Hi guys so I am having a really difficult time finding safety schools. Since I have a lot of financial need (I make under 65,000 a year) Ivy league schools would only cost around $10,000 a year. That being said, It really bothers me that my safety schools will probably end up costing more than my dream schools. Please recommend schools that you think would give me significant aid-Even a full ride- that at least somewhat fit what I like.
GPA: 99W, 97UW (4.0)
ACT:32
8 APs
Involved in Music, Clubs,Community service, etc.
Looking for a school with:
-Small classroom size but decent size (2,500-13,000 undergrads)
-A good program for people who are undecided (Probably would like to explore Psychology, International Relations, and if possible, animal science).
-A location that is not in the middle of nowhere
Good Research, study abroad, and/or internship possibilities
Research the schools that meet full financial need - there are schools besides the Ivy League. I would use the NPC to see which ones would be affordable.
I would focus on merit- it appears as though you are looking for a full tuition scholarship so that you would " only" have to pay room and board. These awards are highly competitive but Alabama is an example of a school where you would get it. Keep it on your list. New College of Florida is another good one, as mentioned above. I would search for honors programs within large schools where you would get merit for your stats. I think your scores are too low for big merit at schools such as GW, Richmond, etc. Try Ithaca College.
There are schools out there that would be happy to have you, but you have to be willing to go down the " food chain" to get significant merit. This does not mean that " smarties" won’t be at these schools- they most certainly will.
SUNY Geneseo will cost you approximately $15,000 if you take the Stafford loan. You can bring the cost down even more if you contribute earnings from a summer job. I just noticed you are from NY.
^ Good advice. I have heard that Notre Dame, Northwestern and Rice have become more generous with need=based aid. Also, U Miami has a number of full-tuition scholarships. You should retake your ACT to try and push it up a couple of points if possible.
University of Miami gives good merit based aid. It is medium sized and in a large city. The campus is really nice. The only thing about Miami is that you have to apply to a specific school so you would have to guess at a major when you apply. As far as I know that is not binding. You can change your major if you change your mind.
@nicolevc43:
What is your parents’ budget for your college? What’s their EFC?
Run the NPC on St Olaf, Gettysburg, Beloit, Muhlenberg, Kalamazoo, Dickinson, Skidmore, Butler, Drake, Hendrix. All are matches or safeties and they meet need for many/most admitted students. Your stats would make it very likely that you’d get need-based and merit aid.
Skidmore has really limited and highly competitive merit scholarships: 5-7 for arts and 5-7 for math/science, about $15k each. That may not be enough for you.
Any college with 2,500-13,000 undergrads will, by definition, not be in the middle of nowhere. I’m not trying to be a smartaleck, but even ‘rural’ schools like Grinnell and Kenyon are located amidst thousands of smart folks: students and profs. And colleges in the Midwest and South can be more likely to give good merit for someone with your stats. Colleges in less urban areas also tend to have more cohesive student bodies. Selective LACs in general will provide good research opportunities, and all will offer study abroad.
Last year SUNY Geneseo offered quite a few Regal Merit Scholarships, each worth $10,000 per year. If you can also get in the Edgar Honors program with an additional $2000 per year, then Geneseo would be a very inexpensive safety for you. The other SUNYs also offer a number of scholarships, so it’s fair to say that you can find a very reasonably priced safety in NYS if one has the stats.
And unless you have a hook, your chances of getting into an Ivy are very slim. A 32 on the ACT, even with a 4.0 GPA, will not get you in there without one. Even a 35 or 36 without a hook probably won’t get you in these days.
SUNY Geneseo is an excellent choice. As a NYS resident you may also have a shot at Cornell (depending). I not sure what your aid would be so I suggest checking the NPC.
@Springbird I don’t know what you mean by “Hook”. I have a lot of activities that I am passionate about, isn’t it subjective to say that one person’s activities mean more than another’s?