Best schools that give the most merit based aid - Page 26

tausifjamal · 06-25-2009, 08:01 AM

i got a 1900 in my SAT ( math - 690 , Critical reading - 570 , writing - 640 ) and 101 in my TOEFL ibt......my extracurriculars are very good with an international achievement of being selected at IED Italy through an international contest , various state level awards etc.....school grades are ...class 10 - 82.6% and class 12 - 82.5 % from India.....i want to pursue mechanical engineering in US .....please suggest me good public or privatecolleges when expenses are not higher that 25,000 $ and where i can get around 50-80% scholarship

WanToBeABrownie · 07-15-2009, 03:57 AM

Hi ppl ..

I have a problem figuring out which university will give me good scholarship/aid . I am an international student.

My stats are just about average - since i am an international .. figuring out my GPA would be a problem .. but i guess an average of B- to B

My Sat score is 2030 - 700 M , 700 CR , 630 CW

I plan to do an Undergrad degree in Mech Eng

Rosie1 · 07-18-2009, 05:26 PM

It seems to me most of you are being way too general. A "reach" school is not going to be forthcoming with grants/scholarships. I am looking at private liberal arts colleges and my strategy is to look only at schools where my son (2010) will have ACT scores in the 75th percentile (his is 28 without significant prep) or better. He doesn't have a GPA that will get him attention (3.1) and he doesn't have a talent, but he is a well-rounded kid with alot of potential. I think you must consider the prospective student when considering potential aid. I looked at published ACT scores and then at average aid packages, and made my list from there. Curious to know what you think.

babythao · 08-11-2009, 08:56 AM

Hi i am a newcomer here...sorry but are those scholarships and financial aids listed above for international students or just national ones?

uskoolfish · 08-11-2009, 04:12 PM

Rosie 1:

Unless a scholarship specifically states that aid is based solely on an ACT score, you need to consider both the GPA and ACT when trying to determine his likelihood of qualifying for an award. For an academic award, I would assume that a sudent should be above the 75th%ile in both GPA and ACT or SAT. To eliminate one factor would be very misleading as most schools consider both unless stated otherwise. Also, many schools will look at leadership and community service as another factor.

Also, for true merit aid (no need at all), I hope you are looking at schools that give merit aid, not just scholarships as part of a student's financial aid package. What average aid packages are you looking at? Do they state that it is merit aid?

SingDanceRunLife · 08-15-2009, 10:52 AM

I've heard the Jesuit colleges/universities are great for that. I'm going to one of them (Le Moyne) and although my stats weren't stellar (2.97 uwGPA and 23 composite ACT), they gave me a merit scholarship of $10,000/year! Tuition is $25,000 and room and board is about $9,000. I have a friend with better stats (not sure what) who got a merit scholarship of $19,500/year.

c-otwa · 08-17-2009, 07:40 AM

In my eyes, Ivy-league school sounds great, but some mid-major programmes like Cal, Boston College and Kansas are still decent education with affordable price.

KL-MOM · 08-19-2009, 12:36 PM

My S is a senior this year with ACT36, SAT2390, All A's, rank 1 in high school. Illinois. But I doubt he can get any need-base scholarships. He was the national finalist pianist. I don't know if he apply double majors in Northwestern (music and engineering school) , if he has a chance to get a scholarship. He initially target HYPS, but all of them only provide need-base scholarship. I want him apply for U Chicago if U Chicago offer merit scholarship.

thumper1 · 08-19-2009, 07:22 PM

KL-Mom...Your post is very confusing. You say your son will not qualify for any need based aid. That would mean that your EFC (expected family contribution) is very high. Is that correct? If so, what is the issue? Can you help your kiddo pay for college or not? If not, well then those top schools which do not provide merit aid are out of the question.

There are plenty of lower ranked schools that would provide merit aid to your son. If you are really looking for a financial aid package above all...then look a couple of rungs lower on the competitiveness threshold than where you are looking now.

Being a double major is challenging in music.

KL-MOM · 08-20-2009, 02:19 PM

thumper1, my family income won't qualify for the need-based scholarship. Since my son is a top student and a pianist, I just hope if he can use his talent to pay for his own education. My son was joking that he rather have a poor family which he can get full ride for HYPS.

thumper1 · 08-20-2009, 02:25 PM

KL-MOM...the most important thing you can do for and with your son is to discuss just how much you DO plan to pay for his college education annually. If your EFC (because of your income) is so high that no need based aid would be forthcoming, then hopefully you have some of that income to put towards your son's college education. Of course, we all wish our kids would get huge scholarships...but sometimes that isn't the case.

You need to have financial safeties...schools that you would be able to pay for without aid...or where merit aid is GUARANTEED (some schools award merit aid based on SAT/GPA combinations).

I'm not sure that your son's piano playing will help him gain any significant money for college as he is not planning to be a music major. His academic achievements could help him...but you will need to look at schools that are down a tier or two where he will shine stats wise to net merit awards that are more of a sure thing.

He could also apply for the McNair Scholarship at U of South Carolina or the Pogue at UNC-Chapel Hill...both full rides. Or a Jefferson Scholarship at Washington and Lee.

jym626 · 08-20-2009, 03:25 PM

KL-mom-
Your kid sounds very talented. Why doesnt he apply to OUTSIDE scholarships and then can choose where he wants to go. He may win several scholarships that might add up to more than you'd get from one school alone. Flip side, you might have to pay for part, or possibly all of his education, depending on the choices you/he makes. You are fortunate that you are in a position to pay for college. Many are not.

thumper1 · 08-21-2009, 10:15 AM

Correction...the Jefferson Scholarship is at UVA. The Johnson is at Washington and Lee. Sorry.

Kei-o-lei · 08-21-2009, 10:33 AM

Folks -

Check out my previous post #374 for a method you can use to identify schools that offer more merit aid, along with a list of examples schools.

The method uses the USNWR big book to identify schools that awarded larger amounts of merit aid to a high percentage of students (e.g., Grinnell 32% average award of $10k.) From that larger select the schools that fit your academic profile (e.g., check out U Rochester for engineering).

Happy research!!

Kei

KL-MOM · 08-28-2009, 10:42 AM

thumper1, thank you for the input. I was prepared for my S's college fund. But the financial down tune cut the fund in trouble. Bottom line, I have the 529 tuition plan. So if my S can't get any scholarship, he can always go to U of IL. I just hope he can use this money for his post graduate study.