<p>Being in a state without prestigious schools, I would actually like to get into a college that is much more renowned than any here. The problem is (other than my SAT scores) is the high costs of applying from outside those states. Even if I did manage to get accepted to any of those places, I will not be able to attend if I can't afford it! Does anybody know any good places to start searching for scholarships? I was considering places such as Fastweb, but I've heard that these search websites aren't as effective. What do you think?</p>
<p>The best aid and scholarships are going to come from the school themselves. </p>
<p>Start by looking at which offer merit scholarships. </p>
<p>Also run net price calculators on each school’s website to get an estimate of how much each school will cost you.</p>
<p>The Fastweb scholarships are generally only good for one year, so they’re not going to cover four years’ tuition.</p>
<p>But when “prestige” takes precedence over common sense, I’ve got to wonder what you’re thinking. Believe me, there’s no prestige in being in debt. If you’ve got an affordable in-state option, for goodness sakes, take advantage of it!</p>
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Like I said, I will probably have to go to a school here if I cannot afford it elsewhere. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t try and hope for better options. That is why every bit of aid matters!</p>
<p>Your best best is to look at the schools listed in the “automatic” and “competitive" merit threads at the top of the financial aid forum. You may be able to find a school that will offer you significant merit aid. Don’t know if it will get you the prestige you’re looking for (that depends on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores), but it would at least get you out of your home state.</p>
<p>And I’d also suggest looking into whether any of your state schools has an honors college that you’d qualify to be admitted to. That could change your “state school” experience dramatically!</p>
<p>Also, remember that “out of state” costs only matter for public universities. Private universities have the same sticker price for in-state and out-of-state, which they then discount based on how desirable your candidacy is, and since they want geographical diversity, they actually discount more if you come from out of state, especially if you come from far away. If you come from Wyoming or the Dakotas, you’re lucky, because that in and by itself is seen as a “hook” for many West Coast, East Coast, and Mid Atlantic schools.
I second investigating your flagship’s “honors college” option, too. In the best cases, you’d have priority registration, a really nice dorm with a learning-living-type community, a merit scholarship, honors seminars…</p>
<p>What difference does it make whether or not a school is " prestigious?" Apply to your state schools honors program and apply to schools out of state where you are at the top of the applicant pool, and perhaps you will get some money. I got my masters from a CUNY and make the same in my field as those attending Columbia, and I know this for a fact because these people are my close friends. Maybe " prestige" is important for some professions, but not for most.</p>
<p>To get sufficient merit aid at most OOS public universities, you would need to be at the top of their applicant pool. This means your SAT or ACT and GPA would need to be at the top of their admitted students. </p>
<p>For need based aid, your family income would need to be low, and the school would have to have a good record of awarding need based aid to OOS students. Most publics do not, and the ones that do are HIGHLY competitive for admissions for OOS students.</p>
<p>Private universities might award you merit aid…but without knowing your standardized test scores OR your GPA, it is very hard to tell you where you would be a contender for such awards. I will say…it looks like you are taking the SAT in Sept for the first time. Look at DEADLINES. For the most generous merit awards, your application for admissions will need to be complete before December 1. So get moving on looking at schools. Check the stickie above to see if you qualify for any of the merit awards described.</p>
<p>Re: private universities…you might get sufficient merit aid to attend some private universities. If your family income is low, you might get need based aid.</p>
<p>MIGHT…that is the operant word.</p>
<p>Re: need based aid…this is determined by income and assets for your parents and you. </p>
<p>Hope that September SAT went well…it might be the only one you have in time to submit by December 1 deadlines for early scholarship consideration.</p>
<p>All good advice. The only thing I would add is to say you can always apply to a couple wish list out of state colleges and see how the finaid turns out in the spring but you should treat them like your “reach” colleges. Make sure you have a diversified list with one or two colleges you know without “wishing” you can afford. Public universities are increasingly using their out of state students as revenue makers…meaning they are less likely to subsidize the cost of the education. Go in with eyes wide open.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, I was planning to actually submit Early Action apps if possible. The problem is if I can retake the SAT/ACT in time for the deadline and improve it enough. But I guess my chances are low all the same?</p>
<p>Calzone…have you taken the SAT already?</p>
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Yes, I have taken both the SAT/ACT end of last year. I skipped the Sept. SAT because I wanted more study time for it and the subject tests that I will also need (considering Math II and US History). I’m hoping that I can reach the deadlines in time?</p>
<p>What state are you in?</p>
<p>I live in the state of Oregon… decent colleges around here, but aren’t much compared to some other states.</p>
<p>Just be wary of the “the grass must be greener over the state border” syndrome. </p>
<p>It is too easy to denigrate your own state flagships and think that other universities further away must be better. Sometimes, you know the flaws of the local schools, but you don’t know the flaws of the ones further away. Also, many students don’t want to go “where everyone else is going.”</p>
<p>While many public universities are welcoming out of state students, they are mainly doing it because they view out of state students as cash cows. Some state universities will provide merit aid to students with top numbers, but that usually does not lower the OOS cost to what you would pay for an in-state flagship. Most public universities do not provide much need-based aid to OOS students. </p>
<p>Also, consider the impact of any college grants from your own state. Some states do not allow their state grants to be used at OOS colleges, or they severely reduce the amount of the grant. In many states, upper middle income students can qualify for state grants - it usually is much easier to qualify for state grants than Pell grants. </p>
<p>Also, take into account the actual costs of travel. If you will need to fly, check out the air fares around Thanksgiving and Christmas. You may find fares that are much higher than in August.</p>
<p>You can look at WUE schools, but the more selective colleges don’t participate (UCs, UDub) and you aren’t likely to get a lot of FA.</p>
<p>Oregon has good state schools and there are several good privates also (reed and lewis and clark and willamette)…residential in state tuition for OSU is $8500 that is pretty darn good.</p>
<p>If you’re set on studying in another state and in better colleges than your state institutions, your solution is to look for private colleges in the Midwest and South, or, to a lesser extent, in the MidAtlantic region. Do not even bother with public OOS, unless they’re part of the WUE agreement.
Don’t forget to apply to your flagship’s honors college.</p>