<p>Hello! My rising Senior daughter is interested in a Biology/Spanish double major (with interest in Study Abroad) with plans on going to med school. Financially we are only able to contribute about 15K per year, and I believe our EFC is around 18K. Schools that she is interested in are: Stanford, Michigan (in-state), and Alabama (she does qualify for free tuition). As a Michigan resident, we are also looking in-state schools where she will receive free-tuition (or close) such as Grand Valley State University, Central Michigan University, and Oakland University, but her dream schools are Stanford and Michigan (which even as in-state is more than we can afford to pay). As much time as I have spent on CC in the last 3 months I feel I should be an expert by now, but I am overwhelmed! If someone would be so kind as to give me a “breakdown” of each Ivy (Approx. admit %, do they cover need over EFC, feel of the school, etc.) that would be much appreciated! Since our funds are limited and we don’t want her to take on loans (a little may be okay) any input would be appreciated. I have heard so much about other schools (slightly below Ivies) and I think those would be great, too, but I’m not sure how the 15K we could pay and the 18K EFC would come into play. Obviously, our plan at this time is to cast a large net and see what opportunities are on the table. Please give some advice!! Thanks!
Stats:
Michigan Caucasian Female Class of 2013
4.0 UW/4.6 W/IB Diploma Candidate/Top 10 HS in Michigan
32 ACT
SAT II Subject tests Math 680, Bio 670, Spanish 570 (Should she re-take?)
Not NMSF or NMF
4-year Cheerleader (Sideline and Competitive)
National Honor Society
Spanish Club (Visiting Central America this summer)
Part-time summer job
Girl Scout Gold Award (not yet, but will this Fall)
Loves NYC, but also “big college towns” like Ann Arbor, Tuscaloosa
Will be visiting Miami University next month and applying for the free tuition/half-tuition scholarship if she likes the school
Would love to join a sorority, but life will go on if she doesn’t
I think that is about it! Compared to other stats for Ivy applicants she seems to be in big need of leadership EC or more.<br>
Thanks Again!</p>
<p>if looking at alabama you should also look at uab (birmingham)… she would get 15K towards total cost of 20-25K… very strong science school, home of the med school, campus surrounded by about 7 hospitals, lots of research and shadowing opportunities, good pre med advising.</p>
<p>all dorms have kitchens so could keep cost down by reducing food plan.</p>
<p>WONDERFUL sci/tech honors program which she could apply for and with her stats has an excellent chance</p>
<p>as a bio major she could apply to biology scholars, which pays a stipend of up to 3200 per year…reducing costs even more.</p>
<p>if you would like info…feel free to pm…S2 is there forensic chem, molecular biology, premed, scitech and chem scholar so could give you more info on those</p>
<p>I have thought about UAB, and kicking myself that we didn’t visit when we were in Tuscaloosa. Can you tell me what the campus is like, is it mostly commuter, how many OOS, Honors College, etc? I know they have a greek system, but any insight into that? Thank you so much for your info!</p>
<p>Sit down with your financials, and run the net price calculators at all if the institutions that are on your daughter’s lists far. Talk with her and whoever else in the family who will also be chipping in for the cost of college. The secret to happiness is having everyone on the same page about the money. Yes, it is very easy to like X, Y, and Z, but no one should more than like any of them that aren’t dead-on affordable. This is part of that “love thy safety” business.</p>
<p>As for specifi institutions to point her to, I’d show her the Guaranteed Merit Aid threads in the Financial Aid Forum.</p>
<p>uab is very different from ua… it is an urban campus, most buildings surround a green area so it is a defined space, but it is not old college type buildings, lots of red brick but i like it 
Not a big football or party school. but princeton review rankings rate it extremely high for student happiness and racial interactions. </p>
<p>it has a greek system of about 12 sororities and 4 fraternities…only 6% of students are greek so it is not a huge presence…but also not an elaborate process to get in. </p>
<p>the sci tech honors program is the only one of its kind in alabama…very research oriented, with special classes geared towards research. an honors thesis is required based on a 2 year research project. many many opportunities/ It is a relatively small cohesive group of about 50 students per year…but they interact with each year…ie peer mentors, special retreats, activities etc. Dr Tucker who is the director of that program is wonderful.</p>
<p>there are 5 dorms on campus housing about 2200 students… if you receive merit aid you are required to live on campus for freshman year…many students move off campus to apartments or houses which are plentiful in the surrounding area. It is currently about 12% oos students, but that does not mean the campus empties out on weekends… there might be more of an effort required to occupy yourself…but not a problem, there is lots to do. S2 rarely comes home as he is involved in school events, research , rec center rockwall climbing, alys stephens center etc.</p>
<p>total undergrad is about 11K students.</p>
<p>Thank you for your replies so far. I’ve spent the last hour on UAB’s website, and I will share it with DD. I have to say, my daughter is most likely interested in the “big college experience”, that I have to say UM, Bama, and Stanford will offer. My DS will be following a few years later, and I think UAB might just be the ticket for him!! Thanks again, everyone!</p>
<p>bump for more info, thanks!</p>
<p>I think that the University of Michigan would be a great fit for your daughter. If you can’t afford the sticker price, she should try for outside scholarships to help pay for the cost. The University of Michigan does have some need-based aid for in-state residents, as well as competitive merit scholarships. Definitely apply; you never know what will happen.</p>
<p>Definitely apply to the University of Alabama since it has guaranteed scholarships. </p>
<p>And apply to the schools with generous aid. Namely Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford.</p>
<p>And taking out $5,000/year in student loans for an Ivy league (which may be necessary) would be smarter than going to a college that would offer a lesser academic experience and open up less opportunities after graduation.</p>
<p>Those subject tests are too low if she is considering Ivies and selective schools. Not all schools require both the ACT and subject tests so consider that before sending those. On a retake she should work towards 750 + on math and bio. Amherst College is in a super college town – try the FA calculator to see if it may work. There is no Greek life However. Good luck!</p>
<p>Alabama looks like a good safety if she likes the school. She would get the full tuition scholarship and the COA would be less than your $15K/year target. For other financial safeties, you might check the list below, in addition to Alabama and Miami that you already identified it has a few other “big college experience” schools like LSU, Western Kentucky, and Louisiana Tech that would give great guaranteed merit awards:</p>
<p><a href=“Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums;
<p>Also look through this thread - there are a lot of great schools where your daughter would be competitive for big merit awards:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/211927-institutional-merit-based-scholarships-full-tuition.html?highlight=tuition[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/211927-institutional-merit-based-scholarships-full-tuition.html?highlight=tuition</a></p>