Please help a 2400 SAT/4.0 UW rising senior with selecting inexpensive in-state/merit aid safeties?

College Search & Selection
1

Hello! Frequent lurker and occasional poster here.

Undecided major, possibly econ/statistics/premed. Strong test-taker, school doesn’t rank, Asian (and MURiKAN). Extremely privileged to be born into well-off middle class family. I’m proud of and dedicated to my ECs, but they’re generic on paper and mediocre compared to the talents of many extraordinary folks I’ve seen here on CC.

So I’m struggling with choosing safeties right now. I’d like to limit application and tuition costs. We’d only qualify for FA at really generous schools (Ivy caliber), and still cost would be a serious issue, so I’m only applying to 1 or 2 private reaches, and keeping my expectations realistically low.

I am applying to in-state UC reaches/matches (Cal, LA, SD, Davis), but I’m really lost in terms of safeties. Part of me wants to apply to every single UC and CSU, but I think that’s a little excessive, and very expensive.

For somebody with my stats, which UCs and CSUs can I consider absolute safeties? I’m hoping to apply to as few as possible because of app fees. From what I understand, CSUs are highly numbers-oriented – I’m hoping to gain some insight regarding which ones I can count on for sure.

I’ve been told I’m a strong candidate for merit scholarships at privates, so I’m considering those options as well. I’m looking for colleges with no application fees and/or no supplemental essays to the Common App at which I would have a decent shot at merit aid. If anybody is familiar with any schools that fit those criteria, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your time and insight.

2

If you want merit $$ you’ll have to write supplemental essays.
$$ doesnt grow on trees nor is it handed out only to the students with the top stats.
. You’ll have to show you deserve it.

3

There are plenty of UCs that you could consider safeties. UCM, UCR, UCI, UCSC, UCSB, all of those really. As far as CSUs go, I’m pretty sure they’re all safeties.

4

Thank you for your responses. @menloparkmom, I’m sorry for coming across as so entitled. I’m pretty unfamiliar with how merit scholarships are given out, and I was under the (incorrect) impression that it was a numbers-based game.

The only reason I had that criterion in my original post stems from the fact that I’m very poor at writing personal essays. Does anyone know some schools that I’d be in the range for generous merit aid?

This is my college list so far (ranked in order of preference):

Privates:

  • Dartmouth - possibly ED
  • UChicago
    maybe
  • Northwestern
  • UPenn
  • Brown
  • USC?

UCs (with in state acceptance rates):

  • UCLA (16%)
  • UCB (19%)
  • UCSD (30%)
  • UC Davis (33%)
  • UCSC (safety safety)

Should I add UCI, UCSB (on par with Davis), and others as well?
Also, I qualify for the top 9% California thing, but I’ve heard rumors that it doesn’t work anymore (no extra room at UC campuses). T/F?

I really like UChicago, but I struggle with essays, so I’m not sure if that’s a realistic option either, since they put an enormous emphasis on their essays.

I am considering LACs, but I’m pretty set on the idea that if I don’t get into Dartmouth (which I LOVE), I’d rather save my parents the money and go to a state school.

I’ve kind of resigned myself to the fact that I have no chance at HYPS, MIT, and Columbia, even with the slight boost if I apply early, so I’m not going to even try applying to any of those. (Any thoughts on this? Is it worth trying?)

5

All CSUs and UCs (except UCB, UCLA, and maybe UCSD) would prob be safeties for you. UCs rarely give scholarships but the ~$30,000 for in state applicants is very reasonable.

You may qualify for significant merit scholarships that would let you go to a good private school for a UC price or lower at:
Saint Mary’s College
LMU
Pepperdine University
Chapman University

Other good state schools with a cost below $30,000 for in-state students:
SDSU
Cal Poly SLO

6

IF you really struggle with writing, and that includes writing essays, then I’d forget about Chicago, as students are required to do an incredible amount of of reading and expository writing there.
I’d add USC to your list, BUT, you’ll need to submit your application by their Dec 1 deadline in order to be considered for merit scholarships.
Did you take the PSAT and score above 225? If so, you would receive a 1/2 tuition scholarship at USC, IF you are accepted there.
But you do need to show them the “love” in order to have a chance at getting accepted!

7

With a 4.0 unweighted (probably 4.2-4.4 UC/CSU weighted if you took bunches of honors and AP courses) and 2400 SAT score, I would expect every CSU to be a safety, since your CSU eligibility index will be the maximum possible or within a few points of it. The popular majors at CPSLO may theoretically be exceptions, since CPSLO does consider some subjective criteria as well, but rejection there seems extremely unlikely.

However, CSUs do tend to have a relatively strong pre-professional emphasis. Your interest in liberal arts majors may fit the UCs better.

It looks like you may be interested in economics with a more mathematical flavor. UCSC, UCB, UCSD, and UCI are the ones with the most math-flavored economics courses (there may be a more-math and less-math option for some courses). More math is better for pre-PhD preparation. Actually, these UCs have a greater math emphasis than Dartmouth. Among your reach privates, Chicago has a strong math emphasis in economics.

If you have ELC (your UC weighted GPA exceeds the top 9% threshold of previous years’ UC-weighted GPAs from your high school), then UCM will, if space is available, offer you admission if you get shut out of the UCs that you apply to. However, http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/freshman-admissions-summary indicates that frosh applicants with 4.20 or higher UC-weighted GPAs had over a 90% admission rate to all UCs other than UCB (43%), UCLA (56%), and UCSD (88%).

Here are the out-of-state merit scholarship safeties:
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/ (if you have National Merit)

Most Dartmouth students eventually join fraternities and sororities, and it has a very “wet” reputation. You may want to consider whether that social environment is right for you before applying ED there.

8

Dartmouth - doesn’t give merit

  • UChicago - merit very very difficult to get I wouldn’t expect any
  • Northwestern - not sure, difficult if possible
  • UPenn doesn’t give merit
  • Brown - doesn’t give merit
  • USC? - gives merit, it’s competitive yet a a possibility

so I am confused at the list.

Now is not the time to be stingy with a few application fees in a well off family. Don’t apply just to places with free apps, that is no way to pick schools. You will be very busy, apply to schools you are interested in.

9

I would add UCSB and UCI. Also for private add Santa Clara University.
My kid didn’t want to do an extra application so CSU is out. Best to find a safety within UC.

10

Within the UC system, I would suggest including at least UCI and UCSC in addition to any others of interest. Although not 100% certain due to essay reading, both have extremely high probability of admission for the OP and have a math emphasis in their economics courses.

11

Is your ‘middle class well-off’ parent income over 80k? If not, the UCs would be very affordable because of the blue and gold program (covers in state tuition). If its higher, then besides any outside scholarships you could get, your only chance for money from the UCs is Regents and I believe the best is at UCSB (6k per year?). Some of the others appear higher, but I think they cover tuition only if there is need as defined by your efc.

If money is truly an issue for your family, I would suggest 2 yrs at community college, then transfer to a CSU. If its not a total issue, then go to a UC. With your stats, you would probably be offered $25k off tuition at USD. That makes it close to a UC. I can’t speak to the other privates in CA.

As mentioned above, if you are Natl Merit (high PSAT), then some other low cost doors open for you, but they are mostly out of state (such as free tuiton at ariz and arizona state, free ride at UNLV just to name a few).

For the UCs, assuming you have some good APs (course rigor), I would apply at UCSB, UCD, and whatever top ones you are interested in. If you are truly worried about having a safety, then add on SDSU or SJSU.

12

It is largely a numbers-based game. At many colleges it is all numbers, while at others numbers are a threshold of entry and other “soft” factors are the final determinant.

13

Give yourself a chance. You’re smart; your posts are well-written. You don’t have to be Ernest Hemingway.

Chicago seems to be a good fit (and has non-binding EA), but of the “privates” listed in #3, USC offers the best shot at significant amounts of merit aid. To estimate need-based aid, run the online net price calculators.

14

How’d you do on the PSAT? If you become a NMF, schools like Fordham would give you free tuition. USC would give you half tuition.

I think you should add Vandy or Rice to your list.

15

For safeties with high possibility of merit aid (if they believe you would consider accepting their offer), I would suggest Case Western and Tulane. These schools have no application fee and offer merit aid based on your application with no financial information from your parents. Tulane has scholarships as high as $32,000 without an additional application, but they also award a full scholarship to a few applicants who apply for it. You don’t need to visit the schools to show intetest, but should apply early, go to an info session or visit at a college fair if held locally, open a student account on their portal and check it regularly, and participate in some on line sessions held by admissions.

Public schools that award merit to out of state applicants include NC State (Park Scholars get 100% of all costs of attendance for four years - very competitive but about 30 of these scholarships are awarded each year to out of state students). University of Maryland has the Banneker Key scholarship, which is awarded on a competitive basis, and University of Alabama has free tuition for out of state students with your stats, no additional application necessary. Ohio State has the Morrill Scholarship open to out of state students.

This list is not exhaustive - just includes the ones my son’s considered. Apply early if these schools hold any interest for you.

16

Baylor university also offers good merit aid for NMF. Check the website, it’s been a while when I last look.
Also UCR gives about $10k for Regents I believe. So check the web for this. Higher than UCSB. I believe UCD Regents merit aid is higher than UCSB. Maybe $7500. So if you want to stay in state apply to these UCs, your high SAT scores might help with getting merit aid. You have good chances with UCSD Regents too. Don’t short change yourself. Your writing is good. So apply to Chicago, you never know.

17

Just to confirm @DrGoogle, UCD Regent’s is about 7500 and more than UCSB Regents. Both come with similar auxiliary privileges, such as extra library borrowing abilities, earlier class registration, etc. Definitely worth a look if you get them.

18

The UC application is one application for all the schools, just check them off. Why would you need to apply to these individually?
Apply to the privates, in state, you’ll get monies: USD, Chapman, Santa Clara, Point Loma, St. Mary’s, Loyola Marymount.

19

True safeties (guaranteed admission for your stats) that also offer guaranteed merit-based aid can be found here:
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/

For more reasonably safe options that are likely to offer merit aid, start here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1678964-links-to-popular-threads-on-scholarships-and-lower-cost-colleges.html#latest

20

Thank you so much for so many of the thoughtful and informative responses! @ucbalumnas, I found your posts very helpful regarding the UCs. I really loved Dartmouth’s atmosphere, outdoorsiness, and undergrad focus when I visited. Everybody was friendly and super in love with the school. I am definitely concerned about substance use (and abuse) though, although I am open to considering Greek systems in colleges. I could see myself joining a sorority of motivated, smart, supportive women.

I think for now, in regards to UCs/CSUs for safety purposes, I’ll stick to just UCs, no CSUs.
Cal, LA, SD, Davis, UCSC – I think it covers a solid range.
UCSC’s admissions profile said something like they accept 95+% of applicants with GPAs of 4.0+, so I feel that I have nearly guaranteed acceptance. I feel decent about my chances at the others I’m applying to, especially UCD and UCSD, so I think I’ll be alright, especially since I qualify for ELC as well, which adds Merced as a safety. Do you guys really think I also should add UCSB/UCI/UCR? I didn’t like those when I visited, for various reasons, so I don’t think I’d go there even if I was accepted.

Capped UC GPA: 4.29/Uncapped: 4.4+

Considering my interest in economics, a hugely popular major, but also my potential pursuit of med school in the future (and thus need to take hard science courses in undergrad), I’m concerned about the UCs’ reputations for having giant lectures and harsh curves. Should that be a serious concern for me in regards to quality of the learning there as well as post-graduation prospects?

PSAT: (junior) 230+ (I’m trying to preserve some level of anonymity)
I don’t quite get how NMF college scholarships work. Don’t I have to put down only 1 school as my “top choice”? And doesn’t that mean I am only eligible for a NM scholarship from that school then?

@Brownparent – Thank you. I suppose you’re right. Considering that (at the very minimum) college is going to be around $30k a year, and more if I end up going to an expensive private, it’s pretty silly to be concerned about application fees. It was just a little hard to swallow, seeing the app fees + score reports for each school can make somebody easily spend over $1k just applying to schools.

In regards to the top list of my reaches of privates, I don’t expect to get merit aid/signif FA at those. My parents have always been extremely supportive of my educational pursuits, and have told me they would be happy to pay for me to attend a high caliber school if I was good enough to be accepted to one. However, I personally am struggling in weighing that desire to attend a top private expensive school against the financial strain it will undoubtedly cast upon my parents, so I’m trying to limit myself to applying to a few expensive reaches that I really truly feel would be worth it for me. I do have little siblings to think of as well.

I found all of your suggestions of merid aid-heavy schools very helpful! (And slightly overwhelming XD haha). I’ll definitely have to do more research to cull my favorites from the hefty list I’ve compiled. Thanks so much!

I’m also a little confused about a couple logistical college-app things:
a) We have to submit official score reports (the $11 CB ones) for SAT and SAT Subject tests for college apps, but not official report for AP scores. --> So we just self report AP scores on the college app, and submit actual report at end of senior year?

b) It’s best to waive rights to FERPA? So no seeing Letters of Rec? Period?

c) Teachers can use the same Letters of Rec for each school you apply to, right? I’d hate to make my favorite teachers write 10+ individualized letters. Will I be penalized by colleges if the rec letters aren’t individualized to the particular institution?

d) Does anybody understand what the purpose of Naviance Family Connection is? Our high school was all, “Here, use this! Fill it in! It’s essential!” and I don’t understand what it’s supposed to do for us.

Thank you so much.