<p>I have a junior in high school. She just took the ACT for the first time and got a 30. We have home schooled for the last 6 years with classes at the local charter school for electives. She's thinking of being a vet and we are looking at several schools. We would like her to get scholarships for as much as possible but are willing to help her split the difference of what isn't covered. She is going to take to the ACT again this summer. She may be doing early college next fall. My question is what do we have to do to get a full ride to a great university?
Any help/advice is appreciated!</p>
<p>First if all you need to find out what universities have full rides to give her. Are you going to be eligible for any financial aid? Run through some calculators and find out. If you are NOT eligible for financial aid, then those schools that give no merit awards are out of the picture. The ivies, for instance, give only financial aid. You, then have to look to see what school have good merit aid, and by good, I mean awards that are big chunks, not $1000-5000 sweetners to a $50K cost. Then you have to see what the stats are for students to be getting that kind of aid. </p>
<p>Take, for instance, University of Pittsburgh. Great programs for premeds/pre vets. A number of full rides. Does she have the number to even be considered for one of them? Look at the criteria and see if she has a shot. She needs to be a top student within the group in order to get a full ride or close to it.</p>
<p>Also look at the thread from MomfromTexas called “How to get a Full ride Scholarship”. This intrepid mom researched how to find schools where her kids could go for free. Her methodology is something you should read and adapt to your child’s particular case. Full rides are difficult to get, and nearly impossible if you just go after the mainstream school. You have to look for those schools that are no oversubscribed with high stat competition. Getting a full ride from Johns Hopkins for a Natural Sciences major, for instance is very difficult and only the top kids in the country are going to have a shot at it. For University of Eastern New Mexico, it could be a likely thing.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, full-rides and great universities don’t usually go together, if by great you mean well recognized, ranked universities. Some do have full-ride scholarships (presidential something or anothers) that outstanding students get but they are very competitive, think along the lines of getting into HPYS. </p>
<p>Now full-rides and great education is much more doable. Start looking at schools where her stats put her easily in the top 25% of the freshman class. At public universities, look at the honors programs for opportunities. A lot of the full scholarships have a separate application procedure along with interviews. More than likely, you’ll need to find the programs at schools that are acceptable to you and then focus on the requirements. </p>
<p>Also, if she is interested in being a vet, you really need to start reading up on it. It’s more difficult to get into than med school and costs just as much if not more.</p>