<p>I am not sure of your finances but several of the schools mentioned are FAFSA schools and many also give merit aid for certain GPA/SAT/Rank etc. I have found they will effort to be creative and help you find ways to garner the aid not ways to cut you from it!</p>
<p>UBC & UVic are public but the tuition is not too bad and the US $ is stronger than it has been the past few years, so you will get some discount in effect from the exchange rate, but no aid.</p>
<p>Most of the schools listed are more than 30K. I would definitely look at Cal Lutheran. I know several current seniors who were accepted, many had similar stats to your son and most all received some merit aid in the neighborhood of 10K to 15K.
CSU Monterey Bay is not likely to give great aid given CA's budget crisis, however the tuition there is obviously much lower than the private schools.</p>
<p>Forgot to add, I would definitely get on the EFC calculators and see whether you will qualify for any need based aid. Don't make the mistake of only applying to privates and then not being able to afford them. At 30K you will either need a public, need based aid, merit aid, or a combination of the two.</p>
<p>ebeee, thanks for the info on Cal Lu. Its his first choice and frankly, mine, too, for him. He will definitely apply to public and private schools, mostly in So. Cal. As for $$, we will have to look further into that. Long gone are the days when my dad paid less than $200 a semester for me to attend my local state u. Still, with 3 kids in college at the time, it was a struggle for my parents. Now, in that same school, I hear a PARKING PERMIT costs that much!</p>
<p>If he doesn't mind a Christian school he might also look at Westmont College.
My son had a weak GPA but a very strong SAT Math score. Several of the liberal arts schools that were heavily female ended up admitting him plus giving in some merit aid in spite of not making the listed GPA for the awards.</p>
<p>calreader, info on CSUMB is hard to come by but when mine get their FA packages I will share what I can.</p>
<p>I really like CSUMB. It was the safety for my girls and meets the criteria for love thy safety. Awesome outdoor program w/ multiple trips a month LAC size w/ CSU prices, The dorms rock. There is an en suite bathroom in every room in the freshman dorms the suites and apts for upperclassmen. The on campus life is active though the town of Seaside isn't great and the campus is not beautiful but both are up and coming. and Montery and Santa Cruz and Carmel are all close enough for an evening out. They just opened a wonderful new library in Dec. Sciences are solid, community service and foreign language are graduation requirements. It lacks a reputatuion because it hasn't been around that long but I do believe that in the next couple of decades it will gain the recognition it deserves.</p>
<p>Sorry extolling the virtues of CSUMB comes naturally!</p>
<p>Do be aware that many of the small FAFSA only privates may have a COA around $35k, if you get $10-15k in merit plus $8k Cal grant and $4k pell grant, that is $22k-27k, still leaving a gap which would likely be loans. Most small privates seem to have some merit aid and govt fin aid, their endowment is not going to fill the gap.</p>
<p>I have a couple of family members at Chapman and they love it there</p>
<p>historymom, thanks - I'll be looking for your report! I know many kids who are thinking of applying and I'm really interested in knowing how this school would be likely to work out financially. Like you, I think most of what I've heard about it sounds very promising.</p>
<p>We liked what we had heard about HUmboldt- D applied and was admitted- but will be attending Western Wa U
Sis attended Reed, D#2 not interested- but you would have to have a frigging amazing essay and refs to stand out with the current crop of apps- still worth a shot but no merit aid.</p>
<p>the WUE schools also include Hawaii
;)</p>
<p>Historymom,
Any report on CSUMB? Just curious now that my S is really looking at schools now.</p>
<p>Soka University in Orange County. New school, but known to be generous with aid since they are looking to build up their student body. Very much into the global perspective/international relations. Funded by Buddists, but is not religious-based school.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, S applied to CSUMB as OOS in early Dec. We have never gotten a decision from them, despite repeated inquiries and assurances that a decision is coming.</p>
<p>lilmom: yep, we were told that we would receive 0 gift aid from them in spite of both DDs being well above the mid range. Also something I found odd was that they didn’t give you your FA package until after you had confirmed enrollment. </p>
<p>We didn’t get the actual FA award, but a phone call confirmed that we could count on nothing but loans from them.</p>
<p>That was disappointing but on the bright side I would look for the avg admitted stats at CSUMB to come up over the next year or so. They over enrolled and are expecting to have a much higher caliber (as measured by GPA and Scores) student body in the coming years. I think that is great for the school.</p>
<p>My DD has taken it off of her list as she has schools she liked better size-wise but it is certainly an underrated CSU that will be improving its reputation over the next few years.</p>
<p>My DS (hs class of '13) will most likely be looking at it as well and I would be thrilled if he decides to attend. He already has said he will be applying to Cal Lutheran too.</p>
<p>Oh and Willamette is amazing. Your S being young man with good stats looking into LACs may find that he is courted more than the average young woman applying to the same schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for the update, historymom. My S still thinks CSUMB too far from home but I think we should at least visit it. I am disappointed to hear that its difficult to get info from them. Good luck to your D.</p>