txmom

Ak88- If you intend to go to grad school, check out the Honors Programs at state universities for undergrad. Most are very serious about attracting top students as high numbers of Natl Merits and high SAT scorers increase the schools' rankings. These are also often students who will be successful and will hopefully give back to their schools either financially or through name recognition.

This is to your benefit. The Ivies are not going to give any merit aid. But many state Honors Programs are very generous. And offer small classes for these students, as well as other benefits of smaller colleges with the benefits and variety of large schools. At a bargain price.

Then if you still are interested in the Ivies, apply for grad school, without being encumbered by the heavy burden of undergraduate debt. This is definitely doable.

mommusic

Definitely agree with txmom about value of Honors colleges.
Another public school that has just started giving full rides to National Merit Finalists this year is University of Cincinnati. It's world-renowned for 2 schools--DAAP (Design, Art, Architecture & Planning), and CCM (College-Conservatory of Music.) Also fine Engineering program: they invented co-op and do it very well. UC has almost completed a massive campus facelift with on-campus recreation center, student center & new dorms, plus beautiful new housing & amenities immediately off-campus. Worth checking out.

HImom

Thanks for the thought & info. Son isn't too good with extreme cold & probably would not fare too well in Cincinatti, but will keepit in mind.
HImom

mommusic

In the interest of full disclosure, I went to CCM years ago when it was still a great school but the campus was, well, ugly. I love seeing the progressive face-lifting (and academic uplifting) of my alma mater!

Btw, Cleveland is the cold, snowy city in the north of Ohio, Cincinnati is the more moderate one in the southern part of the state. Hot, humid summers, cold winters (and only 45 min. from Perfect North ski slopes in Indiana!) We always say, if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes...but that's another topic.

gnusasaurus

Upon reading the U of Cincinnati website, it looks like the full ride for NMS finalists if for Ohio residents only. Non-Ohio resident NMS finalists pay an out of state surcharge.

mommusic

oops...Being an Ohioan, I forgot about the out of state differential. However, there are other scholarship opportunities. They have a competition for various "Cincinnatus" scholarships in February for admitted students who meet certain qualifications. The NM award, btw, includes room & board and a $1500 stipend for computer purchase or other one-time expense.

pdp1145

To add to this list (please excuse if I missed something already posted):

Univ of Md: Full scholarships, available to out-of-state, appears to be an excellent school in many technical areas like engineering, math, physics. Very nice people. The dean of the engineering college actually returned my phone call and spent quite some time with me, and not actually trying to sell UMD, just a very nice guy with alot of concern for the student's best interest.

Caltech: I believe it's rated #1 in financial aid by US News; in any case they can be very generous- high percentage of full scholarships for admitted students.

Penn State, Rutgers: Both terrific state schools also with excellent engineering and science (I have some personal experience with Rutgers over the years). We know alot of kids (plus my brother, whom I consider still a kid in some ways) who are going to / went to Penn State and they all love it, to the last one! Honors programs, scholarships (for out of state, too, I'm pretty sure).

Again - it's been said so many times - but it's crucial I believe - look for your best match, and everyone does not need or would benefit from the "elite schools" only. You definitely need a balance between academics, extracurriculars, and a social life (and some sleep, too!) or you'll be miserable and that just doesn't work. Look for the right match, and don't forget about the great State U's (I also went to Ohio State - a wonderful school, which has previously been mentioned).
pdp1145 is online now

dressupandxdance

Case Western gives good aid (I believe it's merit aid). I know someone who got something along the line of $14,000 or $17,000 a year.

mommusic

True about Case, and DS was just admitted (found out online) so we are hoping for good news when the finaid letter arrives!

Allornadara

Hi, I just saw your post about the Duke University Robertson Scholarships. And so I went on the website to download the forms to apply to Duke. Is it too late to be considered for the Robertson scholarships if you apply Regular Decision? And when were you notified that you recieved it?

Allornadara

Howard does give full scholarships to National Achievement Semifinalist, the deadline's in Jan.

mumsie

Did anyone yet get a merit aid letter from Case yet?

jack

Allornadara: It's not too late for Robertson consideration as RD applicants are also considered. If you're nominated, you're first notified in late January, I believe. There is an initial telephone interview some time after, and finalists are named. The finalists go on to Duke and UNC for a finalist weekend (interviews, dinners, etc) in March. The decisions are made usually around the first week of April.

starcatch

Are there any schools that offer merit aid to transfer students???

(ironically, though, I'm trying to transfer from a school where I received a large amount of merit aid)

jlauer95

starcatch: interesting question. I have always heard that merit money is given at the incoming freshman stage so that schools can inprove their "incoming freshman" stats.

For this reason, I have advised my son to make sure he picks the right school from the beginning so he doesn't lose his merit money if he transfers later.

IF you can't get merit as a transfer, will you stay at your present school?