Could I get a full ride anywhere?

tk21769
Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:18:32 +0000

Trinity University might be a match/low match for you. If you have family near San Antonio and could live off campus, the total cost of attendance (COA) would be in the mid $20Ks, before aid. Or UT-Dallas? I don’t know squat about Texas, but the idea is to look for less expensive in-state options, or else less selective out-of-state schools with good finaid (including merit scholarships).

St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) is another good public liberal arts college. Beautiful campus, solid academics, more traditional than Evergreen. It’s more selective and more expensive than Evergreen, but less selective and less expensive than CC (though I don’t have a good sense of where you’d stand for admission and especially aid as an out-of-state applicant.) You cannot count on it as a financial and academic safety but it might be a good “match” school.

Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland is another nice little private LAC. It is slightly less selective than SMCM, and seems to offer a fair amount of merit aid. In 2008-2009, 115 first-time full-time freshman were awarded institutional non-need-based aid. Average merit award: $11,541. Total COA before aid is in the low $40Ks (a little cheaper than CC or Macalester). The campus & setting is beautiful, it’s old (10th oldest in the USA), and is located about 75 miles from Washington DC or Baltimore (for internships, major league sports, shopping etc.)