SAT: 2270 (R: 800 M: 720 (-2 because of miss-bubble, usually get 800) W: 750) Retaking
UW GPA: 3.9
W GPA: School calculates differently from most, I’m not going to recalculate it right now, but I’ve always taken highest class possible
Rank: Top 10% (Most school will say is this unless if you’re valedictorian or salutatorian)
State: Florida
Finances: Want to keep cost of college below 20,000 per year; looking for merit aid schools (I am projected National Merit Semifinalist)
Hooks: First Generation
Major: Physics (and I would like to double major in something else, possibly Computer Science) and will be doing Pre-Med Curriculum
Race/Gender: White/Male
*Let me know if you need more information.
My College List as of Now before you guys kindly shred it:
Safeties
• University of Alabama
• University of Central Florida
• Rutgers
• Drexel University
Matches
• University of Miami
• University of Florida
• Boston College
• Emory University
• George Washington University
• University of Rochester
Reaches
• University of Chicago
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• University of Pennsylvania
• Rice University
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Johns Hopkins
• Cornell University (Possibly EDing)
• Vanderbilt University
From your list, it appears you have a preference for research universities in the eastern half of the country…
I would drop Boston College, George Washington U., and Drexel… I am sure you could get a solid undergraduate physics education at those places, but they certainly are not known for physics.
I would add Florida State U. as another academic and financial safety.
Consider Duke for another reach.
@harvardandberkeley Thanks for responding! I think I’ll cross out Boston College, but I am only keeping Drexel and George Washington because they offer BS/MD programs that I am interested in. Additionally, I’m not adverse to the west coast, I just don’t see that many schools worth applying out there. The UCs are just unaffordable, Stanford, Cal Tech, Reed, and Harvey Mudd all seem seem awesome, but I all ready have so many reach schools. However, I will strongly consider Stanford and Cal Tech though. How many reach schools do you advise on applying too? Also, what are some more matches with good merit if you could tell me some?
Unfortunately, I am not up on which schools are generous with merit aid.
But you should definitely apply to UF, FSU, UCF for academic and financial safeties.
For another reach, Stanford would be awesome… if your family makes under $60K, you don’t pay tuition/room/board… if your family income is under $100K, you only pay room/board/fees… no tuition.
But their acceptance rate is only 5%.
Caltech… eh, I’m wary of recommending Caltech for undergrad… I know so may people who went their who basically forbid their children from applying… it is just a strange environment… I mean, if you just know it is the right place for you, go for it… I think Caltech students know they are Caltech students before they even apply.
Don’t bother applying to California publics… they are stingy with financial aid for OOS students.
At the top of the financial aid and scholarship section is a sticky thread with links to threads listing merit scholarships and low cost schools. This includes NM scholarships, such as Texas A&M.
Consider Rhodes College in Memphis. It is very selective, has a well regarded physics program and as a college vs university, is fully dedicated to its undergraduate population. It is also generous with merit aid. They will know you personally, provide you with many research opportunities, support your own projects if you wish, and guide you well to an excellent graduate program.
@harvardandberkeley Aww shucks, my family income is just a hair above 100k. Are there any other universities that you could suggest, that one wouldn’t initially think is renowned for physics?
Check out the Compton scholar program at Wash U.
@washugrad That seems amazing opportunity! How extraordinary do your extracurriculars need to be to garner such an award?
Family income of $100K doesn’t necessarily prohibit you from getting need-based aid. A lot depends on your family’s individual financial situation and other factors such as other children in college.
You need to ask your parents to run the net price for the schools that solely or primarily offer need-based aid. I believe Harvard and Cornell are need only.
If need-based aid works for you, you should also look at Williams for a strong physics program and excellent track record for medical school admissions.
@momrath We ran Harvard’s financial calculator and got back 13,500
Meaning that $13,500 is your estimated family contribution? If yes, that’s good as it’s easier to get need-based aid than merit aid. I’d run the NPCs for all the schools on your list. If they are affordable, you won’t have to rely on merit aid.
@momrath My parents would have to contribute $8925, and I would have to do a Student Summer Work for $1600 and Student-Time work for $3000. We did Vanderbilt which was about 13k too, Rice was surprisingly around $9750, MIT was around 18k, and 12k after loans and student work. However, we ran it for University of Virginia and it was around 20k 
. I want to avoid loans as much as possible.
Do you guys believe I shouldn’t focus on matches, because I am guaranteed a full ride to the University of Florida because I am in-state and a projected National Merit Finalist, and instead apply to as many reaches possible, because college admissions is so random? I only have UF as a match because I have heard rumors UF will reject high stat applicants, however my school’s Naviance suggests this never happening.
As long as your safeties are offer what you’re looking for and you can afford them, then yes, I think it’s fine to cut out the middle ground. In addition to Williams you might add Brown to your reaches.
If you are a likely NMF, please check out Wichita State University in Kansas. It is easy to get into and they offer a full ride for NMFs. It would be a good safety.
Please do check out FSU. I understand they have a very strong Physics program (they have a high magnetic field laboratory), and their Honors and Scholars program is really great. If you are NMF, Florida Incentive program will pay Cost of Attendance.
I think you can consider UF, FSU, GWU and UM as safeties given your stellar academic record and URM status? This then gives you more room for matches and reach schools. How about Georgia Tech, Michigan, UNC, Virginia? Best of luck!
@3boystogo Cost of Attendance = Full Ride correct?
@ohiopop Michigan is out of the question it would cost my family 45k a year. Georgia tech is too at 35k a year, unless there are some scholarships to bring down cost. UNC is 19k but has me taking 9k out in loans. Virginia is 20k with me taking out 7k in loans. Also I am a white male lol.
When one receives a scholarship, does the financial aid offered by the institution change? If so, how?