buildadog

Hello. I am most likely applying to school for physics.
I have compiled a list of schools I want to go to, but financial aid will be a deciding factor. How are these schools' financial aid programs, including merit scholarships?

1. Boston College
2. Johns Hopkins
3. University of Rochester
4. Lehigh University
5. Northeastern University

If anyone has any other recommendations for schools, that would be greatly appreciated. My stats are as follows: 4.6 weighted GPA (3.8 unweighted), 8th in my class of 175, 600 CR 680 M 650 WR (I have been practicing a lot, and I am confident I can get above a 2000 when I take the SAT again in October).

BobWallace

The top 4 on your list give very good need-based aid (meet full need or 97-99% of need). Northeastern's need-based aid is not as good, and unlikely to meet full need.

All 5 give merit aid awards, but none or very little for your stats. To get significant merit aid with a 1280 SAT, you would have to look at lesser known colleges.

mom2collegekids

You won't get merit from any of those schools. To get merit, your test scores generally need to be WELL-within the top 25% for the school.

To get good sized merit, you're going to have to raise your M+CR to at least a 1350 or 1400....and that will be for schools ranked below the ones listed. To have a chance at merit at the top schools you listed, your M+CR would probably need to be a 1500+

With your stats, to get good merit, you'd need to look at schools ranked around 100 or below.

With a 1280 SAT, the top 3 schools will be reaches.

As for need based aid....even schools known to be generous will NOT be generous to those who don't qualify. If your family has a good income, they will be expected to contribute according to their financial situation. If they have a high income, they many be expected to pay ALL costs...even tho the school is known to be financially generous (to others).

4kidsdad

The 75th Percentile (Merit Cutoff?) of those schools are well above 2100.

Boston College
Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading: 620 / 710
SAT Math: 640 / 730
SAT Writing: 630 / 730

Johns Hopkins
Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading: 630 / 730
SAT Math: 670 / 770
SAT Writing: 650 / 750

University of Rochester
Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading: 600 / 700
SAT Math: 650 / 740
SAT Writing: 610 / 700

Lehigh University
Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading: 580 / 680
SAT Math: 640 / 720
SAT Writing: - / -

Northeastern University
Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
SAT Critical Reading: 610 / 700
SAT Math: 640 / 730
SAT Writing: 600 / 700

dodgersmom

BobWallace, m2ck, 4kidsdad, WHY are you enabling this kid???

All of this information is readily available online! The OP should be able to do his/her own simple research!!!

It's one thing to answer a question that requires experience, analysis, and/or expertise . . . but it's something else entirely when a student expects the CC community to be his/her personal research assistant!

kmrcollege

@buildadog - ignore dodgersmom, your question is valid and other members who have done this research previously will hopefully answer

buildadog

It looks like I am unlikely to receive merit aid at this point. Thanks all for enabling me.

buildadog

But in all seriousness, props to mom2collegekids for knowing her stuff.

buildadog

Suppose I was able to bring my CR up to 650-700, would I then be likely to be admitted into these schools?

thumper1

I believe the only school on this list that guarantees to meet full need for all accepted students is Boston College. BUT and it's a HUGE BUT....this school's need based financial aid awards have appeared to be much less generous than those of other schools that meet full need.

You don't mention your family finances, but if they are a serious consideration, you need to broaden your application list a LOT. You need to look for schools where you will have a guarantee of acceptance (right now none on your list are a sure thing, although I would venture that the bottom three are match schools...but NOT safety schools), and where you have the chance either for significant merit aid, or can afford the cost. Again...it doesn't seem any of these schools fill the bill at this time.

You don't mention your parents' incomes/assets (and don't feel the need to) but you really should use this information and run the net price calculators on all of these schools' websites. That will give you at least a ball park of what you can be expecting to pay out of pocket. All of these schools cost in the $50,000 a year range...and that is mighty pricey for someone who has financial aid concerns.

mom2collegekids

Suppose I was able to bring my CR up to 650-700, would I then be likely to be admitted into these schools?


Likely? It's hard to tell. These schools reject so many qualified students. You wouldn't be in the top half of the school.

I think you need a good list of matches and safeties.

Are you the student who has an EFC of around $3k, and whose parents will pay $20k per year? If so, can you clarify? Do your parents have substantial savings? If not, I don't see how they can contribute that much. That would leave them with too little to live on.
If paying that much would wipe out their savings, then you really need to consider cheaper options.

thumper1

You are from North Carolina. You should have UNC-CH on your list and also NC State. As you noted in other posts, these would likely be affordable for your family. I hope the five schools in your first post on THIS thread are just the possible reach schools for you in terms of finances. You HAVE excellent and affordable instate options in NC.

buildadog

Ohh yes of course! I am applying to both, and the reason they are not on this list is because I know they are both affordable.

lookingforward

What 4kidsdad is showing you is that 680M is mid to low for those schools- and especially considering you want a STEM major. Sorry.

buildadog

Okay, thanks.