“I think finding a place with people “like him” is important, meaning kids who take it serious, are generally reserved and are genuinely nice people.”
Have you considered Ohio Northern University? They are small, but have a College of Pharmacy so they would have robust chemistry and biochem offerings. In addition, they also offer engineering.
Your student would be in range for good merit there. The student body as a whole is above average for the state, but not completely filled with the upper percentile testers.
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Well, he retook the ACT and now has a 32. Not sure that will be much impact on the analysis above for acceptances or scholarships.
I have not spoken to him yet so I’m not sure how he feels about it. His school counselor told him, before getting the score back, to try the SAT if he isn’t happy with his score. He is more analytically minded and and thus we assumed SAT would be harder for him.
Congrats to your son on the increased ACT score! I do think it would improve his odds of admission, though the likelihood of getting the price down to $40k still is not great.
Have there been any schools added to the potential application list?
He has added quite a few, but still needs to research and try to make some visits. More realistic ones such as Wooster, Loyola, Dickenson, Ohio U, and possibly some more south. I keep suggesting MSU / OSU as they both have scholarships that might be realistic. Also added Villanova, which might not meet the cost goals. He’s also applying to third party scholarships. He really has not had much time recently. After AP exams he will have a bit more, but then he works as a lifeguard starting Memorial day.
Dang kids lives are way busier than mine.
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Your 32 will get you more money at some schools - but you have to pick the right schools.
For example, if you’re looking at OSU/MSU (big flagships), you could go to Alabama for $20K all in (if the 32 is a true 32 and not superscored).
I know it’s not on your list - but it’s the type of school where that score makes a difference.
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It’s a superscore 32. 31 on the actual test. Kinda of surprised he didn’t do better on the math. 31 math, 34 science, 32 English, 31 reading (28 reading on this test, the 31 is the superscore impact).
He has not come around to MSU or OSU due to size and party school, yet. I mentioned Bama and I get the same response on the size and heavy party school and a big frat school, which I get. I went to MSU and did my share of partying (more than). But … if he can get into honors programs that changes the dynamics a bit and can help make the school smaller IMO. I don’t think we will make it to Bama before application’s, but I don’t think they weigh showing interest so I might have him apply and he can decide where to visit for some of these based on acceptances and scholarships.
I agree - none match your list but you asked where does a 32 help.
A 31 takes Mississippi State (still an SEC school but smaller) from $16K to $21K merit - so it puts you in the high teens all in.
A 10K student UAH gets $18,230 off - so about 75% of tuition. The 31 doesn’t get an increase though - but smaller - if you’re having a hard time making the $35-40K.
As an Ohio resident you might qualify for instate tuition at Marshall (a smaller school) and schools like UT Chattanooga will be in cost range - but I can’t state that a 32 is different than a 31.
Only Ms State that I can see where a 31 makes a difference - but again, those are not schools really within this students consideration set - but they post tables which is the only reason I can answer that.
btw - just because a school is a big party school doesn’t mean they don’t have non partiers (they all do) - and Bama has a pre med scholars program attached.
Freshman Non-Resident Academic Scholarship | Office of Admissions and Scholarships (msstate.edu)
McCollough Scholars – Pre-Medical Studies at the University of Alabama (ua.edu)
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Bama has some nice dorms too. And weather. Both would be important to me. Most of the schools in Ohio the dorms are lacking, and CWRU might be the worst of the dorm situations.
My son chose it over Purdue because of the dorm (Ridgecrest) but of course he moved out after a year.
The campus is stunning and clean if aesthetics matter and it’s in budget but in fairness to your student, it’s nothing like the list you built and you can find smaller schools at your budget - some assured to hit cost.
My daughter got into Villanova honors with a 3.95 uw 34 act, no merit or FA. She ended up very happy at UDel for a lot less after merit.
@RookMSU is your son interested in colleges in the Deep South? If not, we can stick to the geographic area he is interested in.
I think you have a number of affordable and realistic choices in Ohio as an instate resident. IIRC some Ohio publics also freeze your costs for all four years. You need to check which ones.
He is willing to learn more about southern schools, if they seem to be a fit and offer great merit scholarships. Miami Ohio has a rate lock, I’m not sure on others. OSU, Cinci, and Miami would all be roughly the same cost without any merit scholarships.
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One other aspect that I think he needs to focus on, though I’m not sure he is being honest with himself about. A school with a strong support system would be huge for him. He works hard and keeps his head down. But, as I said he is quite and not very outgoing so he has not made a lot of friends and doesn’t socialize with a lot of friends. The only exception is band or at Scout camp but then he is only social with those kids while there. He has been busy and over burdened and we can see the stress impacting him, and likely some loneliness. I worry (as all parents do) about him when he goes off to a school and doesn’t know anyone. I think that is part of why he is looking at more local schools, in fact he originally wanted to go to Case and live at home which I eventually talk him out of. Having a school with that strong support program, assuming he would use it, would hopefully help him manage through any stress or loneliness on campus.
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And adding, if he is in college in Ohio, it would be possible for him to travel home, or you visit if needed. No plane ride!
Look into scholars programs and living learning communities. These small cohort groupings are a great way to engage and really help quickly connect students with each other. A lot of big schools have them and it really does make a big school feel much smaller.
https://honors-scholars.osu.edu/scholars
https://housing.osu.edu/living-learning-communities/
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I can reach anywhere in Ohio and the western have of PA in 4 hours. Cinci and Miami are both around 4 hours or just under. Kentucky is closer to 5. OSU, Kenyon, Denison, Wooster, CWRU, Pitt, etc., are all in 2 hours.
ETA: Also mom has to work near Chicago a few times a year, so if he went to Loyola she could go see him a few times.
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@RookMSU will your family qualify for need based aid, or are you chasing merit aid to bring your costs within budget?
Owning your own business complicates the accuracy of the net price calculators. There are some allowable deductions by the IRS that are added back as income for financial aid purposes at some colleges.
But really…you have so many good public universities in Ohio! So lucky!
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I think @RookMSU started the topic not about the south - but about how much another point on the ACT will impact merit - and it’s hard to say if at all - other than the schools that publish a table.
And of those I could only find Ms State where it does. Others are 32 - not SS - but those schools take the budget equation away.
I agree - the student wants a small school (thinking like a Kalamazoo) or Wooster that might come to the 35-40K mentioned in the title but @RookMSU mentioned a few large ones (I think OSU and MSU) and hence the southern came up due to the test score increase and budget needs.
But it sounds more in line with parental desire than student desire…but it answers the question on the increase (well one school I could find).