Looking at SUNY Stonybrook and Binghamton but hadn’t considered Buffalo. Some kind of diversity is definitely attractive. Thank you!
1 Like
As you probably know, if there are scholarships they would only be offered at the D1 level, excluding the Ivy League.
Yes, I have no idea honestly if any of the schools are D1 and sailing isn’t an NCAA sport, I was always under the impression that sailing could maybe get you in if a school was really competitive in sailing but was unlikely to get you a scholarship bc its not an NCAA sport. I believe cheerleading is not an NCAA sport but some schools still give scholarships so I didn’t want to assume it was a non-starter (but I am sure if it happens it is rare).
Even before I got to your post clarifying that your D was interested in a smaller school, I was already thinking about St. Mary’s College of Maryland. It your in-state public liberal arts college which has a sticker price of about $30k/year (so extra savings that could be used for med school), has small classes, and lots of sailing opportunities.
In the same vein, I’d look at Salisbury which has about 6400 undergrads and was the biggest producer of Fulbright recipients among master’s level universities (i.e. schools where the Master’s degree is generally the highest degree offered). They obviously have a strong cohort of students there and a push for some of the big national/international fellowships.
Staying on the eastern shore, there’s Washington College which @DPS43 has spoken very favorably of. Another option with small classes and a variety of opportunities and great access for sailing.
Although it’s bigger than your D thinks she wants, she may want to check out U. of Delaware which is small by flagship standards (about 19k undergrads) and she would almost certainly be invited to their honors college which would make it feel like a smaller school within a school. UDel has the reputation of being very generous in providing merit aid to desirable out-of-state candidates.
If looking for a mid-sized school, take a look at Christopher Newport which is the less selective but much more affordable version of William & Mary (which is out-of-budget). There are about 4400 undergrads here and tons of sailing options.
With all of the above, I think that they would be extremely likely admits and extremely likely to hit the budget, two of the three conditions for safeties. (The third is that the student should be happy to enroll and attend for four years.)
I’d also take a good look at some of these Jesuit colleges. The Jesuits are very well-respected for the education they provide, and the Jesuit approach is more about intellectual curiosity and service to others. Thus, there are usually students with a variety of religious beliefs (including agnostics and atheists and non-Christian religions). They all have sailing programs, too. Though they’re not assured of meeting budget, they all would have a chance of meeting it with a large enough merit aid award.
-
Fordham (NY): About 10k undergrads
-
Providence (RI): About 4300 undergrads
-
Fairfield (CT): About 4800 undergrads
-
Loyola Maryland: About 4k undergrads
Seconding (thirding?) Hobart William Smith and Wheaton. Roger Wiliams & Salve Regina could be compelling as well for their sailing opportunities. Also, I wouldn’t eliminate Connecticut College from contention. 44% of students without financial need received merit scholarships, averaging $24,168. Although the average amount would only bring down the COA to about $60k, your daughter might receive an above-average award which would end up making the school affordable for your family.
7 Likes
I love Case Western as an option. They even have a sailing team. Not sure D meets the 25% criteria for CW or most women’s colleges, unfortunately. Thank you.
I think Conn is likely to give merit aid, but probably not enough if $50,000 is a hard cap for you. But if you’re not going to ED anywhere, I think it would be worth an RD application to see what they come up with.
1 Like
This is a great list with all sorts of options. I particularly appreciate the perspective on Maryland schools which are not highly respected from where we sit although St. Mary’s is a striking bargain. Thank you.
2 Likes
One I don’t think has been mentioned yet that offered my D23 a lot of merit $ is Dickinson in Pennsylvania. Everyone who applies to the school is automatically considered for merit $, but the one my D was offered was the Presidential Scholarship which requires just one extra essay at time of application in order to be considered for it - this application cycle it is $45K a year for 4 years.
1 Like
Top merit packages at Conn College might make it affordable to you. I don’t remember the exact numbers, but they give a fair amount of merit aid in four-year packages. If she likes it, it’s worth applying. Mount Holyoke, Sarah Lawrence, and UVM are also pretty generous.
1 Like
Ah, she loved Dickinson, especially that she could hang out in a bio lab and talk with the professor there. I went home with the feeling that it was unaffordable. During the visit day presentation, admissions said they would provide a merit scholarship estimate on request but we have not heard back from ours.
1 Like
D will be happy to hear all of these suggestions. I’m already planning the summer tour. Thank you.
1 Like
My daughter had the same stats as yours (4.0UW, 1530 SAT) and received the top merit award at Conn, which is $34K per year. So I wouldn’t necessarily rule it out.
1 Like
$50K is a soft cap and we will definitely visit Conn College after seeing the responses here. Thank you.
2 Likes
So just using them as an example, that would get to something like $56K/year (starting, it would likely go up each year) absent need.
That, not at all coincidentally, makes them competitive with, say, Ohio State OOS, which I believe would be about $54K. But not under $50K.
Edit:
Ah, this helps a lot! I mean, not in the sense of affordability, but I think you are going to possibly have a lot more options in the $50s than under $50K, just based on prevailing OOS market rates and how that helps anchor private merit awards.
Just one more example of that:
I think that gets them to like $52K, again nicely competitive (better in fact) than UConn OOS. So if that level of cost is possible, that will really help make the merit path more viable.
Edit - there’s some new schools in here but just reading back the messages posted while I wrote - so there’s a lot of crossover with @AustenNut usual list of great sugestions.
This pretty much opens the gamut to most any “affordable” school. For example, you’d spend - let’s call it - at most $20K a year at U of Alabama which is over half OOS and draws heavily from the NE, midwest, and Texas. But it’s way too large and not close to where you want to be. A MS State is a much smaller but still larger but inexpensive.
A 10K student UAH will be $20K-ish a year based on automerit - but is certainly more regional then the other two. and strong in STEM. Or midsize UAB known for it’s medical activities.
Or a U of Tenn Chattanooga - also mid size and inexpensive for you.
So those type of schools would all crush your budget expectation.
Then there are the ones not as inexpensive - but still likely to blow away $50K.
SUNYs as an example (to hit your geography - there are many smaller ones (don’t know about sailing). Or a U Maine will come in at budget and it’s smaller.
A CNU in Virginia (very regional student body but very good school) or a Salisbury in Maryland will also easily make budget. Or a St. Mary’s of Maryland.
So those schools won’t be as cheap as the first list (well the in-state might) - but they sort of hit your size and geography.
Then there are the ones others mentioned - the private LACs - but the higher echelon - even the Connecticut College or F&M, etc. - could hit $50K but are unlikely whereas a Clark or Wheaton, etc. are more likely. In other words, hit the less competitive. I believe Gettysburg, as an example is aggressive.
But if you want LAC, then the midwest might be your best bet - the Allegheny, Wooster, Kalamazoo, Deapuws of the world - and more - are all higher cost but offer great merit.
I don’t think finding $50K, even in the NE, is a huge problem - but you are looking for “Inspiring” Matches - and I think that’s the hard point. More like you won’t even find inspiring safeties. - but just financial safeties - is what you can find.
But you can spend $20K if you want - or $50K.
But it’s easier to find assured under $50K schools than - top schools at $50K - because those top schools will always be “maybe” where others that I mentioned above are - with certainty. So a Connecticut College, F&M, Dickinson, or even a Rochester - could be $50K but are likely not to be - if that makes sense. So that’s the type you give it a try but go in with the expectation of not likely being able to afford attending (but a somewhat reasonable chance to afford, just not a high chance).
If you’re able to go a bit bigger, Miami of Ohio might be another to look at. Not sure if URI was mentioned as well - but would work financially, etc. It’s just a bit bigger.
Again, I didn’t put sailing into this.
Someone mentioned Charleston - it is more expensive - but your daughter might be a great fit for the Fellows Program (it’s a reach for Fellows) but comes with great merit although it’s not in your zone. Coastal Carolina would be a bit lesser powered school but also work. UNC Wilmington could be a fit too - a tad over 10K and not NE.
The point being - your student has afforded you dirt cheap or mid tier tuition - and yes, there may need to be some tradeoffs - but maybe not if a U Maine type is ok or various SUNYs or even regional schools like a MIllersville ¶ or TCNJ.
So the student has to decide what they really want - LAC, mid size - and is leaving a preferred geography ok to save my folks - a boat load - even vs. the $50K budget - if that’s something that interest you.
There are also - let’s call them hail mary schools - a washington & lee has the Johnson Scholarship - full ride. SMU the presidential - and there are others, etc.
The other thing is - even the “lesser” schools pedigree wise still have tons of opportunities for the kids who seek them out - my kid at Charleston is one example who has taken advantage of many opportunities available whereas other kids (like my son) - don’t. They just go to class.
Hope that helps a bit.
Based on PSAT selection index, is your student likely to qualify for National Merit? If so, this may qualify her for some scholarships, some of which are quite large.
I agree with those above who say that if you are willing to expand your geographic boundaries outside of the NE, this will open up many more appealing schools that make budget.
4 Likes
Gettysburg. Great LAC. Very close to DC area. Apply for all scholarships. Dd almost committed there.
1 Like
Agree, was going to recommend Saint Mary’s as well.
1 Like
OK, just some ideas outside the Northeast where something like an Honors College and/or merit might make it attractive.
People have been talking here recently about South Carolina, which has a really robust, well-regarded Honors College and quite a bit of merit for OOS. To be blunt they are trying to woo higher numbers kids away from more famous OOS options like UNC or such, but hey, nice to be wooed!
https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/honors_college/index.php
Miami of Ohio is an interesting college–great campus, a little smaller and not the usual public vibe. They have automatic merit based on weighted HS GPA and it looks to me like you would qualify for their top award:
As explained there, you can then get more money (sometimes a LOT more money, although that is very competitive) if you are in their Honors College:
The University of Kansas has a base OOS cost of attendance under $50K already, a very well-regarded Honors Program, and again the same sort of GPA-based merit program where you again seem qualified for the top award:
Are these better than your in-state options? Depends on your preferences, but they would be different at least.
2 Likes
@SeaJayMom, also look at a huge thread last year under my profile. We are from MD and did bargain hunting for premed. Towards the end you will see results. PM me if you have questions.
2 Likes