<p>We're just getting started on the college search with #3. #1 and #2 had focused interests and money was not so tight (both for us and colleges!) 5 and 10 years ago, respectively, so helping them make a list was relatively easy. But things have changed even in that short of time so I've go a couple of questions this go round.</p>
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<li><p>5 years ago #3 would have been NMF in our state with her score, this year she probably won't. ACT 34; SAT R+M 1450. These are better than D2 who just graduated from MIT, but not perfect. Both are one try. All sub-score very even. Have things gotten so competitive that I should encourage a retake of either? (4.0 UWGPA; good but ordinary ECs)</p></li>
<li><p>Our experience with #2 was that we fall into this spot financially where need-based aid and merit aid were about the same -- does anyone stack need-based and merit aid? It seems like schools that give a lot of merit aid schools aren't ones that meet anywhere near 100% of need. So, I'm not sure going merit aid hunting is a worthwhile thing, except as it might related to finding a safety (we are able to meet our EFC, and have a very straight forward financial situation so estimates have been right on target for #1 and #2). Does that make sense?</p></li>
<li><p>That leads to finding strong safeties. With a sib at MIT and a cousin heading to Harvard, #3 has prestige on the brain. And is having a terrible time figuring out what she wants/likes in a college. So far it has boiled down to smart students, 2000 to 7000 range, urban/suburban, happy, sunny, broad liberal arts (I was hoping for another techie girl for the admissions boost, but no, she can do it, but loves history more). Loved Pomona, hated Reed. We've got the usual suspects that are not safeties -- Stanford, Pomona, Rice, Occidental, Scripps, and I've been thinking possibly Santa Clara, Trinity U in San Antonio, as safeties, but the $$s at these worry me. UCSC is too large, and with the budget issues in CA I'm not sure about the $$ there either but it is certainly an admissions safety. She is not averse to going to the south, but I know nothing about it and she is not interested in a heavily Greek social scene.</p></li>
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<p>Your input, folks who have been through this a little more recently than we have?</p>
<p>Would she consider women’s colleges? There is still a level of prestige and amazing history, still good merit aid for high stats, I think Scripps would be a safety with those stats but Wellesley and Smith more match/reach. </p>
<p>Also would she use the regional advantaqe to go South? Emory, Vanderbilt, Rice, Davidson and Duke come to mind for high quality options, and Tulane, Centre or Rhodes for safeties with merit aid.</p>
<p>Does she want to stick with the west coast? There are lots of safeties further afield depending on what her interests are. Don’t forget that getting into a school EA or rolling admissions can also be a sort of safety.</p>
<p>Would second the vote for women’s colleges, as well as the not quite so well known LAC’s - check out the [Colleges</a> That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/][b]Colleges”>http://www.ctcl.org/) to see if anything catches her fancy.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the quick replies. She is willing to leave the west coast, but grudgingly. I got her to look at Davidson when I mentioned the laundry thing! CA is instate, but given the budget situation and size of schools none of us are excited about them, the HS just makes them all apply to at least one CA state school. She wasn’t interested in women’s colleges, but the information session at Scripps and a presentation at Wellesley have made those possibly of interest. </p>
<p>Did I mention the shock I felt when I realized how high the Stafford loan limits have gone? I always felt that it was a reasonable amount to borrow – but that was when it was $15000 not $25000! It’s not like salaries have gone up along with those loan amounts! Finding safeties that we know we can afford seems much harder this time around.</p>
<p>Although this does not match size, it matches everything else…and this program is very tight knit, (they are truly family for each other) crazy bright kids, and has advisors who know what they are doing…</p>
<p>With her stats, Santa Clara would be generous…</p>
<p>My cousin’s son with similar stats was offered around $30k per year.</p>
<p>What is your EFC?</p>
<p>As for stacking merit and need based aid… Not sure what you’re asking. If you’re asking if schools will first give need based aid up to EFC, and then add merit which will reduce EFC, then no, I don’t think any school does that.</p>
<p>Typically, it works like this at schools that award merit. merit is first awarded, then the remaining “need” might be met with add’l aid. However, since many schools that give merit don’t meet need, then the student might ONLY get the merit scholarship, some student loans, and then gapped for any remaining need.</p>
<p>What is your EFC? If it’s high, then you probably could reduce it as some safeties that will give enough merit that it will cover all need and cut into EFC.</p>
<p>Thanks mom2collegekids, that explains what we experienced with merit money for #2 exactly. Our EFC is around $18000 so merit money certainly helps but getting into one of the 100% need met schools seems to help more!</p>