<p>Bryanwalt,
You should probably pop over to the U of M forum to ask your chances of admissions at that school.</p>
<p>I live in the Twin Cities but send my son to Iowa over the U of M chiefly because I want him to have the chance to grow up away from home. But it does, as Haystack points out, cost me considerably more. The schools are as different as night and day. I suggest you determine which you really prefer (sounds like Iowa), then determine your likelihood of financial aid (see below) and go to your parents to see which school works financially.</p>
<p>I think you are right in guessing that Wisc is a long-shot with your stats. Which is OK because Iowa has many UW characteristics without the ridiculous tough admissions.</p>
<p>Now to financial aid. No one here can tell you about NEED based aid as that depends on your family’s financial situation which the government determines and calls EFC (expected family contribution). But we can tell you about MERIT based aid and other forms of aid available to you if you belong to one of several special groups which Iowa is trying to help out. All available need-based scholarships are explained very nicely here:
[Scholarships</a> for First-Year Students - Undergraduate Admissions - The University of Iowa](<a href=“http://www.uiowa.edu/admissions/undergrad/scholarships/first-year.htm]Scholarships”>http://www.uiowa.edu/admissions/undergrad/scholarships/first-year.htm)</p>