<p>I have this forum to thank for full-tuition at Fordham and Northeastern.</p>
<p>atomom,
Thanks for the info on UTD. It is the school highly recommended by my child’s counselor from the NMS list, but we haven’t visited it. I know there are a lot of commuters. How about out-of state students? Do they fit in well? We heard that Texas has its unique culture and people either like Texas a lot or dislike it a lot. UTD already offers a generous AES before the result of NMSF. It seems to be a very good choice, both academcally and financially. The only uncertain aspect is the social one. My child is not a big fan of any sports and definitely will be a science/math major (not a geek but fun-loving). My child also cares about the diversity of the campus (not just race but also interests/religion etc). Any input is welcome. We live very far away from UTD and do not know anyone with connections to Texas.</p>
<p>Meliora … I live near UTD. I would not be too concerned about the cultural fit of Texas since most people living in this part of north Dallas are transplants from other parts of the US and international. Richardson was the heart of the “telecom corridor” boom that occured up to 2000 and has a lot of tech companies including TI. UTD is in a very safe area and is targeted to be Texas’ fourth Tier 1 school after UT-Austin, TAMU, and Rice. It is a young school but quickly on the rise.</p>
<p>Meliora, I live in N.Dallas/FW as well and have friends who have kids at UTD. Although it would be very easy for them to come home, I seldom see them as they stay on campus most weekends which to me indicates there is a decent social atmosphere.</p>
<p>UTD is a great school. My husband works for one of the top companies here in engineering and back when he was hiring people right out of college, they would go to UTD for them. </p>
<p>Campus life? Well, in Texas, I find that many of the schools, most of the schools actually, seem to really like in campus life. That does not mean they won’t have anything, the colleges just don’t seem to do much to have things going on on campus for students. Everyone I know that went to UTD either continued to live at home or lived in an apartment near campus. Therefore, if they had their own apartment, there would be little point to driving home and staying in your old bedroom on weekends. But, they still were not around campus. I think I might drive out there this afternoon and see if there is anything going on on campus as I want my son to at least THINK about the school. He is a computer science major and could have a scholarship there and does not have a job to pay much toward college (he was already accepted to his top choices). (he is not the one of my children that MIGHT be a NMSF, my husband and I were though, my sister was, my mother was, you get the idea).</p>
<p>@patesq - Connect with parent56 whose S is at UAB. I think it hit their radar due to NM and his S is thriving there.</p>
<p>Opaline, the honors and full tuition at Northeastern will be automatic if you get NMF. The full tuition is not ‘tuition and fees’ I believe. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.</p>
<p>@patesq - Connect with parent56 whose S is at UAB. I think it hit their radar due to NM and his S is thriving there.</p>
<p>Parent56 is a mom. 
</p>
<p>They live in the Bham area so she’s always known about UAB.</p>
<p>Thanks - I’ve messaged with parent56 - she has been quite helpful with information about UAB.</p>
<p>I’ve actually only considered Texas A&M because - I THINK - with financial awards, they would potentially give ~$9k/yr extra (engineering tuition+fees and Hart Halls housing subtracted from the maximum offer of ~$21k/yr).
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12308142-post13.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12308142-post13.html</a></p>
<p>If one includes a $1,200/semester meal plan, that would be approximately $6,600/yr before work study. </p>
<p>Does anyone know of any other universities that issue a refund check each semester for those who qualify for the maximum amount of financial aid as well?</p>
<p>DumbArse, how exactly did you calculate $6,600 per year for A&M? I’m curious because for me, I think it would be $7,500 per year with a scholarship from my college of choice in addition to NMF awards from the school. So I’m wondering if I missed out on something or miscalculated…</p>
<p>We looked at and visited a number of schools before the merit scholarship offer came in for Rice. Some schools listed below don’t get much attention here on CC, but they are definitely worth a look.</p>
<p>University of North Texas. Full ride. We visited.</p>
<p>Oklahoma State University Almost a full ride. We visited.</p>
<p>University of Houston. Full ride. We visited.</p>
<p>University of Oklahoma. Tuition plus a little more. This was next on her list if Rice didn’t work out. We visited.</p>
<p>Baylor University. Between NMF and high SAT, the school offers tuition plus a little more. </p>
<p>University of Central Florida. Appears to be a full ride. </p>
<p>University of Arkansas. I can’t remember the details, but they were offering a good deal, and she was invited to apply for additional scholarship programs where it looked like she stood a good chance of getting close to a full ride.</p>
<p>Texas A&M. The offer on their website doesn’t look that great, but from everything I’ve read here on CC they will ultimately make a good offer after applying.</p>
<p>If anyone has questions about the schools we visited, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>The awards:
NM: $40k/4 = $10k/yr
Regents’ Scholarship: $5,000/yr (as long as under max amount)
Pell Grant: $5,550/yr
Opportunity Award: $1k/yr? (everyone from that thread got it I think; it’s actually $100 to $12,500 per yr)
-> enough for the $21,539 mentioned in that post</p>
<p>The costs:
2(4,652.84) for tuition+fees <a href=“http://sbs.tamu.edu/media/22482/EN%20UG%20Resident%20FY12-13.pdf[/url]”>http://sbs.tamu.edu/media/22482/EN%20UG%20Resident%20FY12-13.pdf</a>
2(1,489) for Hart Halls [Residence</a> Hall Living - Hart Hall](<a href=“http://reslife.tamu.edu/housing/halls/hart/]Residence”>http://reslife.tamu.edu/housing/halls/hart/)
2(1,200) for 10 meals/week [Dining</a> Plan Options: Dining Plans: University Dining](<a href=“Dine On Campus”>Dine On Campus)</p>
<p>The subtracting:
21,539.00 (probably more because that post is two years old)
-2,978.00
-9,305.68
-2,400.00
=6,855.32</p>
<p>Tell me what you think.</p>
<p>Edit: OH it is most likely because of the $800/yr “Engineering Differential Tuition”</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>OU stacks scholarships and grants, and considers them before awarding the NM scholarship, so it is possible to get more than the total cost per year. Is that what you’re asking?</p>
<p>Yes I suppose. I just find that most of these universities don’t give enough for food.</p>
<p>I have twins (DS and DD) who are both NMSF. University of Kentucky is our state flagship and both are strongly considering it due to their honors college and full-ride offer. Also, Vanderbilt offers NMF an additional $5k per year on top of FA package but we are waiting for admissions decision there.</p>
<p>DD will go to med school and has the NMF offers from Univ. of Cincinnati and Univ. of Louisville along with their direct admission to their med schools. Both twins have also applied to Duke and Notre Dame. DS has been accepted at Purdue and Georgia Tech.</p>
<p>rmldad: I suggest you verify how the NMF is applied with respect to FA at Vanderbilt. I have a NMF son at Vanderbilt and I think the $5K reduces your FA rather than on top of it.</p>
<p>My daugher NMSF is choosing between:</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>To those who have visited OU and Alabama, could you share your observations between the 2? We have visited OU, and may visit Alabama in March.</p>
<p>^ This thread a little ways back might be of interest to you:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1329796-big-merit-packages-observations.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/1329796-big-merit-packages-observations.html</a></p>