Schools known for good merit aid

[jack]

curmudgeon: Not miffed at all. Just seems like you have it all managed, so not much point in--well--belaboring the point. Sounds like your daughter has good options and seems content with those...so, as I said before, all the best. She'll obviously be fine.

And I didn't mean to imply that you had not done your homework. I've been reading your posts with interest for many months now, so I knew you'd done your research. I did not realize she had already received letters guaranteeing support, however, at schools she would like to attend. Knowing that, what's with the continuing angst? Seems like a lot of unnecessary worry to me.

Also, maybe you didn't use the term, "sure bet." Here's what you did say:
"For financial safeties she has had to drop down to lower second tier, and third tier to provide guarantees of merit aid sufficient to attend."
So I don't know...I guess I read that as "sure bet." Sorry.

With regard to Tulane: All those kids we know who got money from there--not one attended. Maybe the money seemed too easy(?). Don't know, but--yes--they seem to have a lot of money to spare, unlike many other schools.

[curmudgeon]

jack, unfortunately for them (Tulane), I think their climb to national prominence has hit one helluva roadblock.

I'm glad that I mis-read your post. Darling D's "reluctance" (obstinance, recalcitrance) is her own, as is this process. If I was driving the bus it would be done quite differently. I spend my time (which is less now than in the initial stages of list making) trying to figure out the next zig or zag and remove or at least point out the obstacles before she hits them. It is trying but I guess I really wouldn't have her be any other way. She is most certainly not a marionette.

As for the continuing angst, her reachy merit choices are among the most difficult to get awards from and it is those schools she is spending her time on, while not ignoring her others (she has visited and keeps in touch regularly). Both are tier one , top 30 schools, whose major scholarships are not entirely stat driven and she has been invited to apply for their major awards by admissions, and has an ally in the coach of her sport (for what little that is worth). At another, nominated students for the premier award receive some merit award 87% of the time. While far from sure bets, they are at least "possible".

[jack]

curmudgeon: As I said a couple of times before, I don't think many of those major merit scholarships are "entirely stat driven," though I think those outstanding stats definitely put you in the (initial) running. At any rate, I look forward to reading about her options, choices, and ultimate awards(!) in the spring. Thanks.

[mom of four]

Couple of questions. . .someone mentioned that 1500 on SAts seems to be the magic number, what is the magic number for the new Sats that have a total of 2400 possible?

Curmedgeon, what awards did your D get while a jr in high school and what schools are you and your D considering? Obviously you have done a lot of research already -- am I too late in the ball game since my d is already a Sr?

Lastly, what are GCs?

[markudel2003]

GC = Guidance Counselor

I'm pretty sure that OHio University is well-known for their merit aid policies.

[curmudgeon]

GC is a guidance counselor, you are too late for junior awards (but right on time for everything else), the junior awards I know about are from Wells College, Centre College, RPI, and Furman. There may also be one at Presbyterian in South Carolina.They range from $4,5,6/yr to $15/year. Significant at Wells , Centre, and RPI but just nice at Furman.

D will apply to Bowdoin . (Her one need only school. Waiting for a miracle. She deserves to dream. LOL.) Scripps and Hamilton, who have very, very limited merit possibilities. Centre, Rhodes, and Hanover Colleges who can be very generous to students they want and who want them. D will also apply to a large instate, Texas Tech, which presents a potentially wonderful possibility and a nice Honor's College , and she gets an automatic scholarship for $4k a year, plus auto first year tuition waiver. And to the Barksdale Honors College at Ole Miss where she should receive a $2k/yr OOS tuition waiver off a very reasonable sticker price .She will be competitive for one of a very few $6k/yr scholarships.

She will also apply to one or two more that I don't care to jinx at the moment as she is wavering but I have my fingers crossed that she will come through.

P.S. Don't pay a lot of attention to my magic number of 1500. It just seems from what I am finding that an inordinate number of kids receiving major merit awards had SAT scores that start with a 1 and a 5. New SAT number? I'd have to guess 2250 for those schools who are treating the writing as a full-fledged section. But most are saying they won't.

[jmmom]

someone mentioned that 1500 on SAts seems to be the magic number, what is the magic number for the new Sats that have a total of 2400 possible?

Not sure there is an answer to that, as yet, since this is the first year for the "new" and schools have announced varying approaches to using the new (and some haven't announced what they are doing). Some are not using the new Writing component score, just kind of "looking at it", some say they won't even look at it, etc. Also, the math and verbal components are both changed in content, so there isn't any history for the schools to go on. Ergo, it's a guessing game, but I'd expect that 1500 on the Critical Reading and Math would have to be the "magic" for now, or 2250 on the combined as the rough equivalent of the old 1500.

[mom of four]

What are anyone's thoughts on Baylor?

Someone mentioned Baylor had good merit aid, and when I went to their web site today and punched in my daughter's numbers of 1490 Sat, ranked 4 in class of 540, probable National merit scholar (she is a NMSF now, and will probably be notified that she is NMF this spring) --the answer came back that she would get full tuition for 4 years if she put Baylor as her top choice for NM school program.

Is that a come-on? Or would D get that as long as her stats are verified.

How does one find out what other LACs and univ are NM schools? My train of thought right now is that if d is not interested in other schools that are NM schools, she might as well put Baylor as her top NMschool and be assured that she can get full tuition at Baylor.

I did not know much abut Baylor before, besides that it had a medical school, was fairly conservative and was located in Texas. Am starting to research the school more now that I discovered that she might be able to get substantial merit aid there.

I assume Baylor would be strong in science/math if they have a med school?

[Northstarmom]

Here's info about schools giving full tuition to NM scholars:
http://homepage.mac.com/l_j/secondho...nal_Merit.html

[HImom]

If you are seriously interested in Baylor, give them a call. That would show interest & lots of schools WANT interest, especially in highly qualified applicants, like your child.

There are several schools which do give full tuition to NMFs & some that give pretty good merit offers to NMSFs as well. Good luck to you & your daughter in figuring all of this out. Her GC should also be able to help guide you some in which schools give good merit aid.

[lonestardad]

Momoffour - Also, take a look at University of Tulsa (TU). For National Merit Scholars they roll out the red carpet (tuition and room/board I believe). TU has not only excellent engineering and science programs but also strong in humanities (English in particular). 2700 undergraduates and 1400 grad/law students on a handsome campus in the middle of a dynamic city of 400,000. One example of its stature is the number of winners TU has in national scholarships (both Goldwater scholars for science/math and Truman scholars for social science/government). If you are considering Baylor - a fine university but with NO medical school and in very lackluster Waco - consider University of Tulsa.

[anxiousmom]

Baylor medical school is no longer affiliated with Baylor university in Waco. Baylor is a BAPTIST college, and had problems in upper administration - hopefully now resolved with the removal of the president there. If your kid is gay - don't send them there. They are definitely NOT friendly to gay folks. I wouldn't send a child of mine there for many philisophical reasons, but I do know several people who are happy there.

[mom of four]

I will look into Univ of Tulsa, and we are still looking into Baylor. . .yep, I thought they had a medical school ( which would then indicate a good science and Math program), but discovered that they no longer have a medical school.

[mol10e]

Since med schools have their own facilities, faculties and administrations different from undergrad colleges which bear the same name, there is no correlation between math/science undergrad programs and having a med school in the vicinity. So it is not as easy as looking for schools associated with med schools to find good math/science programs. An advantage to having a med school around is the research opportunities available for undergrad math/science students at a university medical center.

[WS17]

According to the 2005 Edition of The Unofficial Biased Guide (Kaplan),

Clemson University:

Undergrads Receiving Non-Need Based Scholarships or Grant Aid: 43%

Avg Amount: $6,495

Out of State Tuition (2003-04): $14,742

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BTW, a good book on this subject is "Discounts and Deals at the Nation's 360 Best Colleges" by Bruce Hammond.