<p>I am a junior and a potential national merit finalist (221 Psat), and am therefore eligible to attend a list of schools (u of Tulsa, u of oklahoma, Bradley, u of arizona, Mich. State) with a full tuition (some cases with room and board (scholarship). Im also sure I could get into some very prestigious schools if i choose to, but ill have to pay room and board and a good part of tuition at those schools. Is it better to go to a decent school for undergrad (mich state, u tulsa) and save money for a great grad school/law school, or am i better off going to a more presigious school (vandy, northwesten, u chicago) and being a little financial set behind?</p>
<p>You need to loook at how many kids from those schools get into top law schools. I think you’ll find that very few do. Grad schools like law and business take heavily from top colleges.</p>
<p>If you can reasonably afford it, a top undergraduate school is worth it. If you would have to take on huge debts, however, your best choice is to attend the less prestigious school.</p>
<p>Suze does have a good point; law and business schools do take heavily from top colleges, but that has a lot to do with the fact that the students who attend those colleges are academically talented and motivated to begin with.</p>
<p>You can succeed and get into a top grad school from a less prestigious school. You will probably have to be the best student, depending on where you want to attend grad school, but you can succeed.</p>
<p>University of Southern California will give you half-tuition for being a National Merit Finalist.</p>
<p>But if you are a Finalist, I think you have a great chance at qualifying for the Trustee Scholarship (full tuition).</p>
<p>What state are you from? If your state has a solid public school, you’re probably best off just going there and saving money.</p>
<p>While some of these places might be giving you free rides, you need to make sure they are still good enough for you. (Michigan State isn’t terrible)</p>
<p>If you have to take out tens of thousands of dollars in loans to attend a prestigious school, it probably isn’t worth it. I’m passing on Cornell to attend Michigan because Cornell would probably cost me upwards of $70,000 in loans. Just not worth it for an undergrad degree, especially when I have a far cheaper option as good as Michigan.</p>
<p>Other places to check out would be Washington U in St. Louis and Emory. They both have outstanding merit programs.</p>
<p>It depends on your financial situation. It’s feasible to receive a lot of money from the top colleges, if your family’s financial situation qualifies.</p>
<p>Don’t get set on getting room and board covered. It’s possible to get outside scholarships to cover expenses over tuition, but the top schools only give scholarships up to full tuition. </p>
<p>Don’t limit your assumed options to the big national merit scholarship giving schools. Honestly, most of them are not so great academically, and there are a lot of better schools that give decent merit aid to those with national merit finalist credentials. USC, as mentioned above, is good, as well as Boston University.</p>
<p>WashU, Emory, Vanderbilt, and UChicago all have great merit programs considering their high rankings, but you have to be a very top student to get anything. I don’t know your stats, so I’m not saying you won’t get decent merit aid. Just make sure you have enough safeties.</p>
<p>i live in illinois, and u of i is a great public school, but they offer very few merit scholarships, and their prices are going up and up evn for instaters. Depending on my financial aid package, it might be the same price for me to got to Northwestern as it would u of i. (I’ve estimated my EFC at $15,000) </p>
<p>As for merit scholarships at top schools like u of chicago, i think my chances are slim because although I might become a National Merit Finalist, my stats are good, but not outstanding
3.61 GPA unweighted, 31 Act (will be taking SAT soon), 4 APs before graduation, many honors courses, and 2 foreign languages (hebrew and spanish) (I attend a Jewish college-prep school)</p>
<p>Ill apply and see what schools offer me. Thanks for all the advice! Ill look into USC!</p>
<p>DSMO
-I cant find the national merit Half-tuition Scholarship on the USC site. HWere di you hear about it?</p>
<p>Search the site for Scholarships…they changed everything around since the time I was looking into it, and that’s what I had to do. Based on your stats, I don’t really think you would qualify for the Trustee’s Scholarship (but if you can get 2250+ on the SAT I think you have a shot)</p>
<p>Trust me, it’s there. No matter what, you will get the half-tuition if you are a Finalist.</p>