Full Scholarship to a State School?

giftedgothic · 03-16-2009, 12:35 AM

How hard is it to get a full scholarship to a state school, specifically a Pennsylvania one? I know it's ridiculously cheap already, but a full scholarship would always be nice, considering I have worked really hard in high school and finances are bad. Thanks.

Erin's Dad · 03-16-2009, 12:46 PM

Go to the school's websites and look under financial aid to see what scholarships are available. The schools will sometimes also say if there is a certain number of them available.

swimcatsmom · 03-16-2009, 01:07 PM

The State schools I know of that give full ride scholarships generally give them to National merit finalists. Other good scholarships are very much Stats driven. My daughter was not a NMS but had a high ACT that puts her in the top 2-3% stats wise at her State U, and has a full tuition plus some cash scholarship because of it. Not full ride but pretty good. The SAT/ACT scores seem to be much more important factor than grades. Most of the best scholarships are for in state students.

giftedgothic · 03-17-2009, 02:58 PM

Thank you so much. I have a relatively high ACT score (29) but I'm looking to retake it again to see if I can reach the 30's. I also just took the March SATs so I'm hoping I did well on those.

Would emailing an admissions officer on this topic be good, or would that seem annoying to them?

Cast · 03-25-2009, 10:38 PM

Cheap? I know Penn State is increasing in tuition already-- the school barely gives any financial aid, etc. This goes with Villanova as well.

giftedgothic · 03-25-2009, 10:46 PM

Penn State isn't a total state school; hence, their tuition is more. I'm talking about Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester. How hard is it to get a full ride to those babies?

Cast · 03-25-2009, 11:02 PM

^
But why? Even with the economic crisis, I think you'd be better off getting into a more prestigious college and is affordable. The degree from that more prestigious college will pay off in the end when you go into your career.

otrebmu · 03-25-2009, 11:04 PM

Villanova is not quite a state school

chickachi · 03-25-2009, 11:05 PM

I don't know about school's in Penn, but what one of my very inteligent friends got a full ride to Arizona State.

giftedgothic · 03-25-2009, 11:11 PM

Cast -- I like IUP's Honors Program. I have my heart set on that school.

chickachi -- Thank you, that is very helpful.

Cast · 03-25-2009, 11:13 PM

otrebmu,
I never said that Villanova is a state school. I was only using it as an example of a school that barely gives any financial aid, etc. to incoming students.

giftedgothic,
Well, honors program is different. If it was just getting into the school like the average student, then I would say otherwise.

giftedgothic · 03-25-2009, 11:20 PM

I just want to be very enticing to Indiana. I got a 29 on my ACT (which is wayyyyyyy above the average student) and still plan on retaking, I have a 4.0 and I'll have taken four or five APs the time I get to college. I want something that'll make me stand out from the rest, something that makes IUP want ME.

Cast · 03-25-2009, 11:24 PM

^
Then that's a good start to working towards your career path; unfortunately, the average student does not think the way that you do. I'm not sure if IUP is a party school or have a significant amount of partying. I know that my sister and family (myself included) will be doing an overnight stay on April 3rd for Case Western Reserve University. It depends on your atmosphere I suppose and Case offers that atmosphere that both my sister and I seek. I can't stand party schools (or partying in that sense in general-- I'm not that kind of person in terms of partying... if this makes any sense).

EMM1 · 03-26-2009, 08:44 PM

With your stats, I would think that IUP would definitely want you for the Cook Honors College. The website is not very informative about the criteria for merit scholarships, though.

swimcatsmom · 03-26-2009, 08:57 PM

Definitely retake the ACT. Although a 29 is good it may nit be enough for a full scholarship. I don't know about your school or State specifically but i do know that any sizeable scholarships at my daughters school (a State U) require a higher ACT than 29, and a 29 is higher than the average ACT there also. A 29 at her State U gets @ $2000, a 30 @ $2500. At a 32 it jumps by several $000 to eligible for a full tuition scholarship (which is great with tuition increasing yearly) plus @ $2800 cash (this is the one my daughter has), then a 133 composite (not a 33 as a 133 from a 132 would qualify but a 33 from a 133 would) gets an additional @ $@2700. These still do not amount to full scholarships. The highest scholarship is for national merit scholars.

So retake the ACT and do some prep. Good luck.