Wow, this is depressing . . . after reading how merit aid was increasing over the last several years, do you all think this is a trend in the opposite direction? Because need-based aid at most of the universities whose sites I’ve looked at seems so unrealistic for many families, such as, for instance, mine.
If this is a trend in the opposite direction it will be shortlived - perhaps 5 -6 years. When college enrollment begins dropping (because of end of baby boom boom) there will be too many empty seats. Too many middle income kids would rather attend state u and save $120K (or more). The elite schools will always fill their seats, but there won’t always be enough wealthy kids to fill all the private schools.
Isnt it true if a student applies to a shoe in school they can tend to get good merit scholarships as well? What would those schools be?
^^ A “shoe in school” ( or is it shoo-in school, I don’t know) would be one where the student is in the top 5-10% of the applicant pool, imo. Whether they would tend to get good merit scholarships depends on how much merit $$ the school gives. Some do a lot with merit $$. Some don’t.
So you find such schools by, first, identifying the type of school your kid wants (by size, geography, available majors, atmosphere (sports, Greek…). Second, you would look for their merit scholarships available, by checking their admissions and financial aid information. Third, you would look to see if your kid is in that top 5-10%. Fourth, you would factor in such things as geographic diversity your kid might offer, gender advantage your kid might have for a gender-lopsided school… These things would enhance the kid’s chances and perhaps bring a kid who is below the top 10% on stats into the merit-possible range.
It’s an art, of course, not a science. But that is all part of it.
There has been so much pressure for schools to eliminate merit aid because of the “claims” that it hurts the need-based aid. It has become so “un-PC” to give merit aid - forgetting that a school benefits overall when it can attract top performers.
Another problem is that “need based” aid is sometimes given to kids whose non-custodial parents could easily afford to pay but refuse to participate in the FAFSA process, while married parents are considered to be open wallets.
I bet that schools (LACs, etc) that have become lopsided with girls will probably still sneak some merit incentives to males to keep their numbers from further tilting.
jlauer,
There are some schools that are “PC” and still provide merit aid. I would look for schools that provide for 100% of financial need and provide merit scholarships. For example, Duke has the Robertson scholarships and provides for 100% of financial need. UChicago provides some merit aid and for 100% of financial need. There is also USC that has a significant merit program.
The issue as I see it is how do you define 100% of financial need. Not everyone defines it the same.
At the risk of further derailing this thread (which I think is supposed to be about actual schools offering actual merit aid) I suggest to anyone looking for merit aid that they pay the $15/year and subscribe to the US News Premium online college edition.
Under each school there is a tab for Tuition & Financial Aid. On that page they list how much aid they give out in every possible category, need-based and non-need based.
Of course, the figures are self-reported, so without then going to the school’s website to see what the scholarships are for (description not always available) you wouldn’t know if they apply to you (for instance, they may be only for underrepresented minorities and you may not be one).
It’s always a crap-shoot but these figures give you something to go on. Obviously your odds of getting merit aid at a school that lists 30% of their students getting an average of $13,000 is better than a school that lists 2% getting $1,000.
Cool. Does this ad mean I can start looking for investors for my new business venture on cc? It’s great. Hear me out- Garden Gnome Lingerie. The sexy brassieres, we’ll call 'em “gnome domes”. We’ll make a bundle. It’s not all fleshed out but I need a little seed money for some R+D. Call me. There’s serious cash in cross-dressing yard art.
(Good gosh, he’s spamming all the threads. :()
Ah, come on mods. This looks real goofy now. You could have at least left enough of the spam ad that prompted my gnome post so I didn’t look like THIS much of an idiot. LOL.
Dang. I missed your funny!
:(. I feel like the casino owner who just put his elbow through his Picasso. What a waste of “art”.
Definitely like your gnome post–it does seem like the mods could have left at least a portion of the post they deleted, so folks could appreciate your gnome art in context. If this post isn’t deleted, I’ll try to provide the missing context.
The post which prompted the gnome post began:
“Want to learn more about the secrets of the SAT??? I’m developing a new
SAT prep website and would like some input!” It had a website link so you could complete a survey for the site this enterprising hawker is hoping to sell to folks hoping to boost SAT scores. Of course, we all need more spam!
Thanks, Himom. I am now complete. Somebody saw it “in context” , and that’s good enough for me. 
With this thread, I think it would be more helpful if not only the names of colleges are listed, but also their requirements to be awarded a merit-scholarship as well as how much they offer.
Remember that people wanting more info about individual colleges always can go to the colleges’ web sites, which often provide very comprehensive info about merit aid including examples of students who got it.
stan - it’s only some schools who have “listed requirements”, ie predictable merit aid based on a certain SAT score or other stat. For these, like Northstarmom said, you would check the websites. Info here could easily be too partial or quickly out of date.
For many schools, it is a “holistic” review based on stats, recs, essays, whether you fit something the school needs/wants (gender, geography…).
Schools which have clear automatic awards generally list them on their websites (e.g. UAz & AzSU state that they give full-ride (tuition, room & board) to all NMFs that choose them as the 1st choice school. USoCal says it will give 1/2 tuition to all NMFs who choose them as #1 school. There are other schools that also use NMF designation and/or GPA, class rank & standardized test scores for merit awards & state these on their websites.
As was said, many other schools use a more “holistic” approach & its not as clear what is required for merit aid & where the cutoffs will be year to year.
Schools which have clear automatic awards generally list them on their websites (e.g. UAz & AzSU state that they give full-ride (tuition, room & board) to all NMFs that choose them as the 1st choice school. USoCal says it will give 1/2 tuition to all NMFs who choose them as #1 school. There are other schools that also use NMF designation and/or GPA, class rank & standardized test scores for merit awards & state these on their websites.
As was said, many other schools use a more “holistic” approach & its not as clear what is required for merit aid & where the cutoffs will be year to year.
Curm–thought your gnome enterprise was very witty. 
Also glad there are spam-cleaners.
Olin College of Engineering offers a full-tuition scholarship to every one they admit. The school’s admission is highly selective.
Add Roanoke College