My son is a junior and has the following stats. We are looking for merit scholarships and it looks like our EFC is about 30k. Would like to see what he might be able to get with merit scholarships that might help with that number. Probably looking at where he might get a full tuition scholarship.
All honors classes since freshman year and currently enrolled in 3 AP’s
School does not weight the honors classes only the APs.
Received all A’s in the AP classes-chem, Spanish and Calc BC
Gpa is around a 4.0
Only one B+ freshman year
ACT is 33
PSAT is 1440
Athlete-cross country and track
Leadership role in class with Deca and student body
NHS
Volunteer at church and community
Trips abroad with school
Other awards and achievements…
Looking at schools that have strong programs in the sciences, math, accounting, maybe engineering? Still deciding on path forward. Also looking for,guidance on which honors programs he might qualify for?
I’ve got a few ideas for you to get the ball rolling and I’ll leave out UT as I’m sure you know more about the Utah schools than I (he is lucky to have Univ UT in his back yard!). For starters check out Arizona State, Colorado State, Western Washington University, Montana State, University of Montana as they all have honors colleges and give merit money to high stats kids. Plus there is potential for WUE money at most I believe. Univ of Washington is hard to get merit for out of state applicants but check them out anyway since you have such a high stat kid. Apparently Washington State can be more generous with merit. Perhaps the Oregon schools as well but I don’t know much about their state system (Lewis & Clark gives good merit to high stats kids though).
For LACs check out ctcl.org, the website for “Colleges that Change Lives”. Many on that list offer decent merit but whether they stack merit with need based aid can vary. St Olaf’s could be particularly interesting to your son.
Also check out a thread on this website, a discussion focusing on kids with a lower GPA than your son, but you can find it here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1871275-parents-of-the-hs-class-of-2017-3-0-to-3-4-gpa-p156.html The reason I post it is simply because the academic range of applicants is pretty diverse and many schools are mentioned. The OP of that thread is keeping track of applications to schools mentioned and has created a list of the schools (with acceptance rate, average GPA, average SAT/ACT etc.) along with the stats of kids who have been accepted/deferred/rejected and their FA packages so far (both need based and merit). It’s pretty extensive and continues to be updated daily. It is really, really long- go to page 156 post #2334 to see the list. Since that post many parents have updated so you can read from there.
I’ve learned a lot from that thread mentioned above. One important pearl is that when you check the NPC (net price calculator) specific to each school know that some NPCs are far more accurate than others. Specifically American University has been a disappointment to some families using it. The estimator indicated they would receive much more money than was offered with the acceptance. Just something to look out for, that if the NPC has a calculator and books logo on it be aware that it likely won’t be accurate. The good ones will be very helpful, however, and many will include merit awards along with need based aid in the financial award calculation (if they are known for being generous with merit aid).
Of course this is only the tip of the iceberg. Schools like Case Western Reserve, Rose Hulman, RPI, Univ Pittsburg, etc. get mentioned a lot on this website. Even Cal Poly, Santa Clara. There is an extensive list for National Merit Finalists that should be easy to find if he qualifies. Best of luck to you and your son in his search, you are smart to start now. He really needs his ducks in a row by early/mid fall to get applications in for the best chances for high merit awards.
Will he be a NMF? Note the reach schools just won’t give him money for his stats (the privates like case, NEU, Tulane etc, CSMines, the free app schools LOL, might give merit but he COA is left as too high anyway), becuase that is how it works. Look for schools where he is at the top end of the stats. There is WUE but I have a hard time seeing any WUE school for such programs that would beat the U of U where he would get honors at entrance + regents but not presidential, ( he would get honors school, but it doesn’t mean a lot anyway, maybe dorm choices but at the U so few kids live in it doesn’t really offer much). Full tuition is probably going to mean looking at a school that is no better than the U. Schools with strong programs in his area have strong applicants. Looking for full tuition means compromise.
OK-totally understand. Looking at Miami University, Richmond, Elon, Clemson, Denison…and even if not full tuition a merit plus financial aid package would be important. I am in their top tier for applicants so thinking those might also be good. Just looking to expand the list.
If your EFC is 30K it is likely you will be asked to pay that and more, as said, run the NPCs and see what you can afford. Then look at the automatic tuition scholarships. Merit scholarships are only useful if you can afford to pay the rest. How much do you have to spend?
so I am finding out…just looking for a good fit school for me where the merit scholarships are large enough to cover at least half of the tuition if not the whole amount…
It is a real challenge right? Half tuition at one school is very different from half tuition at another. At least have a solid number in your head for your student to understand. Most unis cost about 10-12K for room and board, can you afford that plus half tuition (maybe leaves you with 15-20K plus the 12 etc). What is your budget?
yes we are in the ballpark…just looking to see which schools are trying to lure kids with these type of stats and it happens to be a great school with a good fit. I know it isn’t easy…but just trying to explore options. thanks for your help.
For a public that might give NM money, U minn CSE is affordable but still pretty selective in . Not honors (I think that is average ACT of 35) but their general admission for eng was about 33 ACT. Their total cost is affordable now but tuition is on the rise. I know they used to give NM scholarships to OOS kids.
My son got $26k per year merit from Miami, which is more than 50% tuition (for now at least!!) Also, as you know, being from Utah may help a bit with East Coast schools. Check the schools’ enrolment breakdown to see whether UT is underrepresented.