Hi!
So I’ll be applying to schools next year and I’ve heard some things about different schools. Which of the following would be hard to get into out of state with a 35 ACT, NMSF (hopefully NMF), 13 APs, and lots of ECs. Would I get any merit money/ honors college admission?
UF (legacy)
UGA
U of Kentucky
UNC-CH
Would my chances be improved by applying EA?
Thanks so much!
which state are you from?
@annamom Tennessee 
I would think you have a good chance at honors with your stats. Merit money is a different story. They are “holistic” awards, which makes it VERY competitive if you don’t have any need, still I think you would get something from each. Most of the scholarships don’t even bring it down to what UT would charge you in state. NMF is next to nothing ($500 at UF).
What is your gpa?
UNC-CH is a reach due to the OOS caps and the large number of OOS applicants. I would still apply, but I would view it as a reach and would not count on merit money or honors. They meet full need and I would try the NPC to get an approximate cost. The NPC might not be accurate if your family owns a business, etc.
I agree that these stats make you a strong contender for the other schools, but I don’t know about merit money.
Perhaps others know more but I believe each of these schools have competitive scholarships and not guaranteed scholarships such as the U of Alabama. As @twogirls mentions UNC -CH caps the number of OOS acceptances. This would be my strategy. Decide on an affordable safety, find out how much your parents will contribute, apply where you wish and once the acceptances and financial aid packages arrive decide among the affordable options. What you don’t want to do is put all your emotional eggs into being able to attend these OOS schools and try to figure how how to afford it after you’ve been accepted. Good luck.
http://www.uky.edu/financialaid/scholarship-incoming-freshmen
Scroll for OOS scholarships. You would be guaranteed a small scholarship, but big money looks competitive.
If your are a “horse person” as your screen name suggests, Lexington is a very happy place!
ayyye, tennessee represent! i think you stand a great chance at all of those schools, but unc is incredibly competitive. i do know you’ll be treated like royalty at ut-k being in the honors college should you choose to attend there though (i live fifteen minutes from campus).
If you are NMF, you would qualify for Florida’s Benacquisto scholarship, which pays FULL cost of attendance at UF, FSU, New College of Florida, UCF, USF and at the University of Miami (as a private school, it would pay about $22K toward tuition, the equivalent of full COA at a public Florida university).
This is the first year that the Benacquisto scholarship was expanded to OOS students, so keep an eye on it’s status (what the state legislature gives, it can take away…).
However, it’s hard to beat full COA (Tuition, fees, books/supplies, housing, food, etc.).
http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/factsheets/FIS.pdf
At UF, they recently changed how they handle admissions to the honor college. It’s now done as part of admissions (and not a separate application). It’s also much more stat based (previously, it was much more based on your application essay). With a 35/36 ACT (and a very high GPA), you would have a very good chance at the honor’s program. It does come with a small honor’s scholarship. However, without the Benacquisto, UF tends to be very expensive for OOS students. The school itself gives out a limited amount of OOS scholarships.
The other Florida schools, on the other hand, would offer substantial merit awards. FSU would offer an OOS tuition waiver (bringing tuition down to $6.5K a year) plus a scholarship, while the other schools would offer even larger merit awards.
Good Luck!
Thank you guys so much! I have a 4.53 W AND 4.0 UW.
I plan to apply to the schools listed EA. Besides UNC-CH, do any others cap OOS?
And the info I read about the Benacquisto seemed a little sketchy so I’ll have to look into it more.
Would UGA and U of KY make good safeties? Would Clemson (i know it’s private)? I know UF and UNC-CH are more selective, esp OOS
Clemson is not private.
thank you for the correction @DCNatFan but would it be a good safety for someone with my stats
UF isn’t more selective for OOS students (as of 2017, we don’t know the numbers yet for 2018). The acceptance rate has, historically been about the same for in-state and OOS.
I would say definitely apply and see what happens. I think you have a great chance at UF, UK, and UGA.
UNC Chapel Hill is a little more difficult but certainly doable. GPA seems to be a very important factor. I applied to UNC as on out-of-state student this year and got in. However, I am a transfer student, so that process might be a little different. Overall, I’d recommend to spend more time working on your essays and extracurricular activities for Chapel Hill. I think this is what got me accepted.
A college isn’t a safety unless it’s affordable. What’s your EFC? Can your parents pay it?