Where and how does one get significant aid/full rides?

Paying for College
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<p>My family is not low income, we're in the 100,000-150,000 bracket. However, my parents haven't really saved much of anything and they're really loathe to pay any significant amount of full tuition costs for most schools I want to attend. Since I'm probably not gonig to be getting any need-based aid, I'm looking at less prestigious schools (my favorites before were Northwestern, UCLA, SUNY Purchase) to see if I can reduce the cost to my family.</p>

<p>But my question is this: how does one get full rides to a school? What kind of merit-based scholarships are out there? I know there are plenty of general, small $1000 scholarships that you can get for writing an essay or whatever... but what do individual schools offer? Is there anyway to find out in advance the likelihood of getting significant financial aid from certain schools? Any advice or school suggestions is very welcome!</p>

<p>A few stats:
GPA - 3.74
SAT - 720 Math, 760 Reading, 770 Writing, 2250 Total
Extracurriculars - Various community service (100 hours), Theatre (which includes acting, directing, tech, being treasurer of the club, and an average of 25 hours per week spent on theatre-related activities)</p>

<p>I'm hoping to major in Theatre with a minor in Business, Marketing, something law related... not sure yet. </p>

<p>I'm in Oregon, so if there are any in-state schools that seem like a good fit... thanks!</p>

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<p>This thread has guaranteed merit scholarships based on your stats. Looks like you’ll qualify.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>amespeed, what as your Junior year PSAT? Are you a likely NM finalist? That can open many doors for full tuition and full ride opportunities.</p>

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<p>Thanks, that’s really useful. I’m also hoping that there are some places where it may not be guaranteed, but it’s probable/possible that I can get significant financial aid. I have no idea where to look, though, to figure where my best bets are for that sort of thing. </p>

<p>Also, my school had us take the PSATs sophomore year… so I don’t think I’m eligible. I got a letter a long time ago (like, Sophomore year) talking about the contest, but it never got followed up on… only now do I realize what that actually was. =/</p>

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<p>Ok…you need a strategy.</p>

<p>1) The best scholarships that are for all 4 years are from the universities that give them.</p>

<p>2) You need to identify 2 different types of schools…
…A) Schools that give competitive large merit scholarships (no assurance)
…B) Schools that give ASSURED large scholarships for your stats.</p>

<p>3) You need to find out EXACTLY how much your parents will spend each year on college…$5k? $10k? $15k? That figure will largely determine which schools will likely be affordable to you.</p>

<p>4) The UCs are not going to make themselves affordable to you. They want OOS students to pay full freight to bring in more cash.</p>

<p>5) Northwestern is mostly a need-based school. You can apply “just to see,” but assume it won’t be affordable. The same with other schools that are likely to be unaffordable…you can apply to a few and see.</p>

<p>6) You need to apply to at least 2-3 financial safety schools where you’re CERTAIN that you have all costs covered by ASSURED merit scholarships, small fed student loans, and family funds. </p>

<p>It is highly unlikely that you’d be able to get private-sourced scholarships to help you with school costs. Those are very hard to get, often for smallish amounts, often have a “need” component, and often ONLY for freshman year. …so no money to pay for years 2, 3, and 4.</p>

<p>Scholarships do NOT reduce EFC in a way that you may think. For instance, if the school costs $50k, and you have an EFC of $30k, and your parents will only pay $20k, that does NOT mean that if you get $10k per year in scholarship that you can apply that to your EFC. No, that money will get applied to your need.</p>

<p>However, if the school costs $35k and your EFC is $30k and then you get a merit scholarship for $20k per year, then - hurray - your parents only have to pay $15k per year. </p>

<p>So, find out how much your parents will pay each year…and then we’ll help you out.</p>

<p>*I’m hoping to major in Theatre with a minor in Business, Marketing, something law related… not sure yet. *</p>

<p>*I’m also hoping that there are some places where it may not be guaranteed, *</p>

<p>You need to apply to both types of schools…some with guaranteed and some with competitive. That way, you’ll know for sure that you have something in your pocket in case you don’t get the “iffy” ones.</p>

<p>Capish??</p>

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<p>SUNY Purchase? If you’re thinking about a SUNY school at least go for a better one, SUNY Buffalo, Binghamton, and Stony Brook are all better colleges than Purchase</p>

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<p>@mom2collegekids</p>

<p>Thanks you SO much, that’s incredibly helpful. I’ll get on figuring out exactly what my parents are and aren’t willing to do.</p>

<p>@ASticks</p>

<p>Purchase is prestigious within the theatre world, and I like its proximity to New York and its business program.</p>

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<p>Amespeed–one other option to consider since you’re a Oregon resident is the WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange)–which allows residents of western states to attend public universities in other western states for 150% of in-state tuition.</p>

<p>[Western</a> Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) | Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education](<a href=“http://wiche.edu/wue]Western”>Save On College Tuition | Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE))</p>

<p>Not all western publics participate (CA, in particular) in WUE, but it gives you some other schools to look at.</p>

<p>One school you might look at University of New Mexico. NM has a growing film industry and UNM has invested heavily in new state of the art production facilities. You should take at look at the IFDM (Interdisciplinary Film and Digital Media) program which offers among many other things–a business degree with a concentration in film production.</p>

<p>Additionally with your stats you’re likely to receive a Amigo Scholarship (which gives you in-state tuition rates plus $200/year for travel) Scroll to bottom half of page for OOS scholarships.</p>

<p>[Home</a> :: Scholarship Office | The University of New Mexico](<a href=“http://scholarship.unm.edu/scholarships/undergraduate.php]Home”>http://scholarship.unm.edu/scholarships/undergraduate.php)</p>

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<p>Once you know what your parents will pay each year, come back and we can help you. </p>

<p>Also, be sure that both parents are “on board” with the stated budget. There have been kids who’ve been told X amount by one parent only to find out later that the other parent is not on board at all with that amount. </p>

<p>If your parents are vague, then suggest some amounts… </p>

<p>For instance…ask them…if I get a full tuition scholarship, then my remaining costs will be about $12-15k for room, board, books, fees, travel, misc expenses. Are you ok with paying that amount each year? If they say “yes”, then find out if they’re willing to pay more.</p>

<p>If they say that they can’t even pay that much, then gently explore to find out what they are comfortable paying.</p>