<p>Does anyone have any information/examples regarding the merit aid of Drexel, UPitt, PSU, and Carnegie Mellon for NMFs? I'm mentioning schools in PA just so I can get the in-state tuition (for a better chance of half/full ride?)
Please chance me for merit-aid packages:</p>
<p>GPA cumulative: 3.9 weighted, (rising each year from freshman year)
PSAT: 225, based on my school's senior class, very likely to be finalist
SAT: 2210, will retake in 3 weeks</p>
<p>I'm not asking for chances of entrance into the schools, just chances of the merit aid for these or any other colleges. I know merit isn't guaranteed and can be very different, but please provide any insight to my chances for these or other schools that give out big merit packages. I'm currently looking financial safeties (CMU is a slight reach) and will almost certainly go to a full ride school than a better school that will land me with a better degree but enough debt to last decades. Thank you for reading, and any insight/tips you provide will be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I don’t think PSU gives NMFs anything.</p>
<p>If CMU gives anything, it must be a small amount.</p>
<p>You don’t need to just look at PA schools. </p>
<p>OOS schools that give big NMF scholarships give BIGGER ones to OOS students to cover the OOS costs. </p>
<p>For instance, my kids’ undergrad gives free tuition, housing and other goodies to ALL NMFs…even the OOS ones. So, the OOS rate is also covered.</p>
<p>Both Drexel and Carnegie Mellon are private schools. Residency is irrelevant; there is no “in state tuition” at private schools.</p>
<p>Your NMF status has nothing to do with the rest of your senior class. The semi-finalist status is based on a state-wide cutoff. I believe the cutoff for the PSAT in 2011 for semi-finalist status was 215, so you should clear that hurdle with no problem. </p>
<p>Ways to possibly find out:
- First check the school’s website in the financial aid area (usually there is a link under admissions). If they do not specifically state anything about NMF scholarships, then you have no guarantees. Even if they do, the rules could change for next year, so keep an eye on the website.
- You might try checking the accepted students threads out here on CC, and private message those who said they were NMFs. Ask if they would mind telling you if they got a scholarship for their NMF status, or any other merit based aid. Obviously other merit aid may be based on other factors besides NMF, though. I did this recently when I wanted to know about a school that used to give a decent NMF scholarship and stopped. Found a range of results (certainly not everyone go the same merit aid), but everyone answered my query, and now I have an idea of what range my D might expect when she applies there. But the merit aid gods are whimsical… so really no telling, it is just an educated guess.</p>
<p>I know Pitt gives some big merit awards. Check websites or call/email financial aid offices with your questions. Be sure to make note of application deadlines. If you want guaranteed big merit $ (full tuition +) based on NMF status, you should look at schools like Alabama, Oklahoma, Tulsa, U Texas at Dallas, etc. (see list on this page)</p>
<p>* I know merit isn’t guaranteed*</p>
<p>Actually, merit can be guaranteed for NMFs at some schools. Some schools award NMF scholarships to all of their NMFs.</p>
<p>FWIW, Pitt gave a big fat 0 to my NMF DS this year - compared to quite generous packages at a number of other schools.</p>