<p>I got a 2340 on my SAT to make matters worse (or better depending how you look at it).</p>
<p>My question:</p>
<p>I'm applying to multiple ivies, multiple top private universities, and in-state for UC Berkeley and UCSD (my backup). I don't qualify for much, if any, financial aid.</p>
<p>My real backup was going to be a National Merit full ride to one of Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma, etc.</p>
<hr>
<p>What would you recommend that I do to find another safety school (preferably full-ride/full tuition) now that the automatic full rides are not attainable?
-I mean, one point off shouldn't completely ruin all scholarship opportunities, right?</p>
<p>And is it out of line on the honors section of the common app to put:
National Merit commended (220)
or something? You can probably tell I'm a little peeved.</p>
<p>Plenty of opportunities out there, they just won’t be automatic.</p>
<p>With your SAT you qualify for full tuition at Alabama. If you apply to some of the top honors programs and are accepted there are some scholarships awarded for those who are not NMF students. Also, there are some departmental scholarships as well. If you’re interested in pursuing opportunities at Alabama you might want to go to their forum. You can look at their Honors College site to see if either the Computer-Based Honors Program or University Fellows Experience appeals to you: [Honors</a> College - Home](<a href=“http://honors.ua.edu/]Honors”>http://honors.ua.edu/)</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses. I guess all is not lost. Just a little disappointing to wait 9 months for an unlikely reject. In essence, I don’t want the same thing to happen to my safeties now that I no longer have an automatic full ride. </p>
<p>Do my prospects of getting large merit-based scholarships at places like Rice or USC (higher prestige, highly competitive) take a big hit because I didn’t get National Merit?</p>
<p>National Merit is only one thing the schools look at in admissions and scholarships. And, some schools put no emphasis on National Merit. I think National Merit opens some doors, but it doesn’t close doors for quality kids with good test scores, good GPAs, rigorous course schedules and good extra-curriculars. If you happen to be a legacy, an athlete or an under-represented minority, all the better. I had 2 NMF daughters and its impact is a little over-stated in my opinion.</p>
<p>I’ll be willing to wager that most of the selective colleges to which you are applying are 100%-need schools. That is one way to go to try to close a financial gap.</p>
<p>Alternatively many merit scholarships are available that are not NMS based. Some are simply automatic based on test scores and HS GPA, others are competitive. You’ll have to do some research but they are out there.</p>
<p>Great info guys. Making me feel better. To clarify, I will not get any financial aid (at least not at the moment). Understandably, I just would rather have my safety cost $0 or close to it than $100k or more.</p>
<p>GPA is no problem. Not a minority or recruit. In context of my school and classmates, I should be very competitive to top schools, but with the variability these days, I need an Alabama,Miami, Michigan State-type option.</p>
<p>*My real backup was going to be a National Merit full ride to one of Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma, etc.
*</p>
<p>Just to clarify…Auburn’s NMF and other scholarships have been reduced.</p>
<p>What is your likely major?</p>
<p>With your stats, you probably would get more from Bama than just tuition…especially if you get into one of their elite honors programs. </p>
<p>I realize that the ivies/etc have fabulous aid IF YOU QUALIFY for lots of aid. Do you know what you’d qualify for “need-wise”? Do you know if your family can pay what will be expected?</p>
<p>Everyone talks about the “great aid” at the elites, but my sister has 2 kids at elites right now and they don’t qualify for ANY aid.</p>
<p>likely major: econ or stats??? Not something like engineering or science. Maybe business if the specific school has it.</p>
<p>Parents said I wont qualify for any aid. I pushed them for more info, but I’ll just have to take their word for it. They wont let me know anything other than we are upper-middle class. I trust that they consulted with someone who knows about aid.</p>
<p>If this applies at all, I’m on course to be valedictorian.</p>
<p>Even though I put Alabama first, I mean any of those full rides like that. I havent researched my safeties thoroughly enough to make a preference.</p>
<p>I don’t think it helps with HYPSM (maybe with less selective schools). The admissions officers know that it is just a reflection of how you did on one test, one day, junior year. At a school like that semi-finalist vs non-semifinalist is infinitely less important than SAT, ACT, essays, recommendations and even personality.</p>
<p>Honestly, I don’t think they ever sit down and admit one person because they have NMSF over one that doesn’t just because they are a NMSF (at highly selective schools). If they did it really wouldn’t make any sense as NMSF status is effectively just a reflection of a score on a somewhat easier version of the SAT. Not to mention it is easier to achieve NMSF in some states, so it is not equally reflective. </p>
<p>Now, as far as money goes, NMF can help a great deal at smaller schools/public unis. But I don’t think it will ever be the deciding factor over whether or not to admit someone to HPYSM.</p>
<p>OP,and Sargus, be SURE you complete your USC application BEFORE the Dec 1 cut off. Otherwise you WONT be eligible to be considered for their Full tuition scholarships. I’d say you have a good chance of winning one. And USC should be a match-safety for you, but since they now accept the Common App , who knows how many more applications they’ll receive this year over last? U Chicago went up by 40% their first year.
Be sure to nail you essays, and be prepared to interview [ required] for a scholarship in Feb 2012</p>