Use https://scholarships.asu.edu/estimator to estimate merit scholarships from ASU. “National Scholar” means National Merit Finalist or College Board National Recognition.
We don’t know you are NMF - you are assuming.
I don’t know if FSU has auto admission - but their 25-75 weighted is 4.3 - 4.6 and you are below. They admitted about 17K of 74K applicants - so about 23%.
Does that sound like a target to you? Now, if they auto admit NMF then ok but I don’t think they do. Call and ask.
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From their GPA recalculation standards (FSU Undergraduate Bulletin) I’d be at a 4.27, slightly below the average range. While imo it’s not a huge reach - you’re right in that I’m certainly not guaranteed acceptance. The website does list that the NMF scholarship guarantees admission into the honors college but I don’t believe it implies guaranteed admission in and of itself.
Thank y’all for y’alls excellent advice! The suggestions of private schools where I would possibly qualify for merit aid was especially helpful. While my budget is still an important consideration I learned that it was slightly more forgiving than I had thought, opening up some of the less sure-thing schools suggested here. I’ve created an (admittedly large) list that I think I’ll submit:
Private
Tulane
Hendrix
Birmingham-Southern
Loyola N.O.
(might add a west coast Catholic college where my counselor has a full-tuition scholarship I could be nominated for)
Public
Florida State
Texas A&M
South Carolina
Alabama
Oklahoma
Arkansas
LSU
Didn’t say huge reach - but questioning whether it’s a target. If you are right below the 25th percent, then perhaps you pull in - after all, 25% have less. If you do get in, you’ll get the OOS waiver - which is nice.
What you really need to figure out is - what type of school do you want - because an FSU and a Hendrix - they are polar opposites.
You not wanting to go into debt - but that doesn’t say where you hit debt - but as you say - $20K.
So you need to focus on those schools to get you there - and you’ve already heard of many.
So I’m a merit chasing parent. My kids are both under $20K a year - but by their chase. While I chased merit, not to that extreme. One is at Bama and one is at College of Charleston. Now, the C of C one - it was about $40K when we accepted but $25K came in after from the school and that you can’t plan for.
You might swing for the fences - ie still have your Bama, UAH, Arkansas, Mizzou - wherever - but look at an SMU and W&L - who have 100% covered programs. Now, with your GPA it’s highly unlikely - but get on their email lists…they’ll send you free apps. With 20 common app spots and chasing merit - use them all!!!
Make sure each and every school you apply to can get you to your $ that you need.
Do you have financial need? We don’t know - just that you don’t want to run into debt. Do an NPC at a meets need school - like U Miami - just to see where you’d end up.
When I hear you say, naturally beautiful area, low cost, and with your #s, I hear - U of Arkansas!!! I don’t hear FSU although beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Good luck.
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Haha I figured I’d apply to a wide range because after visiting colleges my favorites were Florida State, Davidson, and Tulane (in that order) and those are not at all similar schools. I’ll coincidentally be in the area of two colleges on this list next week and am considering doing a quick visit or two to further discern this.
Could you elaborate on these? I’ve never heard of either, and Naviance has students with lower GPA (although presumably, with a much more forgiving budget) getting in.
This is complicated - in short, yes, I have significant need if the finances of a non-custodial parent aren’t considered (FASFA-only schools). But my custodial parent just got a job paying significantly more and I’m not sure how that would affect financial aid down the line in college - so I think it’d be easier to chase merit
The panhandle is nicer than you would expect but it is called Tallanasty for a reason😂 Arkansas from what I’ve heard so far does sound like everything I’m looking for and was strongly recommended by my counselor. For sure applying there.
Thank you so much for the input!
SMU - Southern Methodist - beautiful school in Dallas - don’t worry about the name - but SMU is a top school. Washington & Lee is like Davidson - in fact, ranked higher but a top LACs - a gorgeous campus, in a cute town, in the mountains of Virginia - look up the Johnson Scholarship.
FSU is a nice campus - in fact, I prefer it over UF. But when I hear natural beauty - and I’m talking the area - NW Arkansas - the Fayetteville area - is just gorgeous. The Panhandle and Tallahassee - ehhh - sure, nice beaches but far away. I’m not dismissing FSU - great school - just looking at your words - natural beauty - I think UVM, Va Tech, and more - but then I have to hit your price point. Like Bama - it’s perfect for you - but natural beauty - no. The campus yes - the area - no.
That’s all I meant.
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I meant the 100% coverage scholarships haha but the names are helpful. Thank you
If you do Davidson ED I would call it a Match rather than Reach (still far from sure thing but decent odds).
W&L = Johnson Scholarship
I believe SMU is the President’s Scholarship.
Get on both their email lists…and they’ll start peppering you.
American U has the Frederick Douglas…it’s another.
Don’t just consider. Do go visit the schools. Call the admissions office and set up tours of the campus. Getting a real sense of the campus, the vibe, what the schools offer…that’s very important. And, some schools really value demonstrate interest and a visit to the campus definitely qualifies.
I didn’t see your Junior year PSAT score. What was it? That’s what NM is based on, not ACT.
Agree with others-36 ACT and your gpa don’t align well.
1470, 221 index. I don’t think my state’s cutoff has ever been above 217 at the absolute most.
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Ahh, that’s good then! NM semi or finalist will definitely open doors.
Texas A&M gives big bucks to Semi & Finalist, I’d definitely apply there.
If you’re open to smaller schools, you might consider adding Sewanee to your list. In the category of non-urban/beautiful surroundings, the setting is unmatched. In terms of “existent campus life and social scene,” it is known for its vibrant and low-toxicity Greek system, which is balanced by amazing outdoor pursuits in which many students partake. The French department is strong and runs its own cohort-based, faculty-led study abroad program each fall in Nantes. French & French Studies | The University of the South There’s also a Business Honors Program that could be a good fit for your interests Carey Fellows Business Honors Program | The University of the South and it has an admissions cycle for continuing students as well as one for entering first-years. (Business is a minor, not a major, but it can be combined with a major in Econ or French or anything else.)
The median weighted GPA of the most recent entering class is 3.74, so you’re solidly above median there and way above median test score wise. So I think your potential for significant merit is excellent. (Yet, it’s a very well-regarded school that would likely be a lot more competitive for admissions if more students were willing to attend non-urban LAC’s in the south.) To get to your price point, you’d need full-tuition merit, and it looks like they only award four of those per year, so that’s a reach by definition, but not impossible.
Another possibility would be UNC Asheville - another gorgeous natural setting, and a relatively affordable public LAC with good merit potential.
A financial safety worth considering would be Truman State, Missouri’s Honors LAC. You’d get the maximum auto-merit so your maximum COA, even before possible additional scholarships, would be under 20K. It’s a strong school academically, with a nice mid-sized student body (5700 undergrads) and robust undergrad business programs. Truman students do well with grad school admissions. Truman State University at a Glance
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