That is correct @thumper1 in that I would not be eligible for a waiver.
As for other schools I’m considering, I’m also interested in competitive private schools in California, as in USC, Pomona, and Claremont. I’m sure the prospects for merit aid there, particularly at USC, are better than at Chicago and Princeton. I’m also moderately interested in UVirginia, though I expect their merit aid is typically reserved for in-state students.
Any information regarding those schools and merit aid? I know USC and UVirginia offer full-ride scholarships on a merit basis, but I acknowledge those are exceptionally difficult to win, or even gain an application for.
And yes, I have discussed it and intend to continue to do so with my parents. Of course, the conversation is limited until financial aid offers and scholarships are factored in during senior year. Still some time to consider, which is why I’m engaging on these threads.
Are you going to be a national merit finalist? If not, merit aid at USC could be a challenge. @menloparkmom could you give info on getting merit aid at USC?
University of Virginia offers primarily need based aid. There are a couple of HIGHLY…and I mean HIGHLY competitive scholarships.
Claremont McKenna gives need based aid only. Not sure about Pomona.
Hoping you have some affordable, not reach schools on your application list. So far…this is a top heavy list…and especially if you want merit aid.
Sorry but I do NOT agree with you on this. You have a bunch of schools with NO merit aid possibilities on your list. What budget have your oarents given you per year for college? If it’s far less than what the schools expect you to pay…what will you do at these schools where merit is either highly competitive or not existent at all?
Your list is top heavy.
Are you a CA resident? If not…what state, and are you considering public options, and mayb e honors college in your home state?
Discussion of finances should occur before applications go out, not after. There’s a limit to how much parents can spend. You need to know what their limits are so you know what schools to target.
And just FYI…because on one of your older threads you mentioned that UVA did NOT require non-custodial parent info. This is from the UVA website:
At most of,the schools you have listed, the schools will beusing the incomes from your custodial parent and spouse, and your non-custodial parent and spouse…to determine awarding of neeed based aid.
And most of those,schools have NO merit aid with the others having highly competitive merit aid.
@thumper1 For the Virginia thread, I was hoping to clear up the lack of communication on the step-parent front with UVirginia financial aid. I still haven’t answered that question though… I can see that Virginia requires both custodial and non-custodial parent information, but they are also among the PROFILE schools that do NOT require the Non-Custodial Profile. How can that be if they nonetheless require that information?
I acknowledge the schools I’ve discussed on here are more selective, and my list should broaden beyond those. I fully intend on doing so. I’m far less concerned about the affordability of in-state schools and other, less competitive programs, where I can expect merit aid. That’s why I’ve discussed financial aid with divorced parents in the context of these more selective schools. But yes, I agree. My list should be more diverse in that sense.
I’m not a California resident but live in a nearby state. From what I understand, California schools would be the most expensive for me, whether they are private or public. A question I’d pose is how state residence affects merit aid. Would the fact that I come from a state outside of California lessen my chances of merit aid at, say, USC?
To the point about USC and National Merit, I can expect to be a Finalist. My score is good enough to get the process going, at least.
Thanks for your continued advice. You’re entirely right in that the conversation can and should start now. I’m simply hoping to clear these things up so that the conversation can be as pointed as possible.
@austinmshauri I agree. I’m not suggesting that the conversation will be put off until after applications, but I find the conversation is incomplete without knowledge of financial prospects at each particular school. But yes, the conversation should start early on and limits should be known. Thanks for the message.
Normally I’d find it hard to believe that the College Board would have inaccurate information. With that said, that same list I cited also includes UChicago as a PROFILE school, yet you and I both know that Chicago is phasing out PROFILE and has switched to FAFSA for incoming students. You may be right. Contacting schools is the best way to go.
Keep in mind that just the college board may list schools that don’t require the non-custodial profile (which is submitted through the college board), that the school will not request information regarding the non-custodial parent. Some schools just have their own forms for this purpose. Always check the financial aid section of the school’s website to see what they require.
“Would the fact that I come from a state outside of California lessen my chances of merit aid at, say, USC?”
USC is a private college, so just like other private colleges, the state you live in has no bearing on whether you receive merit aid or not.
What MATTERS to USC regarding merit $$ is the following:
1- to be eligible for consideration for the big merit scholarships- full tuition Trustees and 1/2 tuition Presidents- your application has to be received by USC before Dec 1.
That does not preclude you from applying early elsewhere, such as Stanford, etc, because an early application is required for scholarship consideration.
If you are selected for scholarship consideration, you will receive an early acceptance[ only 1000 or so out of 30,000 are acccepted early] and will be invited to interview with an admissions officer, current trustee student and a prof or dean from the college at USC that you have applied to. Typically each year , only 1000 outstanding students with tip-top GPA’s, test scores, and EC’s who ALSO show a passion outside of the classroom, AS WELL AS a genuine interest in going to USC are the ones invited to interview. They are typically the same kind of students who are accepted at SHYP. In other words, just throwing USC an application will not cut it.
2- There are only about100 full tuition scholarships given out each year, which means statistically its about as hard to land one as it is to get into SYPH.
3- The big scholarships are divvied up equally between the many colleges at USC, so if 40 tip top equally outstanding engineering students apply and are invited to interview, that does not mean that the lions share of the top awards will go to engineering applicants. The selection process is Holistic.
The ONLY OTHER way to land a 1/2 tuition scholarship is to be a NMF, be accepted at USC [ doesnt matter when you apply] , AND declare USC to be your # 1 choice by the May 1 deadline, when you also must commit to enrolling to at USC.
@menloparkmom Thank you for the thorough response. I’m glad to hear that merit aid is not contingent upon state residency.
From what I’ve gathered from your response and USC’s website, the application process for merit scholarships is relatively straightforward (at least in the sense that university applicants are automatically considered, so long as they apply by December). I can imagine they are extremely selective and difficult, but it’s refreshing to know that a school like USC provides one of the more thorough lists of merit scholarships.
Your number 3 is interesting. What would you say are the most competitive / least competitive schools within USC where merit selection is concerned? Just for reference, I’d hope to go into business or public policy at USC.
The last thing you stated about NMF’s… is that an automatic merit scholarship? The USC merit scholarship directory states that only those students who declare USC their first choice school with the NMSC are eligible. At what point do students declare their first choice school in the National Merit process?
"Is that an automatic merit scholarship? "
YES.
at USC, IF you have been accepted, AND have notified USC that you will enroll there, THEN you notify NMSF, NO LATER THAN MAY 1, that USC is your first choice college.
“At what point do students declare their first choice school in the National Merit process?”
there is no need to declare your first choice prior to when you make your college enrollment decision.
the deadline for both is May 1
“What would you say are the most competitive / least competitive schools within USC where merit selection is concerned? Just for reference, I’d hope to go into business or public policy at USC.”
I have no way of saying , just as admissions officers have no way of knowing how many top notch engineering, or neurosciences or cinematic arts ,or …applicants USC may receive from year to year.
dont try to game this process- USC can distinguish genuine interest in a field, vrs non genuine interest pretty easily.
@menloparkmom Thank you for letting me know. That may be a route I can take, depending on how the National Merit process turns out. Either way, I appreciate the info.