<p>I am in the process of planning Spring trips with my high School Junior. My older son was very focused on a major and EC's that he wanted in college so it narrowed our search nicely. My younger son has no such requirements. In several conversations when forced to say what he wants, he has answered "Maybe somewhere warmer," (we live in New York). That isn't an absolute requirement though. He is bright (222 on PSAT) and we are looking for merit aid. He tagged along on DS1 visits and William and Mary was his favorite. </p>
<p>Based on this I am thinking of having him look at: UVA, Richmond, Washington and Lee, Duke, UNC and Davidson. We will also take a look in Boston at BC, BU. Does anyone have any suggestions for other schools we should consider?</p>
<p>Take a look at Wake Forest, especially since it’s so close to Duke/UNC. It’s a terrific school and very underrated. If you’re willing to drive a bit south of Davidson, there’s Furman.</p>
<p>W&M, UVA and UNC are very tough for OOS to get merit $ from. You may want explore the options before you fall in love with any of those schools. </p>
<p>If you’re looking at BC and BU, then how about G’town, Villanova and Hopkins on the way down.</p>
<p>Warbler: Thanks! I just looked at those and they are on the mark.</p>
<p>Big Daddy: On the mark also. We actually visited those three with DS1. For various reasons, they probably won’t fit, but I like how you are thinking. Elon may be worth a look indeed.</p>
<p>Based on this I am thinking of having him look at: UVA, Richmond, Washington and Lee, Duke, UNC and Davidson. We will also take a look in Boston at BC, BU. Does anyone have any suggestions for other schools we should consider?</p>
<p>This seems like a strange list for someone who wants large merit. I don’t think BC gives any merit…and some of the others give only a few large awards to highly desirable students…so highly competitive. I guess those could be high reaches if affordability is unlikely w/o getting a huge highly competitive award.</p>
<p>What are your son’s stats?
Are they William and Mary level?
Or are they more Roanoke level?
It makes a big difference.</p>
<p>Are you looking for “token” merit money to take the “edge” off? $3,000? $5,000?
Or are you looking for a huge chunk/discount? $15,000?
Also makes a big difference.</p>
<p>One other thing, my two cents … you might want to warn your son that “warmer” (meaning not as harsh a winter) also usually means “hotter” in late summer and late spring.
Weather is the last thing I would ever consider when selecting a school.
But, that’s me.
YSMMV.</p>
<p>I am looking for Big merit money. Sons Stats are still coming in. So far 800 on bio SAT 222 on PSAT. #1 at a very competitive HS known at these colleges. </p>
<p>Also, I mentioned the “warmer” thing to indicate that he doesn’t know what he wants, but why shouldn’t it be a factor? Take a look at census figures for the last half century and then tell that weather doesn’t play a role in where people live and work.</p>
<p>why? Each one of those offers Full tuition Scholarships. Admittedly, Robertson and Jefferson will be a reach but its worth a shot.</p>
<p>Does BC have full-ride merit scholarships?</p>
<p>I would pick a couple of top schools with big merit and put most of our focus on schools that very large merit was more likely. Touring too many elite schools is like looking at too many fancy homes or cars…once you scale down to what you can really afford, everything else looks like “settling”…which is bad for morale.</p>
<p>You’re from NY…unless your child is a URM, your child won’t likely make the down-select because he won’t add regional or ethnic diversity at schools where EVERYONE is super-smart and the few merit awards are highly competitive.</p>
<p>Does your son have an extra special ECs? Any science national awards? any fancy national literary awards?</p>
<p>Emory in Atlanta might be a possibility. They have some generous scholarships:[Scholarships</a> & Grants | Emory Scholars | Emory College | Atlanta, GA](<a href=“Welcome to Emory College.”>Welcome to Emory College.)</p>
<p>Vanderbilt might also work but not sure of the scholarship situation there.</p>
<p>BC has a limited number of full rides. Mainly looking at that because it Catholic. </p>
<p>His EC’s are solid but not outstanding. He is a swimmer which takes up a lot of time. (Unfortunately not something that is recognized), Science Olympiad (hoping for a good showing this year), church volunteer, some other school volunteer groups, Social studies club.</p>
<p>William and Mary has a bad rep for being an unsociable school. I promise you that is not the case! There are some who never leave their rooms, but that vast majority are incredibly social and there really is a lot going on. I haven’t talked to a person who didn’t like W&M. W&M also has some really big merit scholarships like the Monroe scholars, William and Mary scholars, and 1693 scholars.</p>
<p>W&L…greek life DOMINATES. I did the math a few months ago and there’s something like less than 150 people who are NOT in a frat/sorority. However with all that being said, it’s a solid school and I think they give some decent aid.</p>
<p>Check out University of Richmond. A lot of people that apply to will & mary also apply to Richmond because they’re pretty similar. UR is private and they give a TON of aid; the school is loaded and their business connections are astounding.</p>
<p>If by “unfortunately not something that is recognized,” you mean “one particular activity by my son takes up a huge amount of time and college Admin officials don’t take that into consideration?” Then you’re dead wrong. College admin officials have been doing this for a while. They know how much time a particular activity takes. </p>
<p>My advice: don’t go into this with a negative/defensive attitude. It won’t help.
College admin staff are not your enemy.</p>
<p>Side note from personal experience. My daughter rows in high school. Nothing takes up more time than rowing. And she got into your son’s favorite school. ;)</p>
<p>Large merit to me means full tuition or more. Your son’s PSAT and SATII suggest the possibility that he might fall into that extremely narrow window. If you need merit of that size, then you need to look at a couple of older threads: </p>
<p>The Monroe Scholars program offers NO money other than a $3,000 research stipend. There are other benefits to the program, but merit money for tuition isn’t one of them.</p>
<p>The William and Mary Scholars award is worth the amount of in-state tuition and fees, and is offered to a “small, select group of students who have overcome unusual adversity and/or would add to the diversity of the campus community.”</p>
<p>The award it seems the OP might be hoping for is the 1693 Scholars Program, which originally was limited to 4 students per class, although there are 6 recipients in the classes of 2016 and 2017. It provides “extensive benefits, including full tuition, general fees and room and board annually for Virginia residents and the equivalent amount annually for non-Virginia residents.” The awardees are an impressive bunch: [William</a> & Mary -*Meet the Scholars](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/as/1693scholars/current/index.php]William”>http://www.wm.edu/as/1693scholars/current/index.php)</p>