@dragon1128 If Merit aid is critical, revise your list of school choices.
- Ivies and top 25 schools in general are need based, with few exceptions like Chicago, Vandy, Rice. Though they are officially non need-based, the award is for very few (like presidential or such names awards) handful.
- Focus on schools which give NMS. Assume you will become NM finalist.
- Definitely you can get in to a US school with less fees (if open for any college in the top 150 or so) than going to Canada just to save money.
- If money is tight, then save it for MD and choose a school which is least expensive and where you are going to be in top 25% so that you will get a solid GPA and study well for your MCAT.
- Also apply to schools which give liberal merit aid not based on NMS. U Pittsburg & USC give solid almost free tuition. U Pitt is best to apply to gain confidence, because by Sep/Oct itself got the admmission and free tuition. The R&B and travel expenses came lower than my in state CA public schools.
Based on minimal search in 2016, I noticed these college below give NM Merit Award. The number indicates that many NMS scholars admitted in prior year or whatever (I forgot). Things may change when you apply this year. So do the home work to check their current status. GL.
Alabama 149
Oklahoma 106
Arizona 121
Kentucky 129
UT Dallas 145
Nebraska 99
Ole Miss 149
Houston 189
NJIT - Full ride
Drexel - Full Tuition