Safety Schools

College Search & Selection
1

How are Bentley University, University of Buffalo, and Binghamton University as my safety undergraduate business schools? Change, add, remove? And is 3 a good amount?

2

Will Bentley be affordable? Is merit guaranteed for this school? Does the NPC show an affordable cost?

3

A safety school is not just a safety for admissions, it must also be a financial safety. Even the SUNY schools are over your $20k limit if you live on campus so u really need to run the net price calculators.

I would add more lower ranked schools to your list to seek out merit aid.

4

I’m gonna run NPC now.

5

For SUNYs, I’m hoping for some merit scholarship and financial aid, so if I live on campus I’ll probably pay 15 or under. And I also added St. John’s.

6

Will you qualify for Excelsior at SUNY? I would not count on merit from Binghamton.

7

Competitive merit scholarships usually should be considered reaches, since there is little visibility in terms of how strong the applicants are who get them (unlike for admission to colleges).

8

Yes but am not interested because I’m not staying in NY after graduation

9

Not interested in what…SUNY?

10

In the Excelsior Scholarship

11

Here is my advice:

  1. Get a firm number from your parents. You indicated that they will pay $20,000 a year, but prefer less. You need a firm number. Add to this the $5500 student loan, and $2500 summer earnings. That number is your budget.
  2. I think you will get significant merit from Albany. You will also get merit from UB, most likely. Can you commute to a SUNY or cuny? Binghamton might not be affordable- you will not get merit and don’t want Excelsior.
  3. Do your research regarding merit. You need significant merit based on your stats. This likely means leaving the northeast. Getting $20,000 merit to a $55,000 a year school (by the way...costs go up each year) won’t do you any good. Getting $30,000 a year to a $75,000 a year school...is still too much money. Your chances of receiving significant merit to top schools are very, very, very slim. I suggested Alabama...you told me no. Finding schools that have assured merit for your stats will be your homework for the summer. Throw in 1-2 lottery awards if you want to and can afford the application costs.
  4. Make a list of schools that meet full need. Use the NPCs with your parents and see if any look affordable.