<p>I don't mean state schools such as UPitt which I know are very generous with money, but what are the "top" schools that give a lot of money? For example, I have seen a few people online and in my peers that have gotten a FULL scholarship to duke! (merit based). That blows my mind. I have pretty strong stats, and though I don't think I'll be strong enough for something like a full scholarship @ Duke, I'm wondering if there are other top schools that are known to be generous like that. </p>
<p>Are you ONLY looking for private universities that give good merit awards…or are you also looking at top schools that give need based money too? </p>
<p>I personally think Pitt is an excellent school. That being said…many schools have good merit awards for the tippy top students. Boston University has the Trustee Scholarship, Vanderbilt has good merit awards, U of Southern CA gives good merit awards to high stats accepted students.</p>
<p>However, if you are currently a senior, you may have missed the early application deadlines for the most generous scholarships at a lot of these schools. Many require that applications AND financial aid applications be sent by December 1 at the latest for consideration for these very generous awards. AND many of these also require a separate application/letters of reference, etc. which are also due on the early side.</p>
<p>The very tippy top schools do not give merit aid…only need based aid.</p>
<p>What do you consider “top schools”? And are finances a criteria, or the location of the school on the USNews list?</p>
<p>Agree that as a current sr you’re late for the large full tuition or full tuition + R&B scholarships. You need to be nominated for some of them and others have early submission dates for either scholarship or admissions apps.</p>
<p>The usual suspects going down the USN&WR rankings through #30 are: UChicago, Duke, WUSTL, Vandy, Emory, USC, UVA, Wake (?), UMichigan (has changed recently), UNC-CH. Note, the Robertson scholarship at Duke & UNC-CH is administered by a separate organization, not the colleges.</p>
<p>keep in mind just because a school states that it has a policy for graduating students with no debt, does not mean the the student will necessarily graduate debt free. Some students may need to borrow to help their family meet the EFC, while others may borrow for incidental items.</p>
<p>Well that’s unfortunate that I found about this FA game late. Which of the schools that you mentioned are the “apply by <em>date I already missed</em>” scholarships? I thought that these scholarships were just awarded based on your application to these schools.</p>
<p>Anyways, I got a full ride to Upitt, and they are giving me the opportunity to apply for free room&board and meal plans, which is great! Soo just wondering what other schools are in the same boat. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses. I’ll be applying to many of those schools!</p>
<p>Don’t forget that some merit scholarships are also need-based in that if your family income is too high, you won’t get it, despite your stats. So be sure to check that out when looking at financial aid.</p>
<p>What are you thinking of majoring in? My daughter just graduated from Pitt and loved it. Pitt has many strong departments, some not as good. Opportunities for research at Pitt can also be great, depending on the field of interest.</p>
<p>Also, if you’re a NMF, that would open up some more possibilities, but not for “top” schools.</p>
<p>Go and check EACH website. Yes…some of these scholarships are awarded based on the strength of your application BUT some of the schools are very clear…for consideration of their most generous awards, applications and financial aid applications are due by an early priority date.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your Pitt award. Really, Pitt is an excellent university!!</p>
<p>For duke, ther is no separate application for the prestigious AB Duke full-ride scholarships (about 15 offered per year). Just apply by the RD January deadline and you will be considered, along with all other applicants. At Vandy, there are separate scholarship applications for the Cornelius Vanderbilt and Ingram (Dec 1 and 15 I believe) merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Okay thanks everyone. I’ll look at some websites, oh boy, what trouble lol. </p>
<p>I am a NMF, well at least I was a NMSF so hopefully I will be a NMF (I hear most become NMF anyways)</p>
<p>My family income is around 100k-150k, so I am eligible for some need based benefits, but not a ton. Dad didn’t have a job for 1.5 years. Back when he had a job, we had about 170k. Unfortunately that’s at the range where if we get aid, it will be very little. IMO it’s the family income level that is hit the hardest in the need-based FA process >_></p>
<p>USC is one with an early scholarship deadline: December 1st. If accepted, you are eligible for a 1/2 tuition scholarship as a NMSF even if you miss the scholarship deadline, and there are over 150 full-tuition scholarships (Trustee and Mork) that will be awarded to applicants who apply by December 1st.</p>
<p>*Anyways, I got a full ride to Upitt, and they are giving me the opportunity to apply for free room&board and meal plans, which is great! Soo just wondering what other schools are in the same boat.
*</p>
<p>Sounds like you have a “full tuition” scholarship to UPitt…not a full ride. It sounds like you’re now applying for the “full ride”. A full ride includes tuition, room, board, books…it’s not just free tuition.</p>
<p>*I thought that these scholarships were just awarded based on your application to these schools. *</p>
<p>No! Many schools have scholarship applications that must be filled out early…like Nov 15th or Dec 1st…especially some of the better schools.</p>
<p>With an income of $100k-150k, you may not get as much FA as you need. If your dad was unemployed for awhile, your parents may not be in any situation to pay the $33k+ per year that they would be expected to pay. </p>
<p>How much will your parents pay each year? If you don’t know, ask them! You need to know if they can’t pay much or enough so that you can apply to the right schools. </p>
<p>What is your intended major? If you don’t really like Pitt (some don’t like the campus), then you need to quickly apply elsewhere.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that merit scholarships do NOT get applied to EFC first…merit scholarships first get applied to “need” and if there’s anything left over, then it gets applied to EFC.</p>
<p>@Mom2collegekids - oh woops. yeah I got the full tuition, and can now apply for full ride. Didn’t know there was a technical difference. </p>
<p>At a top ivy league school, my parents would be expected to pay 15k-35k per year based on how generous the school is, they estimate. Hard to say. </p>
<p>And I will be looking through those links, thanks lurkness!</p>
<p>*At a top ivy league school, my parents would be expected to pay 15k-35k per year based on how generous the school is, they estimate. Hard to say. </p>
<p>*</p>
<p>So have you asked your parents if they’re prepared to pay $35k per year? If not and you’re not happy with UPitt, then you need another financial safety. You have no idea if you’ll get accepted to the VERY few schools that give the super aid.</p>
<p>My parents tend to stay silent on “how much they will pay,” since by their philosophy they will pay whatever will help me (i.e education, college, violin lessons, etc) but not pay a penny for something like a 10$ video game lol.</p>
<p>But I suspect they will be comfortable paying 15k/4years. I think the max they will pay is 25k/4years, and the rest will be left up to me. </p>
<p>My intended major is biology/neuroscience, and I intend to do pre-med, unless the school is very good in business (like wharton/stern), in which case I’ll do both business and biology.</p>
<p>Thanks for the link! Will be looking at it all tonight.</p>