Suggestions pls - psych major + marching band + need merit aid

College Search & Selection
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<p>My ds is a junior, stats 3.8 uw gpa, 4.25 w-gpa, 630 cr, 710 m, 690 w (will be retaking, cr is lower than expected from practice tests/prep class). Thinks of studying psych but interested in archaeology. Mostly APs/Honors classes. Drum major (of 300 person state-champ marching band for 2 yr, jazz band 4 yr, private lessons, school pep band leader, drum major summer academy 2 yr. Made area (honor) band. NHS, some community svc/religious activities. </p>

<p>We were looking at U of Mich, Penn St, U of Miami, Cornell, UVA, UNC - Chapel Hill, Rutgers (home state) BUT now after reading the threads on financial aid, I am getting very nervous about whether we can afford to be OOS, unless merit aid is given. DS absolutely was turned off by the Rutgers visit, too disjointed and busing between disparate "campuses" besides the security issues but keeping it on the list as the financial safety.</p>

<p>Does anyone have additional recommendations for us, maybe privates who have more merit aid potential? Thanks!</p>

<p>We have visited UVA, UNC, Penn St, Cornell and Rutgers and liked all except Rutgers. UNC is his top choice right now but I know OOS is ridiculously hard. He is preparing a CD to send to the band dept to sell himself, not sure if that makes any difference.</p>

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<p>I am from NJ, and I go to Pitt. One of the main reasons I didn’t want to go to Rutgers was the same as your S: the campus was big, suburban, and you had to take the bus to get to places on campus. In contrast, at Pitt it is possible to get anywhere on campus by walking because it is an urban environment and the campus is smaller. It also gives a lot of generous merit aid to OOS students (I got a full tuition scholarship) but for someone to get that amount you would need a M+CR around over 1450.</p>