Schools known for good merit aid

[SBmom]

No links, but my D was offered about $10K at both Allegheny & Beloit. We withdrew from Lawrence prior to award announcement.

D= Athlete with 1350, 3.87, and great ECs.

[carolyn]

Goucher:
http://www.goucher.edu/admissions/te...m?page_id=1377

One thing to remember when looking at scholarship opportunities is the size of the school. 20 merit scholarships out of a freshman class of 300 is much different than 20 out of a freshman class of 1600.

[carolyn]

University of South Dakota:
http://www.usd.edu/finaid/freshmen.cfm

[jmmom]

S - $22,000 from Tulane
$11,600 from Santa Clara (plus $32K in loans - not counting that LOL)
Going to Tulane.

S=1310, 93uw/122w, exc. essay, v strong recs, music ECs showing dedication and talent but no big awards, one sport not a star

[sierra]

Occidental offers top applicants I think up to 17k. Here's a full list, including smaller ones:
http://departments.oxy.edu/finaid/db/award_list.asp

More on Rochester: Rochester offers full tuition to 10 students a year out of 50 candidates it nominates to come interview. Some of the 50 receive 1/2 tuition (this isn't publicized, maybe they just started offering it this year.) Demonstrated interest w/ Rochester's pretty important; they're big on you fitting the school well and getting excited about it. Also the merit deadline is Dec 1.

Scripps- JES scholarship- 1/2 tuition to 40 students. One or two full rides plus airfare: "New Generation Scholarship." deadline Nov 1. http://www.scrippscol.edu/dept/admission/jess.html

That's another thing about merit-- you have to apply early for a lot of these so it's good to start looking before September.

(I just applied and got awards from the last two of these schools, so if anyone wants more info on the schools/going after merit, feel free to pm.)

[kinshasa]

Drew University:

Most merit scholarships at Drew are awarded principally on the basis of academic credentials, although other factors may also be considered. The most prestigious merit awards are the Drew Scholar and the Trustees' Scholarships. Only first-year students are considered for merit scholarships. However, all merit scholarships are renewable for three additional years. Merit Scholarships include:

Drew Scholar Award (100% of first-year full tuition)
Trustees' Scholarship (75% of first-year full tuition)
Recognition Award (amounts vary based on academic and extracurricular criteria)
The Thomas H. Kean Minority Scholarship ( amounts vary)
Presidential Scholarship in the Arts (up to $10,000)

At S's interview, the adcom told him he would probably get a full ride if his SAT was 100 points higher. He did score higher on his next standardized test but ultimately applied ED somewhere else. Drew is courting male applicants from out of region.

[mardad]

Davidson has a number of scholarships the most generous of which is the Belk which pays both tuition and room and board.

http://www2.davidson.edu/admission/f...opts-merit.asp

[jmmom]

kinshasha alludes to a couple of good points which are important on this thread.

Some merit scholarships are awarded on the basis of the original college app. Others require a separate application, perhaps a project submission, perhaps an interview.

Once S/D is awarded merit $$, critical to check whether renewable and on what criteria - eg, maintain a 2.8GPA? maintain a 3.5GPA? re-apply for future years? These are critical differences.

[carolyn]

Good point. AND many schools have deadlines by which you have to have applied to the college in order to be considered for merit scholarships. To the early bird goes the worm when it comes to merit money.

[yulsie]

Boston University, Trustees Scholarship, full tuition (and others too, such as one for classical languages)

[frazzled1]

Here's an extensive listing of merit scholarships available at Vanderbilt (from their online catalog):

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/catalogs/u...chol_need.html

My d was offered a 3/4 tuition Dean's Select Scholarship in the College of Arts and Science, which she decided (yesterday) to accept!

[arizonamom]

Willamette , Knox

[momnipotent]

frazzled1-I presume you have visited at Vanderbilt-any thoughts?-particularly in regards to the atmosphere/students.

Bowling Green in Ohio has extensive merit awards/full rides for those with mimimum test scores/gpa.

[frazzled1]

Hi, momnipotent (love your name) - yes, we just returned a few days ago from our second visit to Vanderbilt. I posted a thread asking for opinions on Vandy's student body and "rich kids school" reputation, which my d found quite helpful:

What would you tell my daughter?

She decided in favor of Vanderbilt after we spoke to several acquaintances, one of whom is very similar to my (decidedly middle-class) d and is about to graduate from Vandy after 4 very happy years.

[iflyjets]

Last spring, D got 25K from Tulane, 10K from Rochester (applied on-line to both without visiting either), and full tuition from Furman. Attending Furman and loves it.