<p>I am a Las Vegas resident who is planning to attend UNR, however, my confidence is being swayed. I chose UNR because it is cheaper than many out of state options, and because it is not UNLV. With my academics, I have received a $5,000 merit scholarship for UNR, and a full ride to UNLV. My mother is slowly pressuring me to take the full ride, but I do not want to stay home for college, and my friends are telling me I am too good for the instate universities. They are applying to Stanford, John Hopkins, Cal Poly, etc..., and I am wondering if I am making a mistake not doing the same. Financially, my parents have some money saved up to just barely cover 4 years at UNR (assuming I get a few scholarships besides the merit scholarship UNR has already awarded me). It is their money, and don't want to be disrespectful, so should I feel bad for taking the more expensive option (UNR) over the free option (UNLV)?</p>
<p>I guess the real question is whether I am making a mistake?
I am planning in majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
My GPA unweighted: 4.00 Weighted: 4.80
SAT: 2060
ACT: 33</p>
<p>Have you checked the automatic full tuition/full ride thread in the Financial Aid forum (see the last page for current info)? There are several schools that would give you a full ride (or at least full tuition) as an out-of-state student. The University of Alabama extended the application deadline until Jan. 6 (short, easy application).</p>
<p>You also should make a careful comparison of the course options offered at UNLV and UNR for your major. For example, UNLV offers Entertainment Engineering and Design which would be compatible with a Mechanical Engineering major. UNR might offer something distinct as well that would give you a reason to go there instead of to UNLV.</p>
<p>UNR isn’t a very good university and a $5,000 scholarship isn’t much if you can get need-based aid (or merit aid). However it IS better than UNLV. (Wasn’t there a student whose mother was a professor at UNLV’s Honors College and wouldn’t let her apply there even as a safety? And that student didn’t have your stats if I recall properly… So really UNLV should be a solution of last resort.)
Apply to UAlabama’s Presidential scholarship - use your ACT (you need 32 and it’s automatic full tuition + stipend for the College of Engineering, full tuition for the rest, + honors college and honors dorms.) UAlabama is still (much) better than UNR.
Also, apply to a few “tech” schools like Olin, Rose Hulman, RIT, WPI, RPI - some may offer need-based and merit aid; plus SD School of Mines, Colorado School of Mining, Missouri School of Technology and Science, all of which would be better than UNR and may be cheaper, too (depending on scholarship offers).
Would you qualify for need-based aid? If so, check out the schools that meet 100% need - you may actually end up paying LESS than at UNR for a better education. DO apply, then compare financial aid packages.
[100%</a> Meet Need Colleges | CollegeGreenlight](<a href=“Colleges with Need-Blind Admission for U.S. Students”>Colleges with Need-Blind Admission for U.S. Students)
Some have deadlines on Jan 15 (most have deadlines on Jan 1 so you’d have to spend all day tomorrow doing the supplements… hoping you’ve already completed the CommonApp…?)
Don’t forget to look at the full ride/full tuition scholarships mentioned above.
Finally, check out the WUE system (exchange).
However UNR has some specialties you may not find elsewhere - but for Mech Eng I assume it’ll be easy to find your major.</p>