Best schools that give the most merit based aid

skierdude1000 · 05-16-2005, 09:18 PM

Hey, I think I saw an extensive thread about this before, not sure what happened to it... but I was wondering which schools provide the most merit based aid that are still up there in terms of education quality. Like I remember reading that Tulane gives a lot, but what are the other similar caliber schools that give a lot.

I'm one of the top kids in my class, the usual tons of ECs, tri-sport Varsity athlete with all-conference award, good academic awards, almost strait As in challenging classes, etc.

The thing is, I am contemplating attending a sub-Ivy school, and am thinking about finding a school that will pay a lot of the tuition for me. I'm white middle class male, so I don't expect much need based (FAFSA calculator said like 20k), but I would love to get merit based aid.

Thanks guys

suburbian · 05-16-2005, 09:49 PM

Washington University in St. Louis: full merit scholarships, as well as other ones.

Boston College: full merit scholarships, it's called the presidential scholarship or something. But you have to apply EA to qualify for it.

University of Chicago: There was a check-off on the financial aid application if I wanted to be considered for merit, so I guess they give merit. But I'm not sure. It should be pretty good, since one guy I know went there because they offered the most money (he's upper middle class).

University of Michigan: One girl I know passed up Yale for a full scholarship at UMich.

University of Virginia: Jefferson Scholarship will get you full scholarship with a stipent, but it's pretty much impossible to get. There's also another scholarship that gives you some money. I forget what it's called, but a lot of people on CC got it, so someone should know.

All five universities are really great places. They're not Ivies, but most of them are up there. Some of these scholarships are harder to get than others.

cavalier302 · 05-16-2005, 09:52 PM

Merit aid is hard to come by at the schools listed above. Even with top numbers, the odds of receiving one of the coveted half or full tuition scholarships are slim to none. If you look further down in the ranknings, places like Case Western Reserve, Tulane, and the University of Miami all give lots of money to lots of people who have high numbers. I was an AI 9 and was offered over $20k/renewable by miami and case western, and I probably would have received more if I had applied EA.

applesatyr · 05-16-2005, 09:53 PM

Rice too...some people on CC were given full and half tuition there.

skierdude1000 · 05-18-2005, 02:49 PM

can i get a bummmp

jlagrone · 05-18-2005, 08:30 PM

I wouldn't classify it among the best so to speak, but the University of Texas at Dallas gives out tons of merit based money. They have a great engineering program and I'm told a good business programs (though I have no first hand knowledge ot this). They partner with (were actually founded by) Texas Instruments and if you go into engineering there is a pretty good chance they'll offer you a decent job afterwords.

But for the money. I don't recall the exact numbers , but this years admittees automatically qualify for consideration and nearly everyone with a 1300+ and in the top 10% of their class got a great scholarship (tuition plus $1500 a semester for "books"). They only thing they have to pay is rent (UTD has apartments not dorms). Additionally, they have another scholarship that you can apply for in, November I believe, that pays for everything and gives $3000 a semester for "books" (but they pay for the books for you, so this is pretty much cash) and $50,000 for "studying" (I know several people who used this to backpack across Europe for quite a long period of time) abroad.

As I said, not neccesarily a good school (but they now have some nobel laureates), but I personally think that a good school is good to you ... not some ranking.

vtoodler · 06-02-2005, 12:55 PM

Tulane University gives a lot of good merit money.

just_forget_me · 06-02-2005, 11:11 PM

Duke University has some merit scholarship programs: http://www.aas.duke.edu/ousf/ Feel free to PM me if you want more info on them, I've been through the process for the Robertson + know people who have received some of the other ones.

The Robertson is also awarded to UNC students. UNC gives out other merit aid, most notably the Morehead Scholarship.

D29 · 06-02-2005, 11:14 PM

washington college in maryland gives you 10000 or 12500 if you are a national honor society member.

Saintofme · 06-03-2005, 07:29 AM

Davidson College has some really good scholarships including the full-ride Belk Scholarships...

Seven Nights · 06-03-2005, 08:15 AM

I am a soon to be a Robertson Scholar at UNC. I think it's a program that everyone should apply for and eventually accept. The benefits are simply amazing (with a capital A). At UNC you get paid tuition, room and board, meals, three summers of travel and community service, a $3,000 stipend for laptops, and dual access to Duke (meaning up you take up to half your classes there versus the regular policy of just one course at the sister campus). At Duke you get full tuition. The value at UNC is estimated around $125,000 (out of state) and at Duke around $140,000. Duke also offers other merit scholarships like the Angier B. Duke (attracts science/engineering type people who are Siemens and Intel Westinghouse finalists), Benjamin N. Duke (North Carolina students only I believe), Reginaldo Howard (I believe African Americans), and the University Scholarship Program. One of my friends is going to be a A.B. Duke student next year. I turned down Yale and Swarthmore to accept the Robertson (just_forget_me declined the Robertson for the big H). Btw the Robertson tends to be more of a leadership, community service based award. (as a side note I think it will be a matter of years before the type of students who were named Robertson scholars will become the countries next top business, civic, and political leaders. Just give it time folks and wait and see)

slipstream99 · 06-03-2005, 08:22 AM

the robertson scholars are gods. it's such a wonderful program because the people who win it are, quite simply, the best of the best of the best of the best in terms of leadership and service.

i would suggest applying to vanderbilt. although they still consider leadership/service, you don't have to practically be the national champion or world leader in whatever it is you do, and it seems to me that they focus a little more on academics like GPA, courses, scores, etc.

jack · 06-03-2005, 08:27 AM

Seven Nights: As you know, one cannot apply for the Robertson, though there is a supplement that can be added to the initial application, stating interest. However, those nominated for the Robertson are initially culled from all the applications, at both Duke and at UNC. I believe many of Duke's and UNC's other scholars are named much the same way (you can't actually apply for them). And for UNC's Morehead, you must be first nominated by your school, or you can self-nominate.

And I agree with you..I think the Robertson is just an amazing scholarship, with incredible opportunities. Congratulations!

Seven Nights · 06-03-2005, 08:31 AM

Yes I do realize that, but after going through the interview process I realized that filling out that interest form is just another synonym for expressing high interest. If you are really interested in the program, then fill out the supplement (and as long as your resume backs you up then I think you stand a good chance at making it to semifinals and getting a phone interview).

Sabrina · 06-03-2005, 09:29 AM

I, also am a rising Robertson at UNC. I did not fill out the supplemental, and I feel like that definitely helped me. For those interested, students who did not fill the supplemental out in October or November are instructed to complete it in the month between being chosen as finalists and the finalist weekend. My responses in March were dramatically different (and I think much more well thought out) than they would have been had I filled the supplemental out in November. My experiences between October and March changed me a lot, and so I responded differently, addressing different topics. The responses were definitely more current, and thus easier to discuss in my interview. As far as I know (and I may be wrong, since this isn't how I did it), students who complete the supplemental in the fall are not given the opportunity to edit it in the spring before the finalist weekend.
If your application is strong enough to be considered for the Robertson, I would wait to do the supplement in the Spring. Again, for those interested, I was admitted to UNC early. I sent a midyear statement along with my midyear report including recent developments (national merit finalist, other awards and projects, etc) and stating that I wished to be considered for a merit scholarship. The applications to UNC and Duke are really the applications to the Robertson, so I would focus on making those the best possible and then consider the supplemental later. Also, remember that the Robertson is service/ leadership oriented. Use the regular application to your best advantage, and then use the supplemental to address activities/ accomplishments/ traits on which you haven't yet been able to elaborate. The interview committee uses both in the final interview.
Sorry if this didn't really address the initial post, but I thought I'd share my experience with the Robertson selection process for rising seniors.