<p>I think the strategy here is a little iffy. To have good chances at a large merit scholarship, you’d probably need to dive much deeper down, past Chicago and Hopkins, to the point where “prestige” starts melting away. If she pulls down $5K or $10K from anyplace “less” than HYPS, is that enough to make it an acceptable alternative to UGa? I’m afraid the kinds of students who get big merit scholarships from not-quite-Harvard schools tend to be truly remarkable kids. Math prodigies, chess masters, major science prize winners, etc.</p>
<p>Good luck to your friend though.</p>