<p>I have a reach-heavy list with 1 safety (my state school, where I am essentially guaranteed admission into the honors prgm and decent merit, but have virtually no chance at a full scholarship) and a few matches. So I'm looking for an admissions and financial safety. Parents' income is around $165k, have an older brother in college and a brother 1 year younger than me.</p>
<p>I'm mainly interested in LACs although I'm willing to deviate for a safety. I plan in majoring in English but would like to dabble (particularly in something quantitative, but I have no specifics). I'm interested in double-majoring. Favorite schools are Williams (really appreciated the emphasis on forcing the consideration of other opinions via entry system + tutorials) and Bowdoin (particularly for their "commitment to the common good").</p>
<p>I have about a 3.95 UW GPA in the most rigorous schedule my school (semi-competitive private) offers. My SAT is between 2250 and 2300, and I'll be retaking in October (fairly good chance at improving at least one section). SAT IIs are all between 700 and 800. In short solid but not perfect academic credentials. My main EC is a sport that I do about 3/4 of the year (varsity every year and will be captain, but not recruitable). Plan to continue at least for a period in college. I have a few other mixed ECs, some work experience. I will have 3 recommendations which should be strong (have had good conversations with all of the teachers).</p>
<p>So as I said, I'm looking for a safety/safeties. Something that is a definite admit and is guaranteed to give enough aid. William's finaid calculator requires my family to pay $28k. Their package is $22k grant, $4k loan, $2k work study. My ideal is to keep loans below $25k over 4 years (I plan to work during college), although I guess there is some wiggle room there. Bowdoin (and some of my other favorite colleges) are loan-free, so maybe those would be slightly better options than Williams on that count (assuming I still take federal loans), but then I'm still risking a bit on fin aid and the fact that I could easily get rejected.</p>
<p>Take a look at Grinnell College. Great merit and financial aid, no distribution requirements, palatial facilities (the athletic facilities are spectacular), excellent faculty mentoring and top notch academics. The culture is quirky, midwestern, understated and unpretentious. But absolutely not preppy, so if that’s part of Bowdoin’s and William’s appeal, it won’t be a great fit.</p>
<p>Trinity, Lehigh (a little bigger), Bucknell - they should be safety schools but you need to research how their aid packages are. Maybe Haverford and Bates as well (not quite safeties, but they should really want you).</p>
<p>William’s finaid calculator requires my family to pay $28k.</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>I think Williams is a rare school that gives SUPER aid…most schools will give your family a higher “family contribution.” So, you need to look for HUGE merit.</p>
<p>Are you a likely NMF? what was your PSAT?</p>
<p>What state are you in?</p>
<p>*I’m mainly interested in LACs although I’m willing to deviate for a safety. I plan in majoring in English but would like to dabble (particularly in something quantitative, but I have no specifics). I’m interested in double-majoring. *</p>
<p>Ok…what’s your career goal?</p>
<p>How much will your parents pay for each child per year? If you don’t know, ask.</p>
<p>Does your sibling go to a full need school? If not, then your sibling may not get more aid when you enroll. (This is shocking for some families when Child #2 goes to school…they often don’t get more aid for Child #2’s school.)</p>
<p>You need to get the money thing settled…getting admitted is only half the battle.</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments everyone. Much appreciated.</p>
<p>
Grinnell looks very nice although I’m not sure if it would be considered a financial safety (at least not guaranteed). But definitely worth of consideration. Preppy is no part of my attraction to Williams/Bowdoin, so that would be a plus. </p>
<p>Will look into Clark U, Union, and Denison. Union actually sent me a letter for my sport some months back.</p>
<p>
Will also look into Trinity, Lehigh, and Bucknell. I’ve looked at Haverford and Bates. Didn’t like Haverford a lot. Bates makes my list as a match, but I doubt their package would be very appealing.</p>
Yes, my reaches and matches tend to fall into the need-blind/full-need category, and it’s unlikely that many are more generous than Williams (and this is assuming that I get in). (The fact that Williams’ package includes a $4000 loan is difficult, though.) I probably should have said so, but yes, the point of this topic was to get suggestions for merit.</p>
<p>I am from CT and I will not be NMF.</p>
<p>
I don’t have any hard career goal right now. Mainly I’m hoping to minimize debt to keep options open.</p>
<p>My parents can pay a bit under $20K each on my brother and I next year. My brother attends UConn and is working a lot (which keeps the out-of-pocket below $20k for my parents) but we are obviously not getting any aid there and probably still won’t even when all 3 are in college. Not sure what will happen when my younger brother is in college since he will have much fewer options.</p>
<p>That leaves about $14,000 per year annual [url=<a href=“http://cost.ua.edu/undergraduate-budget.html]cost”>http://cost.ua.edu/undergraduate-budget.html]cost</a> of attendance<a href=“note:%20these%20are%20per%20semester;%20subtract%20tuition%20and%20multiply%20by%202%20to%20get%20annual%20cost%20for%20a%20Presidential%20Scholar”>/url</a> if you get no other financial aid or scholarships.</p>
<p>So there’s a safety.</p>
<p>Additional financial safeties with total cost of attendance below $20,000 per year include the state universities in the Dakotas.</p>
<p>Take a look at these & see if any of them will fulfill your requirements for FA & whether a safety school for you or not: </p>
<p>Skidmore College (NY)
Hobart & William Smith (NY)
St. Lawrence University (NY)
Wheaton College (MA)
Hamilton College (NY)
Colgate University (NY)
Vassar College (NY)
Drew University (NJ)
Connecticut College (CT) Too close to home?</p>