mom2collegekids

First of all, not many top 20 schools give merit money at all. Most only give "need" related aid. With an expected EFC of $10k, you would likely get some generous F/A from a top 20 school IF accepted. BTW...where did you get the $10k EFC from? Did you use an online EFC calculator?

Your stats are very good!

Unless you're a URM, I think getting merit $$ from WashU is nearly impossible. While they claim to give merit $$, when I've seen past photos of their merit recipients, they've mostly been given to URMs.


Are you a NMSF??

Texas A&M & Auburn would also likely give you good merit money. Auburn might give you a free ride with those stats.

Vanderbilt may give you "some" merit money, but more likely they would give you great F/A with no loans.

What will your major likely be?

Your stats are high enough that you should be able to get an education without taking any loans.

Tilgaham

I used the FAFSA online estimator utility. I am not a URM. I missed the NMSF cutoff by 2 points (219 in MD:221 cutoff).

The problem about my major is, I can't decide on a major! I like psychology, business, physics, and biomedical engineering...I'll prob end up going in as undecided.

Now I'd like to get into a Tier I and escape debt free, but I am trying to be realistic about the whole process.

Thank you so so much for your advice and consideration, I'm trying not to stress out but it's really hitting the fan right now.

Edit: I also spelled extremely wrong

mom2collegekids

Well, you need to come up with a list of reaches, matches and financial safeties that will likely help pay for your costs.

My picks would be....

Vandy - meets full need without loans

Auburn (likely full tuition)

Texas A&M (honors scholarship, but may have a gap)

Alabama (free tuition definitely, plus engineering scholly definitely, perhaps other money, too)

Tulane - generous merit, don't know how they do with demonstrated need. Anyone know?

Marquette - likely merit and F/A.

condor30

Tulane extended a good offer to my d some years ago. you'll need to submit the financial aid application and then review their f/a package when it arrives.

marquette offered merit aid but it still left a big chunk of change relating as to total cost of attendance.

you might also consider case western reserve.......they offered merit aid too....

maybe consider univ. of tulsa also..........and univ. of central florida...........and baylor univ.

Tilgaham

I'm definitely applying to Tulane. They sent me a free app without the need of an essay...Doesn't make any sense not to. It only took me like 10 minutes.

Are there schools who give blanket amounts of money for kids with certain test scores (not related to NMScholarship)?

aaletty

I subscribe to the US news premium online edition and here's the list of colleges with the most merit aid:

Percent of students receiving non-need based aid
Finlandia University Hancock, MI 100%
Buena Vista University Storm Lake, IA 79%
Cooper Union New York, NY 72%
University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK 60%
University of Colorado--Denver Denver, CO 58%
New College of Florida Sarasota, FL 55%
Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ 52%
Fontbonne University St. Louis, MO 51%
Denison University Granville, OH 51%
University of Florida Gainesville, FL 50%
Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, VA 50%
Valley City State University Valley City, ND 47%
DePauw University Greencastle, IN 47%
Truman State University Kirksville, MO 47%
Trinity University San Antonio, TX 46%
St. Francis College Brooklyn Heights, NY 46%
University of Nevada--Reno Reno, NV 46%
Birmingham-Southern College Birmingham, AL 45%
Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL 45%
Mayville State University Mayville, ND 43%
Westminster College Fulton, MO 43%
St. Augustine's College Raleigh, NC 43%
University of Dayton Dayton, OH 42%
University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 42%
St. Joseph's University Philadelphia, PA 41%
Longy School of Music Cambridge, MA 41%
Hendrix College Conway, AR 41%
Rhodes College Memphis, TN 41%
California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, CA 41%
College of Wooster Wooster, OH 40%
Columbus State University Columbus, GA 40%
Austin College Sherman, TX 40%
Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar, VA 40%
Gonzaga University Spokane, WA 40%
Millsaps College Jackson, MS 40%
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL 40%
Drew University Madison, NJ 39%
Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, LA 39%
Hollins University Roanoke, VA 39%
Mississippi College Clinton, MS 39%
Randolph-Macon College Ashland, VA 39%
St. John's University Collegeville, MN 38%
New England Conservatory of Music Boston, MA 38%
University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK 38%
Centre College Danville, KY 38%
University of Denver Denver, CO 38%
Tulane University New Orleans, LA 37%
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, NM 37%
Albion College Albion, MI 37%
Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, OH 37%
Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, AR 37%
Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 37%
College of Idaho Caldwell, ID 36%
Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, IL 36%
Roanoke College Salem, VA 36%
Huntingdon College Montgomery, AL 36%
Catholic University of America Washington, DC 36%
University of South Carolina--Columbia Columbia, SC 36%
Pacific Union College Angwin, CA 36%
Westminster College Salt Lake City, UT 35%
Creighton University Omaha, NE 35%
Drake University Des Moines, IA 35%
University of St. Thomas St. Paul, MN 35%
Berry College Mount Berry, GA 35%
Cleveland Institute of Music Cleveland, OH 35%
Wesleyan College Macon, GA 34%
Transylvania University Lexington, KY 34%
Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, MD 34%
Murray State University Murray, KY 34%
McDaniel College Westminster, MD 34%
Mercer University Macon, GA 34%
Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA 34%
Willamette University Salem, OR 34%
Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI 33%
Baylor University Waco, TX 33%
Menlo College Atherton, CA 33%
Jamestown College Jamestown, ND 33%
Eckerd College St. Petersburg, FL 33%
University of the Ozarks Clarksville, AR 33%
University of Dallas Irving, TX 33%
Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ 33%
Augustana College Rock Island, IL 33%
Presbyterian College Clinton, SC 32%
Southwestern University Georgetown, TX 32%
Minot State University Minot, ND 32%
Xavier University Cincinnati, OH 32%
Chaminade University of Honolulu Honolulu, HI 32%
University of Rochester Rochester, NY 32%
Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI 32%
Missouri Valley College Marshall, MO 32%
Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA 32%
College of St. Benedict St. Joseph, MN 32%
Adelphi University Garden City, NY 32%
Gustavus Adolphus College St. Peter, MN 31%
St. Olaf College Northfield, MN 31%
William Woods University Fulton, MO 31%
Stetson University Deland, FL 31%
Calvin College Grand Rapids, MI 31%
Randolph College Lynchburg, VA 31%
Iowa State University Ames, IA 31%

mrobeng

In my opinion, Merritt Based scholarships are too hard to come by. But if you are really that exceptional then you shouldn't really have a problem getting one even if the college offers just one slot

krug

The percentage of students receiving merit at an institution is deceptive because it does not list average amount of the scholarship. Rice is often mentioned as a good institution for merit but the best that they have is a full ride for engineering majors (and who knows how many of those they give out, one or two?). Even if the school gives 50% of the students merit, it's not very useful if it's only covering the cost of books.

martingrace

As per my research, Duke University and Washington college offers good merit based aid. But, I am still half-way through my research and going through the list of scholarships I found on getscholarshiponline.info but it is a hard thing to do to go through the pile

perilous

Make sure you check out the "Institutional Methodology" EFC at collegeboard.com too!! It may be a much different number and many of the more "elite private" . schools use the PROFILE process...

IF your numbers are still close to 10K EFC, pursue those schools that meet 100% of need -- you have a golden opportunity here!!!

condor30

Perilous........that is an excellent post.

rayan147

I am 17 senior in high school,and I'd to know if can go first to community college and then to a law school without going to a 4-year college.my GPA from freshman through junior is 2.3 and my first marking period is 3.4. can I get to a 4-year college or the community college?Also I want to become a lawyer.Please I need help!!

rayan147

I am 17 senior in high school,and I'd LIKE to know if can go first to community college and then to a law school without going to a 4-year college.my GPA from freshman through junior is 2.3 and my first marking period is 3.4. can I get to a 4-year college or the community college?Also I want to become a lawyer.Please I need help!!

sgdude

I'm looking at going to LSU. Here are the auto merit scholarships for OOS.
3.0W+1170/26=half way between instate and out of state tuition
3.0W+1250/28= instate tuition
3.0W+1330/30= free tuition
3.5W+32/4.0W+33 (or SAT equivalents) = free tuition + 2k/year of CASH. (not 100% sure the 2k is auto but I think it is).
This is the best I've seen at any school.

tennisacefree

I am currently on a full ride scholarship to the University of Richmond and I love it. Academically it is a great school, especially if you are looking for a liberal arts college. About 5000 students apply annually for merit scholarship in the Richmond Scholars program. There are about 100 full tuition/full ride scholarships offered every year (pretty good chances huh?). Rather than giving a ton of tiny merit scholarships, Richmond has decided to pool its money to bring in the best and the brightest to an otherwise pricey school. There are several designations (Arts (music, painting, etc.), Science, Boatwright (all-around), and Oldham). Oldhams are designated for outstanding and passionate students and between three and seven are given every year. I am an Oldham and I cannot say enough good things about the Richmond Scholars Program. If you are a good student or if you are passionate about something and feel like you can convey that passion, you really should apply (by Dec. 15th, I believe). Most of these scholarships are full tuition, but some (like mine) are full ride. All of them have benefits like travel/research stipends and grants, premier housing and class registration, etc. If you have any questions google "richmond scholars program" and for anything else you need answered you can contact me