strategies for maximizing merit & financial aid -- am I on the right track?

Paying for College
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<p>Here is my standard advise, it looks like you may have done alot of this already:</p>

<p>Get a copy of 'How to Pay for College Without Going Broke' either the 2007 edition which is out now or the 2008 edition, which will be out in October, it is published by <a href="http://www.princetonreview.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.princetonreview.com&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<p>Also, look for schools where you may qualify for merit aid such is those profiled by Loren Pope at <a href="http://www.ctcl.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.ctcl.com&lt;/a> and get to book, 'Peterson's Smart Choices: Honors Programs & College' 4th Edition, at <a href="http://www.peterson.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.peterson.com&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<p>An excellent primer on financial aid can be found at <a href="http://www.finaid.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.finaid.org&lt;/a> and you may calculate your EFC expected family contribution at <a href="http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml&lt;/a>
both the federal = fafsa and instititutional methodology = CSS Profile.</p>

<p>Also check out the websites of the top 100 in each category, National Universities and Liberal Arts Colleges (LACs) to find out what merit scholarships they offer and apply accordingly, for example Washington University in St. Louis and Kenyon College. Research is everything and you will find gems. Good luck.</p>

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<p>Yes, MIchigan is home of the Wolverines. It is also one of the best public schools in the country. (one of the ones that often earns the epithet "public Ivy".) Many of its departments are among the very tops in their fields. And Ann ARbor is one of the coolest college towns in the country. You should definitely look into it.</p>

<p>Edit: where did you see that they are doing away with rolling admissions? I didn't see that in the admissions FAQ.</p>

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<p>When DS and DH visited UMich in April, the admissions folks on the tour said they were considering ending rolling admission, but a decision wouldn't be made until July.</p>

<p>Count us as another family whose kiddo was pleasantly surprised by UMich -- DS1 was looking at small/medium schools, went visit to Ann Arbor based on the strength of the dept. he was interested in, and really liked it. He's not into sports and school spirit. Whoddathunkit?</p>

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<p>garland -- I saw it posted here a couple of months ago. might not be true, I guess we will see. </p>

<p>When I said I never heard of Michigan, I didn't mean that it wasn't a good school -- it is just that before CC I pretty much only knew Harvard and Stanford. Of course now I know about hundreds!</p>

<p>Mizo -- thanks for the books, I have read all of them except the honors college one -- I forgot about it.</p>