<p>My GC, from the beginning of the school year, sorta pressured me into applying to UMiami. I know the school is great - good for premeds and generous merit aid (which, according to my GC, I am competitive for), but I just don’t like its location - I really don’t like year-round heat. Am I a fool for disregarding Miami because of this? I just can’t picture myself being comfortable there (btw, I can’t visit. Don’t have the time and money).</p>
<p>Which brings me to my sub-question: can you suggest schools in the NE (where I really want to go) that have great merit aid? I WOULD ask for schools with good need-based aid, but I think one ivy is enough for me - I don’t know if I’d want to work on more “movers/leisure books” essays XD</p>
<p>There are so many colleges to choose from, that you have to find some way to narrow down your list! I think the climate of a place is very important because you want to feel comfortable for 4 years and not miserable.</p>
<p>If you are in the running for good merit aid at Miami, take long hard looks at the threads on merit-based aid. There are several in the Financial Aid Forum as well as in the Parents Forum and elsewhere.</p>
<p>If you need serious amounts of aid in order to get your education, come May 1 you might find out the University X is the only place you can afford. In which case, your choice will come down to X or nothing. So while you are making your college list, save a few minutes fir thinking about your plan B in case you don’t get in anywhere that you can afford.</p>
<p>Please note also that some of the best merit aid has early cut-offs for the applications. You need to find your Not-Miami!! now.</p>
<p>What stats for merit? My middle son got decent merit and decent need-based aid from U Rochester (combined down to our EFC - overall, a couple grand less out of pocket cost than U Alabama - even with full tuition - or Pitt). No need to worry about year round heat there! He loves the school and is doing quite well so far (also pre-med). He had high stats though, so YMMV.</p>
<p>I’d say if the app is easy or Common, do it. It won’t take much extra work to do that. If you don’t get full Fin Aid anywhere else, it may be the best choice, but otherwise, if you’d be totally uncomfortable don’t go there. I was thinking about applying to Rice (Similar to Northwestern, which is my FAVORITE college) but I knew I really wouldn’t be comfortable in Texas, ever. I live in SC, but I loved the cold when I lived in Michigan (granted I was 4) so I knew the sweltering heat would make me miserable. Rice, however, wasn’t a safety.</p>
<p>Cornell was removed from the list because of climate. Just too cold and the walk from the dorm area to the academic buildings seemed really in the summer no less in 20 below temps.</p>