<p>I'm a junior and starting to seriously look at colleges now. I got a 224 on the PSAT and I live in Missouri, so I should become a National Merit Finalist (huzzah). I also took the ACT last winter and got a 33, so hopefully a 34 or 35 is in the cards when I take it the next few times. I've got a decent number of ECs, four-time varsity cross country, four-time varsity track, cross country captain, (likely) track captain, German club, I've been selected to go on a German exchange program, was a grant recipient to go to a National Service conference in California, and a variety of other small things that I'm a part of. I also am editing my friend's book series that he hopes to get published. My grades have always been good, but they slipped a little bit this semester. I took a hard course load (4 APs and two honors) and also went to Australia for two weeks in the middle of the semester, meaning I had a couple B+s in there.</p>
<p>I'm looking to become a Psychologist, meaning I'll probably need a doctorate? So my first question is what options I should look at for undergrad. Unfortunately, I can't look anywhere too prestigious. My parents are only willing to pay about $60k for my whole college education, but they make a good bit of money (My EFC is somewhere around 45-50k). I'm willing to take on some debt for grad school, but I'd like to go to an undergrad that has a good psych program to help me get into a good graduate school.</p>
<p>Your parents have given you a huge advantage by telling you right now what your budget is. Now go to the Financial Aid Forum, and re-post your question with a title along the lines of “PSAT XXX, ACT XX, GPA X.X Parents can pay 15k each year. Where should I look?” The folks there will have ideas for you.</p>
<p>If you make NMF, USC is probably the best school that will give you a large chunk of merit money. (Usually half tuition, sometimes more.) They’re generous with that.</p>
<p>My S is at Fordham and a good friend of his with super stats got a free ride – he loves the school and feels challenged by their great honors program. May be worth looking at.</p>
<p>Shameless University of Pittsburgh promoter here. Pitt has really nice merit money. It also has good opportunities for undergraduate research in psychology. Word has gotten out over the last few years about its generous scholarships, so they are becoming more competitive. However, being from Missouri should be an advantage. You can apply as early as in the summer and hear back in early October. Good luck with the search.</p>
<p>Check your in-state publics, and some schools that offer guaranteed large merit scholarships for your stats (Alabama, UAB, etc.) for potential safety candidates. Try the “net price calculator” at each school’s web site.</p>
<p>You can get bright flight (Missouri scholarship for ACTs 30 or above) to help out anywhere in state. Columbia College has great merit scholarships and small class sizes, which really counts when you need research experience and glowing, personal letters of recommendation with a lot of detail to get into competitive grad programs. </p>
<p>What kind of academic experience do you want? There are lot of excellent midwestern LACs that offer generous financial aid. There are state schools that will offer you free or close to free tuition. There are private univs that may provide generous aid. Most good schools (top 100) have reputable psych departments. At the large schools, you are likely to be one of hundreds of psych majors, so standing out and getting faculty attention and good research assignments will require sharper elbows. At a LAC, you may have fewer classes to choose from, fewer research opportunities and fewer types of psychology to specialize in, but an easier time finding faculty mentors. There are urban schools that will offer great internship opportunities and small college towns that offer a tight knit community. There are trade-offs here, as with most things.</p>
<p>For midwestern LACs, take a look at Carleton, Grinnell, Macalester and Oberlin.</p>