<p>Just to put this out there, I have read the entire merit aid sticky. Maybe I'm slow, but I only found it semi-helpful given the current economic situation, conflicting opinions in the thread, etc.</p>
<p>I'm a rising senior in California with a weird financial situation. My parents are divorced. I live with my Mom and her husband. They don't make much money. My Dad makes quite a bit of money. He says he will give me $30,000-$40,000 per year for college. I'm not complaining; that is quite a bit of money. The problem is, I very much want to attend a smaller liberal arts type of school, and my father's income puts me way out of the range for need-based aid. So I need a school that doesn't cost more than $40,000 including room and board now, and won't when I'm a senior either; or that does not require the non-custodial parent's finances; or that will give me upwards of $10,000 in merit-based aid. Any Suggestions? I am applying to the UC system (first choice is the College of Creative Studies at UCSB), UO, and probably some Canadian universities, but my dream school would be a small, quirky-ish LAC.</p>
<p>My Stats:
- attend California private school
- 3.64 UW GPA, 3.89 W
- 2120 SAT (710 CR, 680 M, 730 W)
- SAT IIs: 720 US History, 710 English</p>
<p>Things I'd Like in a School (if cost was no object):
- located in a town similar to Berkeley, CA in personality, or, alternatively, located in a suburb with easy transportation into a fun city close by (ex: American University).
- located in Northern California/Pacific Northwest, or the Northeast (preferably).
- a quirky-ish student body (ex: Pitzer), not a huge Greek scene
- strong English Program
- decent vegan food in the dining halls / town
- beautiful campus</p>
<p>Thanks for reminding me, I forgot a piece of the financial situation. My Dad is very much set against me taking out loans to pay for college. I don’t know exactly how the bill works, etc but if my Dad knew I had taken out loans he wouldn’t finance my education. So, also roughly $40,000 of debt would be relatively manageable, I don’t really have the option of taking out loans unfortunately.</p>
<p>Lewis and Clark is about $45K (though it does require the CSS Profile for any FA). If you can work over the summer to make up the difference it might be workable.</p>
<p>I’m so glad you mentioned UPS. I toured there and loved it.</p>
<p>Using FAFSA, I will qualify for enough aid to put me in the range where my Dad can pay the balance.</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad, what a great suggestion. I looked into it and it turns out L&C is a non-custodial school and offers what I’m looking for. So that is going on my list.</p>
<p>Lawrence is 43k this year. Work on-campus and during the summer; ask your mom if she could contribute a few thousand, and there you go. They also give out merit scholarships.</p>
<p>You put American University on your list…and historically they are quite generous with merit aid. We do not qualify for need based, but my daughter received $20K from American based on her stats (and I don’t see your class rank, but your SAT scores are higher than hers.) George Washington University in D.C. also offered $20K. Tulane offered $24K (have you considered New Orleans?) Again, these are merit-based. Both of these put our contribution MUCH less than $40K.</p>
<p>A lot of colleges in the range of Lewis and Clark and American give a lot of small merit scholarships to most, making them more affordable to the upper middle class. You’re OK applying anywhere.</p>
<p>Reed college meets all of your criteria except that tuition is $53,000 this year. It’s too bad your Dad put the stipulation of no loans for you because I agree with hmom5, with what your Dad is giving you and what you can earn working you could afford the tuition at Reed with modest loans. Whitman college gives merit scholarships but comparisions between Walla Walla, WA and Berkeley, CA are probably not common.</p>
<p>Two things. One, stay away from a CSS profile school, and you won’t have to worry about reporting the noncustodial parent (your dad) income. The FAFSA form only cares about who you’re currently living with, at least half the time.
Two, don’t forget to look at schools to participate in the Western Undergraduate Exchange program which allows for California residents to pay 1 1/2 times the tuition rate for in-state residents at some colleges in Oregon and Washington. That brings the cost of schools like Oregon University down $15-$18000.</p>
<p>Then complete the FAFSA with mom and stepdad’s income…and you will be eligible for a Stafford Loan. That will come very close to making up the balance coupled with your summer earnings (from the job you will have!!).</p>
<p>Your parent is being VERY generous. It seems to me you should looke for schools that are within that price range. Some of the UCs are in very nice areas. You would be debt free if you attended one of those.</p>
<p>Wow givings, that’s great aid. I have been to New Orleans and thought t was a nice city but I wouldn’t want to live there for 4 years. However, I would love to live in DC. American was on my radar for possible merit aid, but I’m glad to know about GW as well. The steep tuition had seemed off-putting to me before, so it is wonderful to know they give merit aid. Also, I just looked and it turns out they are non-custodial (yay!!) Also, btw I don’t have class rank because my class has 80 people in it.</p>
<p>I’ve looked at Reed. I visited the summer after my sophomore year and fell in love with it. My Dad flat out refused to consider paying for it due to some of the negative stereotypes it has picked up. He loved Hampshire though, which was interesting. So Reed is not a possibility but Whitman could be. The school looks interesting, like my type of place, but would it be a match or a reach for me?</p>
<p>Thanks for mentioning the CSS/FAFSA thing. I already knew to steer clear of the non-custodial CSS forms required by many schools, but for someone else reading the thread it is a great point for a situation like this. I did not know about the Western Undergraduate Exchange though. Do you know where I can find more info?</p>
<p>I understand he is being quite generous and that that is a lot of money to fork over for my education. I know I’m not the only expense in his life and that I’m lucky to be getting any money. It’s just, I don’t do well in large school environments academically or socially. I do best in smaller environments. I’m applying to the College of Creative Studies at UCSB, but admission is so competitive, who knows if they will accept me. I’m also looking at UCSC and the Honors program at Davis, both of which make the large university more manageable. So, those are options. But if it is financially feasible, it would be amazing to go to a smaller school.</p>
<p>Look at The Evergreen State College In Olympia, or Fairhaven College at Western Washington U in Bellingham.</p>
<p>They have the following in common:</p>
<ul>
<li>Both are part of the Washington public system</li>
<li>Both are quirky</li>
<li>Both are in nice towns </li>
<li>Both have nice campuses</li>
<li>Both have much more of their share of Vegans</li>
</ul>
<p>Evergreen is about 1hr south of Seattle. Bellingham is about 1 1/2 hrs from both Seattle and Vancouver BC.</p>
<p>Evergreen has a 1000 acre forested campus with 3000 ft of shore on Puget Sound (used as an environmental study area). Evergreen is a liberal arts college with 4500 students.</p>
<p>Fairhaven is a 425 student liberal arts college within WWU. WWU’s campus overlooks Bellingham Bay, and has views of Mt Baker ( a snow capped volcano). </p>
<p>Oly & Bham do not feel as big as Berkeley, but both have their charms. The downtown area of Oly is quite nice, as is the Fairhaven area of Bham.</p>