I am a rising Senior.
4.0 unweighted GPA
27 ACT (29 math, 25 reading)
5 AP’s , all honors (my school limits number of AP’s allowed)
2 varsity sports
Several clubs including leadership positions
4 year internship in intended major
Summer employment and volunteer positions
I am looking to stay in the Southeast. VA and south. I live in NC so my state schools are great but I am looking for something different than the usual schools. But, out of state and private means more $ so I am wondering if anyone knows of schools that may offer merit for my stats? I know my ACT is low. I am retaking it and have had test prep but I consistently have a hard time finishing the reading portion. I won’t be eligible for need based money.
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) offers non-resident merit awards for those with an ACT score of 27 of $6,000 per year. Same applicant may be offered additional scholarships based upon certain factors such as STEM major, majoring in certain foreign languages, Eagle Scout, etc.
If you are sure of your interest in OT, one way to save money is to consider direct admit BS/MS OT programs, thereby shortening the program from 6 years or more to only 5 years and saving a year or more of tuition. Unfortunately such programs are very limited in the Southeast where the only school of the type you’re looking for with the OT BS/MS is Shenandoah University (VA). The only other two colleges of any type with OT BS/MS in the Southeast are James Madison (VA) and Alabama-Birmingham. If you were willing to stretch your geography north a little bit into Pennsylvania, you might consider colleges like Alvernia or Elizabethtown.
Rhodes College in Memphis could be worth considering, given their close relationship with St. Jude’s Hospital for shadowing and research opportunities. They also have an educational studies major, with a certificate-track option that includes student teaching, and a non-certificate track that does not. Also a minor. They don’t have a specific special ed degree, but career-wise, you’re not going to do both special ed and OT anyway, and you could lay a foundation that would work for either path. Rhodes has merit scholarships of up to $35K/year.
UNC Asheville seems like it could be a good fit and extremely affordable, but I’m sure that’s on your radar already.
U of Cincinnati (which I realize isn’t as far south as you have in mind, but it’s a stone’s throw from Kentucky so still southern-adjacent) has an OT early assurance program. Excellent program with a relatively affordable sticker price and some generous merit possibilities.
Bama, College of Charleston, App State, Florida Gulf Coast, UTK, Radford, U of SC. Elon offers merit although it’s not a ton. Tampa offers a lot of merit - private - but maybe not the best school.
With Test Optional, you may not have to report scores.
We’re in NC too and daughter wanted to go out of state. She’s a 2021 grad and applied with a 29 ACT/1340 SAT, 4.21 W GPA 7 AP’s & the rest honors. Good EC’s, 4-year varsity athlete & steady work experience. She received merit awards from University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee, App State (her safety) & Virginia Tech (where she ultimately enrolled).
She also got into Elon, Florida State & NC State.
VT’s merit seemed to be random and not necessarily tied to GPA & test scores alone (you’ll need to fill out the FAFSA for VT even if you won’t qualify for financial aid). Elon gives some merit but their awards are small in comparison to the price tag. Once admitted, you can apply to their Fellows programs but even then it’s still expensive. FSU gives out-of-state tuition waivers to applicants with a certain level of test score (I think you’d have to get your ACT up to 31 or higher to be considered), but it’s not a guarantee. If you’re willing to go north, kids from our HS received good merit from Miami of OH & University of Dayton. You could also try Kentucky & Alabama.