My daughter is a senior at a public high school, probably #5 in class of 200. SAT 2300, weighted GPA 4.3, student council and Model UN president, NMS semifinalist, varsity sailing team, many other extracurriculars. She is focused on schools that I don’t think give a lot, if any, merit aid- Brown, Georgetown, etc. We would qualify for decent financial aid from any school that gives need based aid, if she gets in- but any advice on schools that give good merit aid much appreciated as obviously it is a big gamble. Thank you!
Read the links in this thread.
Your daughter would get a huge merit award from University of Alabama…their very quick application is online right now…as is the scholarship application.
thank you! will look into that for sure.
I am confused by your question. Many selective schools give great financial aid based on need. Harvard, for instance, is free for incomes under $65K (20% if students), costs 0-10% of income for those whose incomes are between $65K and $150K, and those with incomes over $150K pay proportionally more than 10% depending on circumstances. The percentage of students on aid is 70%, and no loans. Other selective schools, large and small, offer generous aid.
So if you qualify for need based aid, why are you asking about merit? Just curious.
You know how to run the net price calculators on each college website, right? That should give you an idea of what kind of aid you might get from a given college. Given her stats, she should be able to compile a reasonable list that includes some matches (not just reached) that meet need.
Brown and G’town don’t give any merit aid.
Does your child have a non custodial parent? If so, then schools like Brown and G’town will also consider his income/assets, as well as any new spouse’s income.
If you’re applying to schools that give need based aid, you can’t reduce your “family contribution” by getting merit. That often confuses people.
If your DD makes NMF (very likely) then Alabama would give her free tuition for 5 years, one year of free housing, plus 3500 per year stipend. Beautiful campus, strong academics, friendly students…students from all 50 states.
What is her major and career goal?
For big merit scholarships:
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/
Thanks for all of the input. She is applying to Yale, etc. where we would qualify for a good need based aid package- between myself and her non custodial parent we are at around 125K. So those are great options, but obviously so competitive to get in, so trying to also look for schools (e.g. Alabama) which would give merit aid. She wants to major in political science and will probably want to go to law school afterward. The Georgetown school of foreign service is currently the #1 choice.
" if she gets in- but any advice on schools that give good merit aid much appreciated as obviously it is a big gamble."
-No gamble. It took me 2 years to research and I complied the list of schools that I knew for sure would offer some Merit award. We did not qualify for need based, not even close for several reasons. However, D. was not interested to attend at any Ivy / Elite at all despite of the pressure from GC as she was his ticket graduating at the top of her private HS class. She said that she would do just fine anywhere. She also withstood the pressure from several college coaches, mostly from private colleges.
I offered her my list and she liked it. After many visits, multiple visits to couple of her finalist schools, she was happy to attend at in-state public in Honors college in the very selective program (10 spots for incoming freshman) on full tuition Merit award. Looking back, she still believes that she choose the best place for herself.
Only one school on her list put some weight on NMF status, and since D. was not NMF, this school gave her very little.
However, my list included ONLY schools that would offer some Merit and couple of them offered the great ones, one of them was private.
Research, check all details that are important to your kid, the kids are not that good at it. It is NOT a gamble by any means, D’s offers were predictable.
@mom2collegekids and others, this may be slightly off topic for this particular post, but maybe not:
UA is coming to our town on Oct 7 for a presentation and reception. So we can hear some of what they have to say, without/before taking the 12-hour round trip drive. Mom and Dad will attend even if D doesn’t want to - in fact she does have one of her EC’s that night.
UA may have a list out there of other cities on their “road show” schedule.
Take a look at University of Pittsburgh and Northeastern University in Boston. My son had similar stats and got full tuition to both schools. He chose Northeastern and loves it. Good luck
OP, that’s a good way to bring down the application risks. Those schools that are generous with need based aid are highly competitive. Looking at merit aid makes a great deal of sense.
Thank you, Northeastern is actually on her list of schools she really likes.
What is OP? thanks
“Original Poster” (you) 
I’m not sure Northeastern would be the ideal fit for this particular student. (And no disrespect to NEU - my own daughter went there.)
katliamom, any input on the school is appreciated! She is primarily interested in city schools, which is a big reason it is on her list.
A student attracted to Georgetown or Yale – schools renowned for pure academics, a certain rigor and intellectual atmosphere – is apt to find fewer peers at a school like Northeastern. Most NEU kids are pre-professional, focused on combining classes with on-the-job experience. It’s a very different vibe from the more intellectually-inclined atmosphere at the selective schools your daughter is looking at.
Again, nothing against NEU – kiddo is an alum – but even she will admit that she didn’t spend many evenings with fellow NEU students discussing, for example. ideals, philosophy or policy. (Humanities aren’t very strong at NEU.) They did talk a lot about co-ops, interviews, GPA requirements for certain internship placements, etc. Basically, NEU offers a somewhat different college education/experience.
I’m not sure what your daughter’s ECs that you didn’t mention might be, but if she enjoys volunteering and serving the community, have her check out this program at Alabama: http://honors.ua.edu/university-fellows-experience. Highly competitive, but great for kids who have the interest described.
The University of Pittsburgh has a respected Honors College and good scholarships available to top OOS students:
https://oafa.pitt.edu/learn-about-aid/academic-scholarships/
https://oafa.pitt.edu/learn-about-aid/academic-scholarships/chancellors-scholarship/
Not addressing merit, but the overall COA, I believe that the SUNY schools are less expensive for OOS students than most state schools. SUNY Geneseo is their honors/LAC school. But it is in a rural area, alas. 