small schools...lots of merit aid?

Paying for College
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<p>i’m applying to a wide range of schools but am realizing more and more that i want to go to a smaller school–preferably one with 1,000 to 2,000 students. </p>

<p>i don’t qualify for much, if any, financial aid but wish i did–my EFC doesn’t factor in a lot of important things that influence how much my family can <em>actually</em> contribute. so i’m relying on merit aid. i’m applying to of in-state public schools where i feel i could be happy as well, in case it’s impossible for me to get enough aid to cover what i need to, but would really prefer a small out-of-state. </p>

<p>another unfortunate point: i’m not an “outstanding” student. yeah, i’m good, but i could never qualify for ivy league type places. i plan on majoring in theatre and am extremely involved in theatre/my school’s drama department. </p>

<p>here are my stats: </p>

<p>GPA - UW-3.8 W-4.2<br>
SAT: 2000 (M600, CR670, W730)
SAT IIs: Lit - 760, USH - 640
ACT: 30 (E34, R33, W33, M25, S27. retaking.)
AP: US History - 4 with three in my senior schedule (EnviSci, Stat, Lit) </p>

<p>ECs:
Theatre -
*Acted in eleven (to date) shows, with a twelfth and possibly thirteenth coming up within the next couple of months
*Crewed for four (to date) shows
*Eight awards (three for acting, three for directing younger students) from a So Cal theatre festival throughout high school
*Drama Club for 4 years - Drama Board (drama board = leadership in the department) junior year
*Comedy Sportz member (competitive team improv) - 11th-12th
Other -
*Web manager, Arkonline.com - 3 years (9th-11th) (Animal rights website)
*Yearbook - 2 years (9th, 10th)
*Part-time job junior year - 20-30 hours a week for six months (selling beauty supplies…woooo)
*Part-time job senior year - 8 hours a week (waitress)</p>

<p>Volunteer Work:
*Crew on musicals - 166 hours from three shows (All working with middle school aged and younger kids…lights, directing, choreographing, vocal coaching, running crew)
*Arkonline.com - 150+ hours (Web managed an animal rights website…I am a vegetarian)
*Relay for Life - 12 hours (Cancer fund raising 24-hour walk)
*Elementary school haunted house - 15 hours</p>

<p>Awards:
Thespian Society Member (14 Star, I think)
National Merit Commended Scholar
California Scholarship Federation (CSF) - 10th-12th
Principal’s High Honor Roll/Principal’s Honor Roll - 9th-12th
AVID “Write-Off” Finalist - 9th (essay writing competition within my school) </p>

<p>so…does anyone have any suggestions? thanks, guys.</p>

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<p>also, just to clarify: i don’t need a full ride in merit aid, however, i also can’t afford to pay the entirety of a like, $40k school. if i could get to one of these on $15-20k it would be…sort of manageable. i’m willing to take out plenty of loans.</p>

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<p>Are you looking at liberal arts colleges? Many offer very good merit aid packages. A good starting point would be the “Colleges that Change Lives” (40 LACs highlighted in a book by Loren Pope). Check their website at [Colleges</a> That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org%5DColleges”>http://www.ctcl.org)</p>

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<p>one college from CTCL : Lawrence University in Wisconsin. Highly recommend. Lawrence.edu</p>

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<p>If Emerson College is on your radar, they are not very generous with financial aid. I am not sure if it is still as bad now, but when my daughter ( a junior there ) was searching, Emerson was #2 on the Princeton Review’s list for students least satisfied with their financial aid</p>

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<p>If you’re open to moving across the country, I suggest taking a look at Muhlenberg (near Allentown, Pennsylvania). They have several merit scholarships, and I believe may combine them for qualifying students. The student body numbers just over 2,000. It’s a stunningly beautiful campus, with outstanding science and arts buildings. Their theater program is quite strong. They offer a BFA in musical theatre, but I believe also allow non-majors to participate in theatre productions.</p>

<p>Interest is considered very strongly at Muhlenberg - they accept about half of the entering class ED. Your ACT is stronger than your SAT and I think would put you in the running for merit aid there. An interview is required for merit aid candidates. Good luck!</p>

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<p>thank you guys. (:</p>

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<p>Whitworth in Spokane offers merit aid and has a great music program and I think their theatre is good. You could get as much at $12k annually in merit alone based on GPA and SAT</p>

<p>If you don’t mind SoCal check Chapman in Orange has good theatre and good merit.</p>

<p>I don’t know about the theatre, but Baylor in TX has $10-15k annually for your scores</p>

<p>Check the Music Theatre thread on this site for ideas, even if you are pure acting, not musical, it may give you some ideas.</p>

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<p>Linfield OR has some pretty good offerings: [Prospective</a> Students: Linfield Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.linfield.edu/finaid/prospective.php#scholar]Prospective”>http://www.linfield.edu/finaid/prospective.php#scholar)
Southern Oregon University has the WUE and the fabulous Shakespeare Festival. [SOU</a> : Southern Oregon University](<a href=“http://www.sou.edu/]SOU”>http://www.sou.edu/)</p>

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<p>thanks! </p>

<p>somemom, i actually am planning to apply to chapman. (: i’m not sure how i feel about being so close to home but i’m going to see how it goes anyway…</p>