My son is an African-American with a 4.0 weighted GPA and a 32 ACT. He’s interested in computer science and game design.
MIT, Stanford and Harvard are stretches, even for someone with his credentials, but they are not stupid stretches. On the other hand, they are not in his top 3. His top 3 are excellent universities but not at that level. We were at a Princeton Review admissions seminar and they said that his credentials would let a very good university offer him at least a half tuition scholarship so that his credentials would offset the much lower credentials of 3 or 4 students paying full price.
Our income is too high to qualify for financial aid but we have substantial debts that preclude us from paying full-price.
Does anyone have experience with using an admit letter from a Stanford or Harvard to negotiate a better merit-scholarship package at a lesser school? Is it realistic to get big money?
Thanks.
Stanford and Harvard only gives need based aid. Every financial aid person worth their salt knows this. To will not get much leverage trying to negotiate merit aid with a need based admit
“We were at a Princeton Review admissions seminar and they said that his credentials would let a very good university offer him at least a half tuition scholarship”
this is BS.
acceptance letters from elite colleges will NOT get you merit $$ at other colleges if they dont offer merit scholarships in the first place. They MIGHT be used to help you appeal Financial Aid offers from lesser colleges, but the outcome may depending greatly on how much the college actually wants your son and how much FA is left over. And you would need to apply for FA in the first place.
Your DS needs to apply to colleges that actually offer merit $$. Here is a list that CC parents have complied.
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/
In particular I’d recommend he apply to U Southern Calif. by their Dec 1 deadline in order to be eligible for one of the 250 1/2 and120 full tuition merit scholarships they offer. They have a great CS game design major- one of the best.
Letting USC know that he is REALLY interested in going there is also very important- that can be accomplished in multiple ways by visiting, his seeking out and talking to their admissions reps at college road shows, and him looking deeply into the USC website, not just by applying early.
DS was accepted at 2 Ivys, and 10 other top colleges and also by USC, where he received a full tuition scholarship.
He has told me recently that he would challenge anyone to prove he got a lesser education at USC than at any other Elite college.
I couldn’t agree more- He is currently finishing his PhD at Cal Tech- one of the top U’s in the world.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1678964-links-to-popular-threads-on-scholarships-and-lower-cost-colleges.html#latest
Read the links in this thread. There is one for guaranteed full tuition/full ride scholarships.
Your son doesn’t need an admissions letter from an elite school to get a great merit award at another school.
You don’t mention your own state…but look at the flagship there, and the honors college…and scholarships for high achieving students.
In particular. Look at University of Alabama. Your son would get a great scholarship from them, plus, $2500 additional for CS or engineering major, I believe.
Just curious…do you have twins? In your other threads you mention your daughter is a rising senior.
I agree that your strategy doesn’t make sense in that merit giving schools will not care about need awards from the extremely generous need awarding colleges. Make very sure that the colleges he does apply to do indeed give half merit, otherwise you are wasting your time.
There is also a link for highly competitive competitive merit. Of course there are many more schools with merit awards, published or not.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html
Your son may get offered merit at the top schools that offer merit to get more male URMs, but HPYS won’t give merit.
I think the OP is wondering if his “son” can use an admissions letter from an elite school to get more merit aid from a lesser ranked school.
My point…it is not necessary for the kid to apply to HYPSM or the like to gain admission…if the student is well qualified, and applies to schools with guaranteed merit…he will get the awards.
@GameDesign do you have both a son and a daughter who will be rising HS seniors? If so, they could play into eligibility for need based aid at some generous schools.
your sons stat could get him tuition, fees, room, board & a $500 book voucher at Howard. Since scholarships are not guaranteed, he must apply early
http://www.howard.edu/financialaid/grants_scholarships.htm#Freshman
Miami University has the Ronald A. Hammond Scholarship Program for minorities. Full Tuition Scholarship (~$43K/yr). Must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA to keep the scholarship.
Miami University’s video game design program earns national recognition
http://miamioh.edu/news/article/view/16696
Fixed the Miami name mistake - Miami U is in OH, U Miami is in FL
ED
Mod
@Psata82 are you talking about Miami University in Ohio…or University of Miami in Florida…or both…in your. Post above?
@thumper1. Sorry, I post the incorrect link regarding the video game design program. It is the University of Miami that has the Hammond Scholarship, NOT Miami University in Ohio!
http://www6.miami.edu/provost/oae/hammond/index.html
Thank you @Psata82
We all know that Miami University in Oxford Ohio also has full tuition scholarships…(so a search for MiamiDAP and you can verity this) as well.
@GameDesign do you have twins? A son and a daughter? Will they be in college at the same time?
It appears that you live and work in CA while your wife and kids live in another state. What is that other state? It is possible your kids still have instate residency status in THAT state as well.
And if you will have two kids in college at the same time, this could impact need based aid at the uber generous colleges.
So…let us know if your kids will be in college at the same time.