<p>HI, hope you all can help! We have saved over 30,000 for my Jr. son's college education. I am seeing that this is a very meager amount compared to the actual cost of a small LAC. Our income is too high for aid, ($130,000) What do most people do if there child is a good student, but not "stellar" , (1300 SATs) , a "good" cross county runner, but not really fast, ect. Another words, no merit or athletic scholorships. Where should we start looking? He really wants to go south, and it is looking like the schools he has dreamed about will be just that, a dream! Any input would be really appreciated- someone posted earlier to check-out Collegeboard's EFC and I did. When I saw what our contribution would be, thats when I nearly fell off my chair with shock !</p>
<p>In the previous thread, I meant to ask, should we pay off our existing car loans, is there something we are missing?</p>
<p>I believe the key to getting merit aid is applying to a school where he would be among the top applicants (perhaps a tier 2 for him). How far south does he want to go?</p>
<p>He may qualify for merit aid. Many, many schools give it to the top 10% range of applicants. There are many schools where 1300 would be in that range. See the merit aid threads and go online at school's web sites. They will usually give the average scores for merit winners.</p>
<p>Also, he can still take the SAT again and try and bump up his score to be more competetive for these scholarships. If he shoots for schools where he is in the mid range of applicants merit aid is doubtful so look for ones where his scores are in the top quarter.</p>
<p>He would like North Carolina! Our family are "southerners at heart" and go there every chance we get. His dream is to go to Wake, you are probably going to suggest Elon. and we are going to look at it, but he has a feeling about Wake! Thanks</p>
<p>Run, do not walk, to the merit aid thread. For example, my S with 1310 SAT (admittedly other stats stronger) has a $22K merit award from Tulane and a smaller one from Santa Clara. He is not an athlete - it was purely an academic award and requires 2.7 GPA to renew each year. He needs to find schools where his 1310 and/or other stats and/or geography and a well-done application makes him someone a school wants.</p>
<p>Yes, those EFC's are a shocker, but there really is merit $ out there for your S's SATs. Post a little more about his interests, type of school and location he wants, GPA and you will get more ideas of good matches for him where merit is a real possibility.</p>
<p>Also, he is in the top 15-20% , right now as a junior. How much can this improve. This "block" (his school has block scheduling) has been his best ever.</p>
<p>How large is the school? What are his other stats? Is he taking Honors/AP? Does the school weight? (I feel like the Spanish Inquisition here :eek: ), but the more we know, the more we can help. I have certainly seen kids move up from about top 15% to top 10% in the first semester of sr. year, but it may be his jr. year rank that goes in on apps. Let's hear more about him and we can make more suggestions re places where he might get the $$ you would like.</p>
<p>NJMOM are there any other 'southern' schools he might be interested in?? I ask because the NC State University system has very reasonable tuition/costs. Any idea on what he may be considering for a major - it is a bit early I realize, but.......</p>
<p>Thanks, JMMom! I know he is not top 10% right now, was 15-20% but best grades ever coming! I am not sure of GPA, I know it is 3.6 to 3.9 now. he has taken all honors, and 1 AP, 4 APs next year. Math is not his stongest subject, he loves history and chemestry. He also is in the Acedemy of Finance' affiliated with the N.Y. Stock Exchange. Takes business classes instead of electives, and will due a paid internship this summer in a financial institution such as Morgan Stanley. He wants to study accountancy/business. He likes to write and enjoys reading. Thank you so much for directing me to the merit aid , I will start running there now!</p>
<p>I'm joining the inquisition too here...tell us what type of school would be a good fit? size? Urban suburban, rural? Geography limitations?</p>
<p>JeepMOM, thanks for the suggestion, but I think the N.C. state schools are REALLY hard to get into, he was interested in Chapel Hill until he heard their stats for out of staters- he was not so interested in the others.........</p>
<p>Dogs, Thanks for asking! He would like smallish (3000-5000), not TOO rural, and not ALL southern.</p>
<p>University of Delaware???? Even for out of state the price is about half of a private school. They give out merit aid to about the top 10%. Check their web site. He may be close.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone! I am going to check out the merit aid on the parent's forum, and I will post later about what I learned. Again. thanks for your help!</p>
<p>What merit aid thread are you talking about?</p>
<p>I'm guessing they mean this one: "Schools known for good merit aid"
( <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=52133%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=52133</a> )</p>
<p>regarding merit aid at Tulane. My D with higher stats then jmmom did not get any merit aid. When she was disapointed we were told that she probably would have gotten merit aid if she had applied EA.</p>