<p>yes but i think it’s only for state funded colleges</p>
<p>The top 10% rule is Texas specific and only applies to in-state public schools.</p>
<p>A school you mentioned before, Rice provides great financial aid. It does meet full need without loans for someone with a EFC of 0, however it is definitely a reach. Test scores are very, very important. You should plan on taking the SAT or ACT three times, and studying by taking multiple practice tests in-between from the official guides and reviewing them thoroughly. Yes it’s tedious but doing it can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. The better your scores the more money you get.</p>
<p>Better scores also help in getting into Ivy League schools, which while not offering merit aid meet full need as has been stated hitherfore.</p>
<p>Longhorn Chick</p>
<p>Did you take the PSAT? If so, what was your score?</p>
<p>Have you taken any practice ACT or SAT tests? What scores have you gotten?</p>
<p>Depends. You need to do research. There are schools that give 100% of need, but they tend to all be schools that require another financial aid calculator other than FAFSA, usually PROFILE. Such schools tend to be difficult to gain admissions. Harvard, for instance, has excellent financial aid packages, but it’s getting accepted there that is difficult.</p>
<p>If you look at Momoftexas’s full scholarship thread, you can get see where the chances are good to get full rides or ample awards. Otherwise, it can be a crapshoot. Even schools that meet generous % of need, often have a lot of loans in there. I remember going to one school’s info session, where the big emphasis was on the great loans available there. Nearly everyone gets need at least half met, but the loan burden is heavy.</p>
<p>The problem with private colleges is that they usually cost a lot more than the state ones, so that even with a nice award, it often just brings the cost down to be comparable to State U. Lots of folks I know have discovered this. For us, despite some merit money, each time a state option was the best financial choice. Especially since some of the state school offered merit money too in addition to their low sticker prices.</p>
<p>If you need financial aid, you need to cast a wide net with some generous privates where you have a good chance for admissions, along with some financial safeties so that you have all sorts of possibilities. I would not just go in one direction in the apps. Applying only to private schools with reps of giving great aid is really putting your eggs all in one basket. Make sure you have at least one place that you know will take you and that you can afford with what you know you will be getting in terms of FAFSA funds.</p>