<p>I did not see that: "my major interests are psychology and a good pre med program as well "
-Tell you dad, who is apprently comletely not informed at all and trying to steer you into incorrect decision, tell him that if Medical School is in plan, the UG name is completely irrelevant. In fact, if he wants selectivity, then combined bs/md programs are the same level or exceeding selectivity of Ivy’s. In fact, my D. was in such a program and she gave up $27k / year scholarship at the private college to be in such a program at public in-state UG (on full tuition Merit though). Her Honors college had 100% acceptance to Medical Schools (for those who apply Regular Route). My D. choose to apply out of her program and she got accepted to additional 3 Medical Schools, including top 20s and ALL of her pre-med friends had great choices of Medical Schools. D. was in position to turn down Northwestern.<br>
For references, D. has graduated #1 from her private HS and ended up graduating as a top pre-med from her state public college. Her UG years will always be in her memory as very happy times. She has no regrets whatsoever. Being in the Medical School class with very many graduates of Ivy’s and other top Elite colleges in the nation, she does not feel inferior in preparation at all, and was told many times by her superiors that she is doing very well. We will know the ultimate result next March as she is applying to residencies in September. One absolutely major goal if Med. School in fact is a plan is to go to UG as cheaply as possible and you are way ahead of your dad in understanding this. </p>
<p>@MiamiDAP congrats on your daughter’a achievement…do you know any schools she applied to public or private with good merit aid you could suggest for me?</p>
<p>MiamiDAP’s D, as the username suggests, went to Miami (Ohio) U. For your stats they guarantee half tuition but at their discretion can award up to full tuition. See those here: <a href=“http://miamioh.edu/admission/merit-grid/index.html”>Scholarships | Costs and Financial Aid | Miami University;
<p>Yes, she went to Miami (and we are in-state), however, Case Western (very good pre-med program, private) gave her $27k / year. Since Case rejected her from their bs/md, she choose Miami, and looking back, she believes that it was the best school for her. The key for pre-med is the personal fit (school / student) and cheap. Warning about Case - Cleveland is not for everybody, it is very snowy Ohio. D’s stats were similar to yours, a bit higher ACT = 33. Combined bs/md is cancelled at Miami but very much alive at Case. It is one of the most selectvie in the nation though, accepts about 15. However, I strongly believe that you would have no trouble getting into Case (regular route pre-med) on some substantial Merit award. The other public in-state schools gave her very little Merit and in addition she did not like them anywhere near as Miami. </p>
<p>@miamidap - when your D applied to Case for BS/MD and didn’t get in, was she automatically moved to the “regular” applicant pool and considered as if she had only applied to that?</p>
<p>So far my safeties:
FIU
Louisiana Tech
Matches:
What I need suggestion and are the hardest to find
Reaches:
Wake Forest University
Franklin and Marshall College</p>
<p>My safeties provide me full tuition and everything. My reaches I have contacted their financial aid offices to inquire about their attitudes toward merit based scholarships as well as how my specific situation plays into the amount of aid I will receive. I would love suggestions of small to medium sized colleges that offer generous merit as well as the most financial aid. </p>
<p>Have you eliminated the others that were mentioned here? Are Rhodes and Richmond out? </p>
<p>Richmond I have emailed their office but financially is still a maybe because they have not responded… Rhodes is also a possibility but not definite… do you think schools like Denison are also good? Do you know schools similar to those with good merit aid and financial aid @saintfan ?</p>
<p>Miami. How about some college suggestions for the OP?</p>
<p>You have your safeties and after that nothing is definite. That’s how the “match” thing works if you have need. Find schools that you like where solid merit and/or need is a strong possibility and really check them out and after that you just have to wait to see what comes back. We were in a similar situation with changing financials when our D was applying and it makes it tougher to run the net price calculators. You have to do more estimating and run several ways. It’s just harder if you don’t have a known, consistent income to work with. Our D had a favorite that we thought would turn out well but I made her apply to another similar school that I knew packaged aid differently to have numbers to compare and to hedge bets. </p>
<p>You don’t need to disclose financial particulars here but know that FAFSA only schools and Profile schools will look at your numbers differently and consider different factors. Again, no need to disclose everything to us but siblings, home equity, other assets, business income, divorced parent’s income etc. can all be considered. Some people go into it knowing that they will do better as FAFSA only schools. Divorce is one that can trip up Profile filers as it usually considers the income from the non-custodial parent as well. Anyway . . . read up a bit on the FA forum about Profile vs FAFSA need calculations to get a general understanding then you might need to go back to your dad to run a calculator or two just as a rough trial to see where you stand. </p>
<p>He may be cagey about cost, assets and income and you indicated earlier that you didn’t want to apply to places that wouldn’t work and might upset him or wound his pride when the numbers came back. Some people will say that a parent should lay their finances bare for the student. I understand that it doesn’t always work like that - especially if you are in some financial distress or at least flux. Try to set an appointment for to go over it with him and explain why it is important to run a few trial net price calculators to get some ball park ideas.</p>
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<p>Denison is a great school and it is generous with aid (merit and need). They have an NPC but it underestimated what a family member got there, perhaps because it doesn’t include merit which is not automatic there.</p>
<p>DS1 has SMU scholarship experience. He graduated top 10% (though he was just outside when he applied and this was the only year our school made ranking optional. They don’t rank at all now.) and with a 32 ACT 2210 SAT and received 80+K in scholarships. He went for two campus visits, met his admissions counselor etc.
They have lots of money to give top students. (And athletes - though that didn’t apply to DS1) FWIW, SMU is Methodist in name only. It is a secular school in the heart of Dallas.
It’s now on DS3’s list for accounting due to their 100% job placement rate. Business is what they are known for but, they are a well rounded campus.</p>
<p>Pokey…$80,000…is that $20,000 a year? That won’t help,this poster. Her parents can only contribute $1000 a year. SMU is $50,000 or so…right? Where would she get the additional. $30,000 a year?</p>
<p>@thumper1 what do you know about Ithaca college?</p>
<p>I missed some information someplace . . .
First is OP male or female?
Family can afford only 1k per year but will have a higher EFC for sure this year because of a fluky 79k already earned this year since January 1st?
If the second is true then would even a “full need” school be out of reach and OP needs a “full ride” based on merit alone? </p>
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<p>IDK what “this year” means but it sounds like he doesn’t make $79K every single year and since OP got reduced lunch this past school year, probably didn’t make that last year.</p>
<p>I ran the Amherst NCP with no assets and a $79K income to get the result reported above. I assume, could be wrong, that the standard federal loans would be available to help with the net cost.</p>
<p>How about Toledo in Ohio?
<a href=“Presidential Scholarship”>A to Z List;
Very competitive for full ride though.</p>
<p>I don’t see significant levels of merit aid on Ithaca’s website . Maybe others have experience with Ithaca? Maybe they supply significant grants? <a href=“Financial Aid Basics | Ithaca College”>Financial Aid Basics | Ithaca College;
<p>Small private colleges like Rhodes will generally require participation in on-campus “scholarship weekends” for interviews, etc. in order to compete for their large merit scholarships. You need to consider whether you will be able to travel to 2-3 of these weekends to try to compete for such awards.</p>
<p>What about Denison? Is it the same?</p>