselm
St Edward’s
St Marys (CA) x 2
St Marys (MD)
Salisbury (MD)
Siena x 2
Simmons
Seattle U
Sonoma State
Southern Oregon x 2
SUNY Albany
SUNY Binghamton (deferred EA, still waiting to hear) x 3
SUNY Fredonia
SUNY Geneseo
SUNY Potsdam
SUNY Purchase
Suffolk
Susquehanna x 4
Syracuse
Taylor University (with small merit)
Towson
Tulane
U Arizona (6K and iPad)
U of Arkansas
UC Merced
UC Santa Cruz
U Connecticut x 2
U Delaware (waitlist)
U Denver X 4 Zip merit
U Hartford
UMBC x2
UMCP
U Maine - Orono
UMass Amherst (accepted Undeclared. Waiting to hear about getting into Engineering)
UMass Lowell (1/2 tuition and fees, about $5900 in-state)
U New Hampshire
U New Haven
UNC Ashville
UNC Wilmington (Spring admission)
U Oregon
U of the Pacific
U Pittsburgh
U Puget Sound x 3 (23K)
U Redlands x 2 (13K)
U Rhode Island
U San Francisco x 2
U of South Florida (Summer admission)
U of West Florida
Ursinus x 2
Wagner
Warren Wilson College x 4
Western New England Univ (13K merit)
Western Washington U x 2 (4K/OOS)
Willamette x 3 (13K) (20K)
Winthrope University
Washington College x 2
Washington College (waitlist)</p>
<p>I think only a few posters listed merit amounts on the list. Many of the schools above would offer merit to kids in this grade range.</p>
<p>Anybody besides me having trouble with their senior finishing their Common App essay? She had the rest of the app done. Just can’t seem to pull the trigger on the essay. Do she have to finish the essay before the invitation for letter of recs can go out?</p>
<p>My son was fairly quick finishing the Common App essay. The problem now is the darn writing supplements some of the schools are asking for. Son is hoping to major in Musical Theatre and some want an additional essay. Since he has applied to nine schools already (and yes, it is insane!) the initial momentum that spurred him on has fizzled out. He started out very mature and on top of things, but now I find myself having to propel him along, otherwise know as nagging, sigh.</p>
<p>sooo k2s essay got shot down by the gc…
sigh</p>
<p>one essay and its all ready…one…</p>
<p>SMH!!!</p>
<p>Hi Parents, this is my first post on this thread. My son (3.3 gpa wtd, 21 ACT) was just accepted at his first choice school yesterday! I wanted to give a little info, as this school is rarely mentioned on these boards, but is a great place for the right type of kid. </p>
<p>The school is Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg VA, and no, we are not Mennonite or even religious or conservative. My son is on the autism spectrum and has slow processing. He is on meds for anxiety and OCD. Because of these issues, we were looking for a school not too far from home (near DC). We wanted someplace with small classes, great study abroad, dry campus (alcohol + his meds do not mix, and didn’t want to deal with pressure or having to explain), and a friendly student body. </p>
<p>We visited the school twice and were blown away. The campus is beautiful, the facilities are great, the dorms are brand new (with nicer kitchens and bathrooms than our home, as my DH remarked), the food is good, the study abroad program is outstanding, the people are nice, the religious stuff is totally optional (only half the students are actually Mennonite), and they give generous merit (S was told he will get at least $10k grant, in addition to a $3k automatic grant for VA in-staters (VTAG). We spoke with the disabilities office, and felt very comfortable that there was plenty of help available, should he need it. </p>
<p>The school also has a unique “CoachLink” program that matches up new students with a second-year master’s-in-counseling student to be a mentor, sounding board, friend, lunch buddy. Any student can participate. It is especially good for kids with anxiety. depression, and difficulty transitioning to new environments. There is also plenty of free professional counseling available on campus. </p>
<p>EMU has strengths in Education, Nursing, and Peace Studies. Their job placement and med school placement rates are high. My son will probably major in Digital Media or Spanish, and minor in TESOL (teaching ESL). Not many schools have this program. </p>
<p>The location in the Shenandoah Valley is great for outdoorsy things, and biking is big here. It’s beautiful. For those seeking a rowdier social life or some sporting events, JMU is just down the street. </p>
<p>So that’s my plug for EMU, a great school that I believe gets overlooked because of the name. If your child is seeking a small, friendly school in a beautiful environment, check it out.</p>
<p>Thank you nova2nola for this great info! I’ll have to check out the website. My DS has already been through two schools and is now at CC. He has severe social anxiety and no friends. It’s been very challenging these college years thus far. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Msquared, thanks - glad you found it helpful. Good luck to your son - I hope he finds someplace he feels at home. </p>
<p>I should amend what I said about the religion part being totally optional. I believe there are some religion course requirements, which one adcom told us can be partially completed on the student’s “cross-cultural” (study abroad), but as far as day-to-day prayer, chapel, bible study - all that is voluntary. Anyone who does not want any religion requirement whatsoever should cross EMU off their list. But if your child views religion as important or just an interesting academic subject, it would be fine. </p>
<p>Also, the Mennonite students at EMU typically blend in with the student body, wear normal (somewhat conservative) clothing, drive cars, etc. There might be a few very old-school conservative ones, but that is unusual.</p>
<p>For those taking the ACT tomorrow…Good Luck! My D14 is going over some last minute studying.</p>
<p>Thanks, and back at you. I suggested to my son that he review test strategy last night, and take today off – relax, get a good night’s sleep, and have a good breakfast in the a.m.</p>
<p>Let’s see if a bit of prep helps – he wrote it ‘cold’ in the spring.</p>
<p>Hi Everyone,</p>
<p>I haven’t posted in awhile …My S is taking the ACT tomorrow for the first time w/o prep. He is prepping (a little) for SAT. I feel at this point “why bother” taking the ACT w/o prepping but he has been advised to take and was told it was easier than the SAT…well we’ll see…</p>
<p>On another note…he received his first application waiver today from Brandeis…it was a nice surprise because Brandeis is on his list. However, S is applying ED to his first choice school. </p>
<p>At his school they have been working in the common app at school. I happen to open the common app and was pleasantly surprised that the college I am applying to was filled …it’s a start. In English they are working on the essay but S is not forth coming on any details… S has become very independent ( almost over night) and really doesn’t want me involved !
I really hope he is working on his essay…</p>
<p>Good luck to all the test takers !</p>
<p>Morning</p>
<p>K2 got the first acceptance this week. So that was good news.
Will be working on the essay again. Had a mtg with the GC and I think she helped K2 understand where it needed tweeking so the intended message comes through.</p>
<p>Well the boy wrote his first CA essay! He is required to write 4 for his AP English class. I think it is over kill and he will probably only do 2…the down side is that I am not allowed to see it! He won’t even tell me which question he is answering! All I know is his first draft is 646 words. It’s a start!</p>
<p>Anyone experiencing major pushback except me? I think the reality of applying is hitting home and it looks like it’ll be a 11:55pm application deadline nightmare at our house…Every time I bring up college applications, letters of rec, etc., I’m hit with “It’s my deal and I’ll get it done. Have I ever turned in a project, paper, homework late?” True, it will get done, but I may need a bottle of Valium to get through this…
Cheers!</p>
<p>^^^
I am getting push back with asking for a rec. Last spring S with GC who told him to pick two teachers and had him fill out a form to give to them. My son can be passive. One of the recs is for the French teacher- great teacher but S is not majoring in French! We consulted a private GC and she recommended his math teacher ! So S has been sitting on the second rec. Every day I remind hi have you asked? …no I will…tomorrow and so on…ugh.</p>
<p>My son has no sense of time. Things started off with a bang because he is pursuing a major that requires an audition, and the sooner the app. is submitted, the sooner you may schedule an audition. Many apps have been submitted (Yay!) but there are many more pieces to accomplish, and now that he is in full school and after school commitments, I’ve had to resort to pulling out the calendar to remind him to hurry up. I have also needed to give his GC a few nudges to get his rec. done, etc. </p>
<p>Even though my son is pursuing his dream, he has also made comments that he has mixed feelings about growing up and the next big step. He was hundreds of miles away this summer for a six week pre-college program and he did well and loved it, so we both know he is ready to fly, but I can’t help wondering if his current slump is a way to slow down the process.</p>
<p>^^^i am wondering the same thing…S says he wants to apply ED but maybe he is changing his mind…he also was in a big slump this morning and I let him miss his first period…he just seems really tired …I think the stress is mounting and once the apps are in …it will be a relief.</p>
<p>Today he got an unconventional app from Clarskson U- I think someone called it a snappy app? …anyone know about Clarkson U ? A while ago someone had suggested S check it out but we never made it…</p>