I’m looking to go to a prestigious university but am worried about finances. We won’t qualify for FA but still need merit money. Here’s what I have
SAT - 1410 overall, 780 M 630 R
Subject tests- 710 Math 2 and 700 USH
GPA- Junior Year taking 8 courses 6 weighted
WGPA - 4.75
Non WGPA - 4.0
I’m excelling in math, as a senior right now I’m taking Linear algebra and discrete math which is second year college math. Looking to major in Finance/Econ/Accounting
Im involved in student government, sophomore year class president junior year school VP and senior year student body president.
I run Cross country (3 year varsity 2 year captain) and track (captain Junior year)
I am Vice President, founding member and bird member of a 501 ©(3) which collects recycling and exchanges it for money to donate to charity
I have a few hundred volunteer hours and am part of an organization that volunteers basically as a group.
Lastly I have an internship at a financial advisory firm and am very passionate about trading stocks/options/bonds.
Thank you!! Everybody else should post their stats down here too !!!
the UC’s give minimal merit aid.
How much can you afford? (we have to know to give you any kind of meaningful advice) What’s your home state? Besides “prestige” what are you looking for in a school? (Part of the country? LAC OK?? big/small? Urban, suburban? Rural OK?)
If you’re not a resident of California, take Berkeley and UCLA off your list (no financial aid for out of state) unless you’re OK with just a shot in the dark, because why not.
Regents/Chancellor’s scholarships at UCB is approximately $2500/year. Regent Scholarships at UCLA are $2000/year.
I would run the Net Price Calculators on both to determine your costs.
Outside of finances, TCU and SMU aren’t prestigious the way UCB and UCLA are. You’re most likely get into both of the former, so the question then is how each of them work out financially.
Katliamom I am a resident of CA. I’m looking for a bigger or school but if I don’t get into one then a large city surrounding it. SMU I read has a top 30 ranking business school which I find great, but I know that does not nearly compare to Haas. I only doubt UCB because it’s surrounding area is a little too much if you ask me. As far as finances go my brother is at SDSU paying full tuition but we can do another 30K a year. Thank you!!
JenJenJenJen I understand where you are coming from when you talk about TCU and SMU but I still find both those schools to offer certain perks which I like. SMU has a great business school and TCU has a great social life and bus’s Ines connection so inside Greek life. Thanks!!
Gumbymom, do you think I could get either of those scholorships?
You need to be one of the top applicants for each school to be considered for the Regents/Chancellor scholarships.
Your stats competitive, but probably not in the top 1-2% of applicants.
UCB selection process:
Faculty select candidates from the top entering applicants who have been admitted to Berkeley, as determined by a holistic review by the Academic Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Honors, and Financial Aid.
California residents and a limited number of domestic out-of-state candidates are invited in early February for a one-on-one interview with a member of Berkeley’s faculty. Interviews take place in late February and early March. Notifications regarding disposition of candidacy are sent at the end of March.
International and transfer candidates are considered for the award via admissions file review by the Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Honors, and Financial Aid.
UCLA’s process;
Students who are determined by Undergraduate Admission to be the strongest applicants within the context of UCLA’s holistic process review are invited to apply for the Regents Scholarship. Of these students, 100 students receive the offer of scholarship.
The application itself is separate from the UC application, and consists of two short personal essays and a letter of recommendation. The application review and selection process is conducted by the faculty advisors to the Regents Scholar Society.
The Scholarship itself consists of:
A $2000 honorarium, provided ex gratia as well as an amount of financial aid sufficient to meet the needs of the scholar
Preferential pre-enrollment in UCLA courses
Guaranteed on-campus housing for four years as long as the application is submitted by the Housing deadline
Guaranteed on-campus parking for scholars that submit the Parking/Transportation application by their perspective deadlines.
Eligibility to join the Regents Scholar Society
However, the recipient of the scholarship must maintain a cumulative GPA at or above 3.0 in order to continue to receive the benefits of the scholarship.