<p>Over the months of perusing this board and others like it, I have heard parents say they have called the financial/admission offices to find out what could be done to increase the amount of merit aid and have received responses in increased score numbers. For example: being told that the aid increases substantially if they get another 50 points on the SAT or increase their GPA by .5...are there any solid numbers out there that can help us determine merit aid for daughter's list of schools? Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>Maybe I am misinterpreting your question…but since merit aid requirements are different for every school, wouldn’t you be able to find the listing on the financial aid section of the schools’ websites? If I misunderstood what you are asking, let me know. </p>
<p>The schools’ website often posted the requirements for their merit scholarships</p>
<p>Okay, I’ll check each website. I thought for some reason they were “guidelines”… thank you. My daughter is 20 points from a round # and doesn’t really want to take the SAT for a third time (and ACT is out of the question) but for 20 points it might have to happen.</p>
<p>^You could ask your list of schools if they superscore SAT for the merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Each school sets its own qualifications for merit aid. At my DD#1’s school, there is a chart on the website that shows exactly what an OOS student needs for each level of the award, by gpa and score. No rounding up, so a 3.4999 is not a 3.5. Very clear.</p>
<p>DD#2’s school uses a matrix, and it changes slightly so there might be more wiggle room. Using the NPC you can figure out that last year, a 3.7 gpa with a 28 ACT score would get $XXX, but a 3.8 and a 24 ACT would get less. They also use the class rank somehow, which I thought was totally unfair as many schools didn’t publish class rank so two students with identical gpa’s and scores could be treated differently. </p>
<p>Many schools will not superscore for merit.</p>
<p>At my kids’ undergrad, merit is clearly spelled out. Kids have until Dec tests senior year to increase their scores to get more merit. For many, taking an extra 10-30 pts can mean tens of thousands in more merit over 4 years. </p>
<p>Test scores usually mean a LOT more than GPA. Schools will rarely increase merit for some small increase in GPA…for instance, a 3.8 GPA isn’t going to get much/any increase over a 3.7. However, a 1330 M+CR SAT could get a $10k per year increase over a 1320 SAT.</p>
<p>Well, I looked at all seven schools and only two are clear. Since they are early applications, should we wait it out and she could always take the SAT again in the spring if necessary. Or maybe I should call. Not sure. Too bad test scores are more important. Her GPA is fantastic, her scores very good (reading is killing her scores 
). Almost as important was getting the minimum Reading/Math at the flagship honors school. She just made it. Hopefully with the rest of her credentials she’ll get in. This is our one absolute financial safety. If you can call $30K a financial safety, not chuckling.</p>
<p>Definitely call the schools and talk to the admissions offices.</p>
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she could always take the SAT again in the spring if necessary. </p>
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<p>Many schools will not accept a senior year spring score for merit consideration. Schools are determining who gets merit rather early, so many won’t use a score after Dec for merit. </p>
<p>If you want your D to retest, she better take the Dec test. </p>
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<p>The reason that test scores are more important is that too many schools have grade inflation. At many schools today, a huge number of applicants are applying with 3.75+ GPAs. Who do you give the merit awards to when so many have high GPAs??? That is why test scores are used.</p>
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if you call $30k a safety
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<p>What are your D’s stats? If $30k is pricey for you, why not have her apply to a couple of schools that would cost less with merit for her stats? </p>
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Like another poster, daughter is driving herself crazy trying to figure out her list for EA. For the most part, we think there are 3 matches and 3 safeties. She’ll have what we think are 4 reaches and 4 matches RD. She’d like some reassurance that her EA are appropriate. She has a few teachers unhappy with her list and encouraging her to choose more selective schools both EA and RD but she based the list on the extensive research we’ve done re: matches and merit aid, etc.:</p>
<p>White/MA/needs financial aid, custodial = $40K, ncp = $120K
IB diploma student: High: Bio/Math/Spanish and Low: Latin, English, History, straight As and A+s so far in hs
GPA: 4.2 UW, thinks 5.0W but not sure (one class giving her a hard time so might drop a bit)
SATS: CR 600 Math 630 [writing]690, took again, expect small increase, hopefully around 2000 or better
ACT: Not worth mentioning and isn’t going to take it again due to time constrictions of the test
School doesn’t rank but she knows she is top 5% of 110, they only do deciles?
GSA Gold Award project approved, award projected March 2015</p>
<p>Dickinson
Simmons
UMass Amherst Honors
UScranton
Ithica
St. Michaels</p>
<p>FWIW, her RD list is Wesleyan, Vassar, Barnard, Colby and Wellesley, Skidmore, Smith, Mt. Holyoke
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<p>Ignore what her teachers are saying. They aren’t paying and they’re not considering her scores. </p>
<p>Your D has a 1230 M+CR. Respectable scores, but not going to get good sized merit at many schools. Don’t know the merit policies at the listed schools. I doubt she’d get much/anything from her RD list.</p>
<p>Since her non-custodial parent earns a good salary, is he going to be paying for most of college? If not, how will college get paid for? </p>
<p>Who will be paying for her safety? </p>
<p>Maybe some here can recommend some schools where her stats would get more merit. </p>
<p>BTW…most test optional schools do require students to submit scores for merit consideration. So if merit is required, going test optional probably won’t work.</p>
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<p>I’m curious…why? </p>
<p>She’s more likely to significantly exceed her current high mark by taking the ACT than by repeating the SAT a third time.</p>
<p>Wesleyan, Vassar, Barnard, Colby and Wellesley, Skidmore, Smith, Mt. Holyoke Out of those, I see substantial merit possibilities just from Mt Holyoke. Most of those schools don’t even offer merit money. And with those that do,the chances of getting big amounts are low. It’s a competitive process.</p>
<p>Unless a school has guaranteed awards fro certain numbers, you never really know what you will be getting. You can hope. You can guess. The higher the test scores and the more special hooks a student has, the better the chances, but chances are all they are. Merit money is used to bring the students a school most wants. High test scores, yes, will do it, along with other things like geographic diversity, gender (for schools trying to achieve or maintain a certain ratio), URM status, and other things on the school’s wish list. </p>
<p>A nice “quick test” is Fordham’s NPC. Takes you just a few minutes. Play around with test scores and grades, and you can see what they will likely pay for those factors as their NPC does include merit. Not guaranteed, but gives you a good idea what that school might give your DD. OFten, however, cut offs depend on who else is in the applicant pool. If she stands out in some regard, in this year’s pools, the odds and amounts go up. Also look for schools with merit money that require separate apps and essays, which could give her an additional factor for the scholarship committee to consider. Tulane is a good example. Otherwise, it’s schools that give guaranteed amounts for set numbers that should be also on her list to ensure she gets something. YOu know exactly what you are getting that way.</p>
<p>@DreamSchlDropout </p>
<p>In another thread, the mom wrote something that implied that the D did far worse on the ACT…so badly that they won’t report the score. So, likely they feel that the ACT is not worth attempting again. </p>
<p>I am a little surprised that the teachers are pressuring school choices. They should at least be asking what her scores are. It’s silly to be suggesting/insisting more competitive schools than the ones listed when her scores aren’t high. Plus, when merit is needed, the list should include schools where her stats are high, not average.</p>
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<p>I know that MHC does give merit, but don’t they usually require higher test scores? How much do you think her test scores would get? $10k per year? more? Any merit she’d get would get applied to need (does the mom know that), and likely wouldn’t change the expected family contribution.</p>
<p>FWIW, her second set of SATS came in yesterday and were much better: 600/750/720 (2070). Her ACT score was 25. NCP parent will pay $10K/year because he already pays significant child support which of course is included in my numbers for the sake of FAFSA and CSS. Between the three of us, including the max student loan of $5500, we are looking at $25K/year. The financial safeties (and I’m pretty sure they are safeties lol) are Simmons and UMass Amherst. Possibly UScranton and Ithaca. The gamble is what each of the other schools consider 100% need met. Does Wellesley consider $150K wealthy and able to contribute 30% or not? So many variables. Every school on the RD list is 100% need met but every one of them also require NCP. From what I can gather from crunching the new numbers, her stats/credentials are high for Colby, Skidmore, and Smith but about average for Mt. Holyoke, Barnard and Bates.</p>
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600/750/720 (2070). Her ACT score was 25. NCP parent will pay $10K/year because he already pays significant child support which of course is included in my numbers for the sake of FAFSA and CSS. </p>
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<p>Good job! So, now her M+CR is a 1350? Nice improvement! Does that get her better merit at some schools?</p>
<p>You do understand that merit gets applied to NEED first…it is applied straight to the top…it doesn’t get applied to family contribution. </p>
<p>Will the dad’s child support decrease or completely cease when this child graduates? And is your $40k income including the CS your receive? </p>
<p>As you may know, the net price calculators don’t work well when there is a NCP. As to how W will consider a parent with a $150k income, is unknown. Does your ex live alone? If so, then that income is substantial for a single adult. If he has remarried, then his new wife’s income will count as well. </p>
<p>I would guess that schools would expect a $150k household to contribute 30% or more. There will be some adjustment for child support, I suppose, but if that is going to be decreasing, then the adjustment may be small. Unless she were to get into HYPS, I can’t imagine any school only expecting the NCP to pay $10k</p>
<p>Just took another look at UScranton and its a safety according to their NPC at $26K. Daughter is short 50 points on CR/Math for a full Pres scholarship possibility. I think I’ll call the school and see if this is black and white. The other problem is the school rank, preferably top 2% which daughter is (we think 2 or 3 of 109) but school only ranks in deciles. Guess only the financial aid office at the school can clarify for us. But I am feeling a little better now having looked at this school again. I wasn’t thrilled with it, but daughter did like it and if I remember its a top safety choice for her. She really doesn’t want UMass because of size and Simmons will end up being a “can’t afford anywhere else” choice. Thanks for everyone’s input, much appreciated.</p>
<p>CS stays the same throughout college and my EFC total is anywhere from $5-7K, fed/inst. I was pretty sure no school was going to think ex contribution based on his income would only be $10K but if daughter and I can come up with $15 instead of the $5K EFC, it would be like assessing him a cost of $20K. Guess that is what I’m hoping for lol. Not sure if they take into consideration that we were never married, I think some schools might, some might not. Unfortunately, his financial issue is an IRS problem which limits his assistance tremendously. I’m pretty sure no colleges want to hear about that but fwiw I have no idea what he’ll put on his NCP paperwork.</p>