I want to apply to one local school, just in case none of the others work out. My EFC is 0 so I want to look for the best aid near here. I have a 1980 SAT(1340CRM) , 3.7 GPA, 4.3 W. Anything you can recommend would be appreciated. I’m a good writer if an essay is required. Thank you!
Look at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. I believe they have good merit. And a beautiful campus.
How much can you pay put of pocket?
How about Denison?
If your EFC is zero you can look for schools that give good need too.
Agree with above, it sounds like you are looking for need based aid. What is your exact SAT breakdown?
640 CR 700 M 640 W @intparent
Run the net price calculator for Denison and Miami Ohio to see how they look. They are on the financial aid page for each college. Neither guarantees to meet need, but this can give you an idea of what to expect. Denison is need blind in admissions (so ithe fact that you need aid won’t hurt your chances to get in). Miami isn’t need blind in admissions, so high need could hurt your chances. Denison is test optional, but I would send your scores.
Ohio Wesleyan and College of Wooster might also work for you.
What’s your major?
@CGHTeach Thank you, but Miami is still far too expensive, even with scholarships.
@janjmom Thank you, I’ll look at them.
@wlester Psychology, hopefully with a minor in Social Work but that’s just best case scenario.
You don’t really know if it is too expensive until you get your offer.
@BrownParent Then what’s the point of the Net Price Calculator? How do you know what you can afford?
For schools that have preferential packaging they may meet all need for some students. Since they don’t for all, then they can’t determine that in the NPC. If you stats are just average for the school and you have no hook, then you can figure it is a good estimate. Otherwise you can apply and see. NPC won’t show competitive merit either. But yes, generally the NPC is a decent estimate.
Miami doesn’t meet need… so maybe it is too expensive. OP, do you intend to take federal loans? And I assume you will get work study, and also work in the summers.
Ohio U has some good scholarships. Run their NPC.
@intparent I can take loans but I really don’t want to. I’m also not sure my parents will let me. Not that they’d have to cosign but they’re usually wise in these things and it’s best to listen to them. But, I do plan to work study and work in the summers.
@“Erin’s Dad” Thank you! That looks really promising.
If you won’t take loans, have zero EFC (so have no money at all for college), and don’t have high test scores, you are in a bad spot. Your majors likely will not pay well, so ai understand the reluctance to take on much debt. But I am not clear how will afford any four year school.
@intparent At current, I have five plans. 1.) NCCU:automatic full ride, right now I’m admitted and am waiting to receive my financial aid package to confirm that.(though, I’ll apply to TuskegeeU if that doesn’t work out, which is also full ride.) 2.) Minot State, full tuition scholarship +Pell grant covers costs 3.) Community College +Pell Grant covers costs 4.) Argentina, free college plus international student assistance covers costs(though my parents don’t really like this one and will probably budge on the loan as right now I don’t think they know I’m serious.) 5.) Military, ASVAB scores put me on officer track (I don’t like this one but my recruiter said that my serving can be acting as counselor to members of the military after graduation which I do like. A lot.).
However, the problem with Community College is that I’d only get an associate and then have to transfer. There are programs and scholarships to cancel out the price increase but it’s a very big chance. So, I wanted to find a school here in Ohio to act as a good back up plan or first plan if I really like the school.
I’ve also applied to UAHuntsville, accepted full tuition and Baylor, waiting but hoping for full tuition. But I would need need based aid and a lot of outside scholarships to make either one of those a real possibility.
Ohio has a good selection of state schools that can meet the needs of a variety of students as well as a ton of LACs. There really aren’t schools however that will guarantee to meet need or offer full ride or full tuition merit scholarships. Some rules of thumb are to apply to schools where you will be in the upper quartile of the students they admit. The higher you rank the greater the likelihood of better merit aid. When it comes to need based aid you really don’t know until you know. Ohio U. Has scholarships that are need based with an academic component. Many of Ohio’s larger cities have universities or branch campuses. While living at home may not be something you want to do it can save you half the cost of attendance at state schools and make private schools more affordable. For most of ohio’s residence there is a college or university within commuting distance. Consider ways to save on room and board such as applying to be an RA starting your sophomore year. You have good stats for most of Ohio’s universities so I think you have a lot of options, however, schools like Miami, OSU, And UC while matches for your stats may not be competitive for you financially. A few such as CWRU, Oberlin, maybe Kenyon might be considered low reaches. Good luck and be patient.
The University of Toledo has many scholarship possibilities, including the full-ride Presidential, for which you would qualify if they accept weighed GPAs. It is competitive rather than guaranteed but may be worth a try.