are there any universities in california that offer guaranteed merit scholarships?

spazzymcgee918 · 06-26-2012, 12:23 AM

i can't seem to find many i don't want to pin any hopes on any merit scholarships that are competitive so... i'm looking for only automatic ones! sat math-700 reading-780 writing- 780
sat math II subject test was 780 though but i doubt that helps, and gpa weighted is 4.53 unweighted 3.91

vballmom · 06-26-2012, 12:35 AM

University of the Pacific, University of Redlands, Chapman University, and Whittier College would give you merit money based on your scores and GPA. Some of the Claremont colleges also give out a limited amount of merit awards.

While merit money is nice, your total cost of attendance at these schools might not be a whole lot lower than the cost of a UC or CSU even after a sizable scholarship.

menloparkmom · 06-26-2012, 02:12 AM

If you are a NMSF and are accepted at USC, you will automatically get a 1/2 tuition scholarship for 8 semesters[ as long as you declare USC your first choice school by the mid-May deadline] .

With you stats I'd bet you would be accepted. [ about 1/2 of NMSF's are accepted at USC] And if you submit your completed application before the Dec 1 deadline, you would be eligible for consideration for one of their 140 full Tuition scholarships. You would also have to travel to USC to be interviewed, if invited to do so.

scroll to the bottom of the page to a link describing USC's many merit scholarships.

http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergr...holarship.html

mom2collegekids · 06-26-2012, 10:15 AM

I can't think of any Calif schools that list assured scholarships for stats like other schools do.

Yes, USC and maybe a few others has some for NMFs. Are you a likely NMSF?

I haven't found Calif to be a state where people can "know" that they'll get XX in scholarships when they apply.

You have a 1480 Math + CR...and that's what scholarships are usually based on. The writing score isn't often used to compute merit awards.

Are you limiting yourself to Calif schools only??? Why?

How much merit do you need? How much will your family pay? If I remember correctly, you won't qualify for much/any aid, so you're looking for merit, but I can't remember if your family will contribute much/anything.

If your family will only contribute a smallish amount...say $10k per year, then you shouldn't just be looking for any scholarships, you need to be looking for at least FULL TUITION scholarships so that your family's money and a student loan can pay for the rest.

Look at USF and St. Marys of Calif to see if they have any kind of assured scholarship grid.

menloparkmom · 06-26-2012, 12:11 PM

OP, I strongly advise you to take the SAT again to get your Math score up. The math subject test score will not negate your SAT math score. Getting it to at least 750 will help you be more competitive for all merit based scholarships.

vballmom · 06-26-2012, 12:23 PM

spazzymagee you need to dig a bit into the schools' financial aid web pages but this information is available for several California colleges.

University of the Pacific

Quote:

Regents Scholarship

Scholarship Description
Annual Award: $10,000. This scholarship is awarded to exceptional high school seniors who apply to University of the Pacific. No special application is required for consideration. Typical academic profile of students who are considered: GPA: 3.87, SAT: 1337 (based on the Reading and Math scores only), or ACT composite: 30.

University of Redlands

Quote:

Presidential Scholarships
Presidential Scholarships—$2,500 per year

Basis: Recalculated grade point average of 3.5 or above with at least an 1100 SAT I (critical reading and math sections only) or 23 composite ACT and above.

Submission: No deadline. Awards are automatically determined by the Office of Admissions.

Renewal policy: Academic good standing with at least a 3.0 GPA.

Achievement Awards
Achievement Awards—up to $13,500 per year

Basis: Awarded to students who have superior academic records and have demonstrated an unusual degree of leadership and accomplishment in school or community activities.

Submission: Apply to the university by Phase I (Nov. 15), indicate on the application your interest in the award, and include a resume of activities, positions and honors achieved.

Renewal policy: Academic good standing with at least a 3.0 GPA.

USC Scholarships - USC Undergraduate Admission

University of San Francisco

Quote:

University Scholars Program

New freshman applicants for admission who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who have demonstrated extraordinary scholarship and aptitude, based on their academic grade point average and SAT or ACT scores (a minimum grade point average of 3.8 as calculated by the USF Office of Admission, and a minimum combined SAT test score of 1320, or a minimum ACT test score of 30), are invited to enter USF as University Scholars. Scholars receive a renewable scholarship that pays a substantial portion of the cost of the academic year's full-time tuition for up to eight semesters of undergraduate study at USF. In 2012/2013, University Scholars receive $20,000 per year. To be considered, applicants for admission must apply no later than November 15 for the following academic year.

Renewal is automatic as long as scholars achieve a grade point average of 3.25 for each semester's work.

spazzymcgee918 · 06-26-2012, 12:43 PM

sadly i am not taking the sat again, so i will have to scavenge for what i can with my current scores. and no i'm not limiting myself to just california i just want to apply to at least one school there. thanks errybody!! there still doesn't seem to be that much available... california isn't too generous...

menloparkmom · 06-26-2012, 12:48 PM

well here is a link to many automatic full tuition scholarships in other states. Scroll to the end to see the list and keep on checking back as it is being updated frequently.

Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships

Are you a NMSF? Did you get above 219 on the PSAT?
Why cant you fit in 1 more SAT test in Oct?
you should still apply to USC by Dec 1, in any case................

mom2collegekids · 06-26-2012, 01:27 PM

How much merit do you need? How much will your family pay each year?

Keep in mind that YOU can only borrow the following amounts..

5500 frosh
6500 soph
7500 jr and sr years.

So, when you're looking at scholarship amounts and including your family contribution, keep in mind that YOU can't borrow much by yourself.

BobWallace · 06-26-2012, 01:36 PM

There aren't many automatic awards for California, and the ones that do exist are either not enough or just barely enough to bring the cost of a private school in line with the CA publics. For instance, this one:
CLU Guarantee Scholarship | CLU Financial Aid

mom2collegekids · 06-26-2012, 01:57 PM

^^^
True.

I know that San Diego Univ tends to give merit awards to those with a high M+CR and high GPA that brings costs down to about the cost of a UC....so remaining costs are about $33k per year. But, I don't think they have any kind of assured grid.

USD tends to send the awards out in Dec if you apply early in the app season.

spazzymcgee918 · 06-27-2012, 03:04 AM

my parents just don't really want me to take it again, they said if i get over a 2000 i only need to take it once. anything i've found seems to be so small an award that it doesn't really even put a dent in the cost of attendance. what about anything in oregon or washington? just west coast in general i guess since california isn't looking very good

BobWallace · 06-27-2012, 04:10 AM

Pay for another SAT sitting yourself if your parents won't, or see if they'll support you taking the ACT.

At the level of score where you already are, even a few points can make a big difference in merit aid. At Alabama-Huntsville, for instance, just 10 more points in CR+M (1490) would be worth an extra $36,000 over 4 years.

mom2collegekids · 06-27-2012, 08:22 AM

i plan on going into civil/environmental engineering

and i have no problem going to a less than stellar school, i'd much rather attend a lesser school for cheaper than a better one for less, and my family has said that unless i get offered a lot of money from some school i will have to go to san jacinto community college and stay living at home... D:

Since other threads, you've mentioned that you need a "full ride" or "full tuition" scholarship, does that mean that your parents will pay very little for your education? If so, how much will they spend each year??? $5k??? $10k??? what?

The problem with many west coast schools is that you need a LOT of merit. Yes, there are some privates that might cut your cost down a bit with merit, but your remaining costs will be high.

How much will your parents pay each year????

EliKresses · 06-27-2012, 08:32 AM

Tons of Southern schools will give you full tuition, and even full rides, with that score...