@billcsho No, at Northeastern the top 25% get some merit aid. Full tuition merit aid is for the top 1-3%.
Regarding how to handle it if you aren’t sure what category to post in, just pick the one that seems closest. CCers with a lot of experience in this are often reviewing Latest Posts anyway, and will see it regardless. And you can contact a moderator to move it to a different forum if you realize that you messed up – but sometimes the mods themselves will spot that something is in the wrong area and move it. And sometimes they merge duplicate threads, but that is extra work for them, so something to avoid now that you are aware. 
RPI is a participating school on www.raise.me. More information about this scholarship program is found under the thread CNN money - How a student raised $80,000 in this CC category.
Maryland and Pitt are state schools so unlikely to meet your need. When last I looked (a few years back), CMU tends to meet need for students who apply early decision. If it is clearly your first choice and you would go if finances work out, apply ED. You really need to choose most of your schools from schools that guarantee to meet full need:
I don’t want to apply ED because it is binding and I might be stuck with a not so good financial package. I heard the opposite. In fact I’m actually considering taking CMU off my list because I heard they’re really bad with financial aid and with my scores not being exceptional I won’t get any merit.
GPA 4+/ACT 32/Very low income = Questbridge applicant.
It’s not too late: You still have one week and if your college applications are in good shape, you should be okay. Dedicate your week to that and send it in.
This may be your best chance of attending an elite college with a full ride… or for a full ride, period.
(Howard would also give you a full ride. Temple would give you full tuition + 2X 4,000 stipends + Honors Dorm. UAlabama would give you full tuition + 4X2,500 stipends + Honors Dorm + opportunity to compete for special programs).
Other than that, focus on colleges that meet 100% need for lower income students. The list below also includes 'close to 100%" colleges too and considering your stats they’d likely meet full need anyway.
http://www.thecollegesolution.com/schools-that-meet-100-of-financial-need-2/
Finally, you’d be a very strong candidate to Berea, a college that guarantees you a full tuition scholarship if it admits you, but refuses applications from upper middle class kids.
https://www.berea.edu/
Many tech schools will indeed offer preferential packaging to girls with strong stats. This would work at Olin in particular (mandate to admit 50% female applicants), but also Rose Hulman, RPI, WPI, RIT.
If you like NEU’s co-op program, apply to the Cincinnatus Scholarship at UCincinnati, another top school for co-ops. If you’re interested in tech fields, UWaterloo in Canada has VERY strong programs and co-ops, and is heavily recruited. They do have scholarships.
NEU meets full need as of the class of 2019 or a year earlier. Their definition of our need was a bit higher than some other schools but not as bad as Case W or BU (which don’t promise to meet need in any case).
Collegegirl, I don’t know what you think is the opposite. CMU does not offer to meet full need-- that’s generally code for most students who are accepted with financial need, like you, won’t get enough money. The last I checked, they do meet full need for ED students. If your parents are low-income, with no businesses, outside assets or non-custodial parents involved, you would get a decent package if accepted ED. However, you would really have to want to go.
Other than that, you would be much better off focusing on schools that meet full need. Those are your best shot at getting into an elite school you can afford. Questbridge is another excellent option. Guaranteed merit and in-state schools (where you are likely to get state aid) are a third option which could get you an inexpensive education but are not as likely to be elite. Your fourth option is what you seem to be asking about: schools where your stats are likely to get you merit but it’s not guaranteed merit. That is hard to predict as schools use that money to attract students they want from year to year. So, for example, traditionally, you could be in the running to get generous merit from a school like Case-- but $10K, $20k or even half-tuition is unlikely to be enough. Another school that is good at engineering and has quite a few merit scholarships is U Cincinnati, but it’s hard to predict if they would meet your need since they don’t guarantee that.
ED is NEVER binding if the aid pkg isn’t enough. You look at the aid pkg and if it’s not enough, then you decline. no biggie.
however…if you do apply ED, be sure to ALSO apply to the Big Merit schools which have Fall deadlines so that you will have those to fall back on if the ED or other schools don’t work out.
How are those financial safeties for you? IIRC they don’t provide much aid for IS or OOS students. How can you afford them? Are your parents actually upper/middle class?
OP is not interested in a full-needs-met 4 year scholarship through Questbridge since none of the partner schools interest her.
I guess beggars can be choosers.
Rutgers is my state school and they are very generous with fa and merit scholarships to in-state students. Many of my friends go there and pay very little, even those who don’t come from low income families such as mine.
It’s not that I don’t like the partner schools for questbridge, its the fact that there are 7 days till the application is due! My teachers won’t be able to finish my recs on time. Its simply a matter of bad timing. I’m not trying to be picky, i’m trying to get informed. The only thing I am picky about is location. All the schools I will apply to must be in the Northeast (NJ, NY, MA, MD, CT, PA)
Did you ask your teachers if they can finish Questbridge rec letters this week?
Ask your teachers first thing in the morning if they can send their recs this week!
In any case, typically deadlines are for STUDENTS, if teachers/administrators are a couple days late it’s okay.
How will you pay for an OOS public or a private college? If your family is low income, you need to open up your mind to options where you will get funds to pay your costs OR that could be affordable from the get go.
You have decent stats. Read the links in this thread :
It just seems like you aren’t pushing yourself to try every avenue for financial aid - as if perhaps you only want what comes easily.
I would think your teachers would love to help you with Questbridge by taking care of any needed rec letters this week even though you would be asking last minute.
You need to do everything you can to help yourself, even if it is uncomfortable.
Do you have a favorite teacher?
Questbridge is an amazing opportunity. Agree that teacher recs and school materials can be a bit late if you get your components done. I am big on getting enough sleep, but this is one thing I would tell my kids to pull late nights for to get done.