<p>What about The George Washington University? The OP would probably qualify for half tuition, but I don't know anything about their biology program. Same goes for Boston University.</p>
<p>It is very hard to get any merit aid from BU and GWU. I've known outstanding students who got nothing.</p>
<p>Wow, I'm surprised to hear that Northstarmom. My kids both got substantial aid from those schools, as did many of their friends. In fact, BU posts their requirements for merit scholarship right on their web site:</p>
<p>And GW:</p>
<p>Also, as mentioned previously, look at the University of Rochester, which does have an excellent biology program.</p>
<p>Note that student does need an on-campus interview to qualify.</p>
<p>Let's not forget this one at BU as it is the only one (generally available) paying over 1/2 tuition.</p>
<p>It is much easier to qualify for The University Scholarship (which my child and many of my kids' friends received.) </p>
<p>The Trustee Scholarship is much more difficult to obtain; I doubt the OP's child would qualify. </p>
<p>University Scholarship
University Scholarships are awarded by the Board of Admissions to students with exceptional academic records. This four-year, half-tuition, renewable scholarship reflects Boston University's commitment to excellence in academic achievement. </p>
<p>Recipients' average high school GPA: 3.90
Average rank in class: top 4 percent
Average SAT score: Critical Reading and Math = 1450, Writing = 720
Average ACT score: 32</p>
<p>OP: Boston University is also noted for its fine music program.</p>
<p>Wow! I'm overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of your responses. I've responded to a number of you individually, and look forward to receiving any more helpful pm's.</p>
<p>twinmom, that's my point. All of the full-tuition scholarships are very competitive and that flows all the way down the top 100, LAC's and Research Uni's. A full-tuition scholarship at number 98 doesn't come easy. A full tuition (or 1/2 COA) scholarship at a top 50 school is very, very difficult.</p>
<p>The story changes a little at 1/2 tuition, or approximately 1/3 of COA.</p>
<p>
[quote]
All of the full-tuition scholarships are very competitive and that flows all the way down the top 100, LAC's and Research Uni's. A full-tuition scholarship at number 98 doesn't come easy. A full tuition (or 1/2 COA) scholarship at a top 50 school is very, very difficult.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Cur, "you don't like merit aid. Do you? Yes or no? Just be honest." "Some people don't like merit aid and will try to sabotage your thread." "Even in that post your bias against merit aid schools is glaring."</p>
<p>So tell me, Cur, why so negative regarding Merit Aid? Are you one of those closet advocates of need based aid?</p>
<p>Geesh.</p>
<p>newmassdad,</p>
<p>I certainly don't want to get in the middle of this - but from everything I have seen, Cur seems to be a great advocate for merit aid. At the same time, I believe he has a very realistic view of what is out there. That comes from a lot of research, searching and listening to advice from people who have been there. I remember being in contact with him about this time last year, and was very impressed with the research he did for merit aid. I think the results of that research and the offers that his daughter had to choose from more than speak for themselves. If you want to succeed, listen to people who have succeeded - its way to easy to go negative. But since I don't want to change the direction of this thread, I think it probably best to drop this theme. If desired a new thread can always be initiated.</p>
<p>In the meantime I think the OP has received some very good advice and would be wise to PM people that have offered input. Personal experience, which is not often easy to share in public posts, is usually the most valuable. I believe that if people search hard enough, they will have a good chance of finding. May not always be exactly what you want, but then sometimes you can also end up with some very pleasant surprises</p>
<p>ScifiMom, you might also consider Whitman in Washington. It is in the middle of nowhere, but students report to be VERY happy. The Bio department is reputed to be quite good and merit aid is available although I've not heard of full tuition. Most seems to be 1/2 tuition or so. I believe her stats would put her in the running there.</p>
<p>Anyway-
I hope my earlier points about schools who dont give much strict merit aid isn't lost- because schools have been known to find additional areas of expenses that would qualify families for need based aid
( however of course they are equally as skilled at finding pockets of assets to be used for tuition)
I found this book to be enomously helpful in finding which schools had good aid- ( not just merit but need), enough till graduation- it is several years outdated by now unfortunately.
discounts</a> and deals
The author was also very helpful and approachable ( bet you wondered how we found Reed without CC ;) )</p>
<p>ST2,</p>
<p>It is one thing to be an advocate of something and do research to become knowledgeable.</p>
<p>It is another thing to attack every poster who makes a statement that disagrees with one's mission, to jump to conclusions about intentions and so forth.</p>
<p>It is unforgivable to then state the same things that led to previous attacks as one's own opinions.</p>
<p>It is too bad when an otherwise knowledeable person carries so much mental baggage that they need to attack any poster who presents alternative viewpoints. </p>
<p>We all lose because of it.</p>
<p>"I guess by significant merit $, I mean enough aid to make a private cost about the same as sending her to a UC."</p>
<p>Help me out with this... how much does a UC cost?</p>
<p>Undergraduate 2006-07 list prices from <a href="http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Registration/feesched.html%5B/url%5D">http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Registration/feesched.html</a>, per semester:</p>
<p>Residents: $3,899.75<br>
Non-residents: $13,241.75</p>
<p>vossron, that's PER SEMESTER. Double it. Ooops, sorry, you said that.</p>
<p>The most appropriate comparison is between Cost of Attendance.</p>
<p>For AY 2006-2007:
Berkeley: $24,272.
Harvard: $46,450.</p>
<p>marite, is that assuming on-campus R&B? I think the UCs have a lower percentage living on-campus than most LACs. So local real estate costs would have an impact. As would choice of meal plan or dumpster-diving :)</p>