<p>^Well, 3.7 is a good GPA, and to be in the running for the Presidential Scholarship, you need a 700 SAT critical reading and a 700 SAT math (this is to be considered “in the running”, not guaranteed). So yeah, this student would be in the running, and would probably have a good shot with good essays and ECs and such (there is an SAT qualifier, but it’s based off the whole application).</p>
<p>The SAT score is the main thing. My college kid with a 3.0 unweighted GPa but with a heavy course load and very high SATs did get about $25-30K from Fordham. He got a combo of awards from them. Not a full ride but about half the cost. OTher Catholic schools came up with about $10-15K in grants. It seemed to me Fordham had more money to give, since the other schools’ stats were not quite at the level of Fordham.</p>
<p>If he is looking for a school that will definitely give him merit money, Salve Regina in Newport RI is a possibility. In addition to his fine stats, they are also looking to increase the number of male students on the campus. It’s a nice small school…lots of personal attention. Newport is charming even in the off season winters.</p>
<p>Marquette has a very good business school. (full disclose - my husband & I both graduated from MU). When we were there, there was huge population from Chicago and it seemed to be their runner-up to Notre Dame. (another name I haven’t seen mentioned here). Being from the NY area might be a plus from a class diversity perspective. </p>
<p>I live near Seton Hall & feel it’s a big step below Marquette academically.</p>
<p>Notre Dame doesn’t give merit aid, nj2011mom. Too uber-competitive, and out of our price range as well. OP did say they were hoping for assistance.</p>
<p>*Luckily, we found a wonderful Catholic community at a nearby OOS public that offered him a full ride plus. *</p>
<p>Very true…</p>
<p>Don’t discount getting a “Catholic experience” at a public school that has a good Catholic community. </p>
<p>My kids went to Catholic elementary and high schools, but they’re at a public U. There is a Catholic church with an active “Student Life” across the street from campus (which surprised me since it’s a southern school) and there are more Catholics on campus then I had expected.</p>