Hello,
I understand that there may be know proper answer to this question but here is my question. I am a junior that will likely be competitive for top schools (34 act, good subject tests, national rankings in Science & History etc). The main problem I anticipate is paying for school. My family makes ~200k so we are by no means poor by government standards
This of course sounds fine but where I come from the cost of living is insanely high and I have absolutely nothing to spend on college from personal or family accounts. What good / reputable schools are known for giving merit scholarships and how good are they?
I have looked into good public schools (i.e. SUNY Stonybrook) but I just don’t know if I like the locations. Please let me know if any moderate to large (but not enormous) private schools would give me merit scholarship if I am accepted. Of course this is a challenging question as I don’t know where I will be accepted but any advice is appreciated.
You indicated that you have no money for college from personal or family accounts. Is there any amount at all that your parents can contribute? It appears as though you need the full cost of attendance covered. What is your gpa? I am suggesting that you look into both private and public schools. Right now you can’t afford to be picky about the location.
If Stony Brook is within commuting distance and you take out the small student loan that is allowed, then most of your tuition will be covered. You can work part time to cover the rest.
Look at SUNY Albany and some of the smaller SUNY schools that might give you significant merit. Look at the Presidential Scholarship at the University at Buffalo.
Can you commute to Hunter College? Queens College? If you can, then the small student loan would cover most of your tuition. You would need to work to cover the rest, as well as your train ticket, car etc.
Look at the University of Alabama and see if you would qualify for their biggest scholarship. I don’t know what it is, as it may have changed.
The University of Kentucky has some competitive awards that include full tuition and a housing stipend.
Check out Michigan State, the University of Miami Stamps Scholarship, the University of Mississippi, North Carolina State University, the University of Richmond, Fordham University, Providence College, Saint Louis University
Add Miami U (the one in OH), Ohio State
If possible i will be able to take out loans; however, I dont want to take loans for 70k per year. If i have to go 100k into debt I will (If i get into a school that is a top choice). I know that some top schools such as vandy and harvard give tons of aide to people making around 150-175k.
You, as a student, can only take out a total of $27,000 in loans in total for your entire four years of college: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized#how-much.
If you want to take out more, then you have to have someone cosign the loan with you.
Every college has a Net Price Calculator on its website. Fill this out to see what each college will potentially expect your family to pay. Each college has a different formula, so they may vary.
In the meantime, please consider the advice @twogirls offered above. Those are great suggestions.