<p>DH and I plan to move within the next two years to another state because of a need for a warmer climate for him. We also don't know where that new location will be yet. As a result, I don't really think that we can look at any state schools as a financial safety for DD. So, here's the list she's currently working with. Can we consider any of them safeties and can we consider that at least some of them will give her a decent amount of merit aid (we don't qualify for need based aid due to too many assets).</p>
<p>Her stats: ACT without writing 36, SAT 2220, GPA 4.0 u/w, 6 AP classes through JR year all with 5's and 6 more AP classes currently, lots of zoo volunteering and a few other EC's. She will be NMSF (222 on PSAT in OH).</p>
<p>She plans to study biology through PhD level.</p>
<p>The list of the schools she likes and will definitely apply to:
Harvey Mudd
Carnegie Mellon
University of Richmond
Davidson
Wake Forest</p>
<p>Thoughts? Other similar type schools which we should consider and which would be more safety like? As you can see she wants to go somewhere small and for the most part somewhere warm (even Pittsburgh will be a bit iffy but she says she's OK with it).</p>
<p>Your D has great grades and scores. I dn't know the merit programs at the schools you list, but I would guess that the only one she might be a financial sure-thing would be Richmond. At those other schools, i'm guessing that merit money would be extremely competitive. Not that she wouldn't get it; I just wouldn't put it in terms of "safety" for purposes of money.</p>
<p>I'll throw out Franklin and Marshall to consider. It's a great LaC for science, and has extensive merit money.</p>
<p>According to its site, about a quarter of applicants are offered merit, and the have an automatic 10,000 scholarship for National Merit Finalists, on top of any other merit money they give. Franklin</a> & Marshall - Scholarships</p>
<p>Another that comes to mind is Muhlenberg. Also good for science, also gives a lot of money.</p>
<p>Again, she may well get into and get scholarships from the schools on your list; I just don't see them as being on the whole financial safeties.</p>
<p>sharon, is your d a senior now (or next week?) If so, your current state school is a financial safety for her. In Ohio, she would still be considered a resident even if you move after her high school graduation.</p>
<p>
[quote]
*If my parents move out of Ohio, how is my residency affected? *
The state residency guidelines have two "grandfather clauses" to address this. If your parents are Ohio residents and move out of the state while you are an enrolled resident student at OSU, you will continue to be classified as a resident through the completion of one degree program, provided that you maintain continuous full time enrollment (3 out of 4 quarters each year). If you apply for a second degree program (i.e. graduate or professional school), your residency will be reviewed and you will have to meet the residency criteria on your own. </p>
<p>Similarly, if you are a dependent student applying for admission to OSU and your Ohio resident parents move out of the state, you will be considered a resident as long as you enroll within 12 months of the date your parents physically moved out of Ohio. A student would then have to maintain continuous full time enrollment (3 out of 4 quarters each year). Students will be required to submit proof of when their parents sold their home in Ohio (or ended an apartment lease) and physically left Ohio in addition to when their employment ended in Ohio. When a parent physically leaves Ohio and also ends their employment are both factors in determining when a parent has left Ohio and 12 month period begins for which a student must enroll.
<p>Chedva, thanks much it never even crossed my mind that they would be that lenient. And my D is a Sr (we started school last week). So now I have to get her over the weather issue and the fact that the schools are so huge and too sports oriented. </p>
<p>This however is very helpful relative to my son who is applying to med school in-state since he has been filing his taxes on his own and we haven't been claiming him as a dependant anyway.</p>
<p>So lets rephrase the question for my D since I don't know that I'll be able to talk her into either Miami of OH or OSU. Is there enough variety in the schools that I listed that the odds are in her favor that she will get into at least one of them? (The acceptance rates all seem to be fairly similar 30-40%). And if she does get into them are the odds there that they will offer some merit aid (they all have programs for it but I can't figure it she would be the recipient)?</p>
<p>Sharon, 36s on the ACT are RARE - <300 per year, I think.
She should definitely look at Rhodes and maybe Trinity Univ in Tx.
Hendrix in Arkansas, Elon in NC, Furman (SC) and Sewanee are others that she should look at.
I would gauge her ADMISSION chances at Richmond, Wake Forest and Davidson to be close to 100%, Davidson is the only one that is selective enough to be problematic. The question will be merit money - how much do you need and how much will she get. Search on this forum for some of Curmudgeon's threads on applications to maximize merit money. Rhodes College in Memphis is traditionally one of the most generous with merit money of the smallest selective Southern schools, she definitely needs to look at it, UR is typically less generous, and Rhodes is probably better for biology - it has a research association with St. Jude.</p>
<p>Don't discount larger state universities in the South - she would go for free or near free at most of them, and probably get good merit money at the others.
Alabama has one of the best merit programs, Ole Miss has one of the best Honors Colleges in the country.</p>
<p>Doesn't she need to take the ACT with writing??? Most colleges will take her highest test scores, so if she slips a little on the total with a retake it won't matter.</p>
<p>Take a look at Tulane- she would almost definitely get merit money, probably to the tune of 24K per year. Franklin and Marshall would most likely give money, although it is in a cold climate. Case Western would also probably give merit money, but again is cold. Maybe Rice- some merit, but also lower private tuition than one might think. </p>
<p>If she comes in as a NMF, take a look at University of Oklahoma for a free ride, University of Texas at Dallas- also free ride, and University of Arizona for, if not free ride, close to free ride. </p>
<p>Also look at Baylor in Waco, TX- their website will tell you the amount of merit you will get based on SAT and class rank- it should be substantial. </p>
<p>These are all schools I have dealt with over the past two years- neither student was interested in biology, so I can't swear to the school's expertises in this area , although Case has a world class reputation for the sciences.</p>
<p>don't forget about Rice! Houston Tx is nice and warm and Rice is a fabulous U! You should also pm curmudgeon, as you daughter shares many of the same interests [ biology] and scores [ACT 36] as his d , who is currently a Jr at Rhodes on full scholarship.</p>
<p>University of Miami will likely offer your daughter 3/4 to full tuition in merit scholarship. My sons stats were about the same. Also, got credit for most of his AP's so he went in with 45 credits.</p>
<p>Nice weather too!!! (And yes it is a party school, like so many others, but NOT all the kids party. Lots of things to do. Beautiful campus.)</p>
<p>Be sure SHE comes up with her list, stats like that don't guarantee admission anywhere, but they make any school an academic match. Let her come up with a list, then figure out probable aid. Also have her apply for non school specific scholarships. Do not limit her to the best financial matches, academics need to come first if she goes OOS.</p>
<p>wis75, the list at the top was her list. We've visited all those schools and she liked them all (some slightly more than others). Pipmom, we're very familiar with Case because DS goes there (Senior) but its much too cold in Cleveland for DD and she didn't feel the personal connection which she received from the schools on her list. I forgot to add Vanderbilt to the list as well.</p>
<p>Financially we started saving for children's college when they were both pretty small so there is enough money (just) to fund 4 years at a private school. DD knows that this is her money and if she gets scholarships she will have money left to do other things (graduate school if needed, car etc.).</p>
<p>She has no interest in a large school nor in a party environment. She definitely wants the opportunity to do research as an undergraduate. From what I'm hearing here it sounds like she will get into one of these schools so the list can be considered to have a safety and the only question then is whether any would be a financial safety. DD has agreed to take a look at Miami of OH as well and see what that school is like. It may turn out to be an acceptable choice.</p>
<p>I agree with most of the schools listed. It's essential in big merit aid quests (1/2 tuition or better) to cast a very wide net. Austin College, Southwestern, Trinity U, Rhodes, Centre, Millsaps, Sewanee, Emory (and Emory at Oxford), Oglethorpe, Birmingham-Southern, UMiami, Hendrix, Tulsa, Wofford, Furman, Presbyterian, Vanderbilt, Richmond, Wake Forest, Washington and Lee. If she decides above the Mason Dixon line is O.K. afterall- Depauw, Ohio Wesleyan, College of Wooster, Knox, Illinois Wesleyan, Cornell College, Lake Forest, Hanover, Washington and Jefferson, Franklin and Marshall, well- I think you get the idea. There's several schools where your kid will be competitive but big merit money is no lock anywhere, even for HYP admit stats. </p>
<p>You still need financial safeties. As an example my D had Texas Tech Honors (hates Texas and A+M) with their auto scholarships, Ole Miss Barksdale Honors, and Hanover (they had an automatic valedictorian scholarship at the time). Having Tech and Ole Miss let us concentrate on the little schools she likes best. Having Hanover let us ramp up the LAC (and smallish research u's) choices. Get those financial safeties in place first and you can reach for the stars. It's easy to fall in love with expensive top schools. What's hard is finding a school you can absolutely afford that your high-flying kid wants to attend.</p>
<p>My d applied to University of Richmond. Her GPA was slightly lower than your d's but her test scores were higher. Out of all the schools to which she was accepted, Richmond was the only school that gave her no merit money at all. The other schools were all on a par with Richmond; it wasn't a "reach" for her and her stats put her firmly in the "merit money" category. It was my understanding that Richmond gives a lot of money (full tuition) to a few students, and nothing to most.</p>
<p>If she wants a Ph.D. in biology, she needs good grades and good recommendations from her undergraduate professors. She also needs to be clear about her research direction at the graduate level so that she can find not just a good graduate program, but one that will FULLY FUND her studies. She should not have to pay a cent for a graduate program in the sciences! They should cover her tuition, and come up with a teaching and/or research assistantship to cover her living expenses.</p>
<p>OP -- your daughter has a great record and should be a strong candidate for merit aid. Here are some other choices for you to consider --</p>
<p>Emory
Rice
Trinity University in San Antonio</p>
<p>My daughter (who is a junior) is also interested in studying biology thru grad school. CMU and Harvey Mudd are two schools on her list, and I would appreciate hearing about how you selected them and any other related thoughts.</p>
<p>See also my thread on "Seeking Perspectives on Rice/Emory/CMU/Harvey Mudd" in this forum.</p>