Chance me/Match me please-IN resident, F, 3.86/4.0, 29ACT, 1360 SAT, biochem or premed track [<$35k parent contribution]

There are lots of nice things about Pitt, but with current COA, I don’t think it is possible to get cost down to 35k for an OOS student. The highest possible merit scholarship is 20k/year, and OOS COA is over 60k.

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Yes, I think UCincinnati, especially with the reciprocal agreement, the fact it’s urban and offers co-ops + would automatically consider her for the Cincinnatus if the app is in by Nov1, would be a better possibility for OP.
For OOS universities, I considered budget to be 35k from parents, 5.5k loan, and potentially a modest amount from a part time job. So Pitt may be within budget but less likely than UCincinnati.
(That’s why I don’t think Tulane or Vanderbilt are worth the application - getting sufficient merit doesn’t seem plausible to me for these but others may have other ideas!)
Purdue and IU are very good universities so finding universities that are as strong and/or offer something different for 35-45k :blush: but let’s keep thinking :+1:

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Purdue has majors with an additional cost. But I don’t believe it impacts biochem.

Not to be a downer, but realistically, I’d say getting Pitt within even the extended ~40k budget would be a significant reach. On past threads, students receiving merit typically report quite high stats (such as >1500 SAT) and the 20k awards seem to go primarily to engineering students. Dietrich students report lower awards. Of course, the student can always apply, though!

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While I don’t think OP can get merit at Pitt with a 29 (b4 TO they wanted a 33), they gave 389 merit at $8k on average. I don’t think Pitt is worth an app (my opinion). Vandy, no chance at admission, but gave 151 merit awards at $29k but has full tuition - which OP will need.
Also not worth it but better odds than Pitt.

If the student desired urban, UT Chattanooga would fit. UAB as well - sort of the Pitt if the South with big medical facilities although I’m not sure if that translates to undergrad opportunities. Perhaps UNM is another - with a medical school.

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If you are interested in undergraduate research IU is the better option when compared to Purdue. The ASURE program is a great. If you are interested and apply to IU make sure you apply when the window opens. Last year it was first come, first serve for that program. There is also the Center of Excellence for Women and Technology Emerging Scholars Program that pairs you with a professor for a year of research. At Purdue we were told you would have to cold call professors to see if they were taking people to join their research labs. This was the factor that pushed my daughter to IU in addition to smaller math classes for calculus.

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Echo the sentiment on Tulane. They’ve been shifting much of their aid to need based and although they do offer a limited number of very nice merit scholarships theose are very competitive and putting in the effort to show demonstrated interest and school specific essays and such wouldn’t seem to be worth the time. If it’s at the top of your list for really wanting to go, it might be worth it but I wouldn’t put hopes up that even if accepted that they’ll get you to $$.

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Lincoln, NE is also a great student city, and UNL would be affordable at the Midwest Exchange rate, with additional merit likely. University Honors has its own housing and scholarships. I’ve read some enthusiastic recommendations for their Humanities in Medicine minor for premeds. Both the College of Arts & Sciences and the Ag school offer the biochem major.

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