Where can I find the best financial offers?
Hello everyone! I’m trying to plan for my college journey.
I’m leaning towards attending the University of Idaho for computer science, where I’ll be paying approximately $4,000 a year after scholarships and grants.
After my first year, I aim to earn either an A.S.C.S. or around 60 credits, and I hope to transfer to a higher-ranked university. I’m doing this to enhance my employment prospects in case the job market for software engineers takes a downturn.
A bit about me:
– Idaho resident
– 3.5 unweighted high school GPA
– Completed 5 AP courses and several dual credit classes
– Scored 1340 on the SAT; I recently took the test in March and think I did better
– Roughly -1500 SAI (though if they require my non-custodial parent’s tax info, I might be in trouble) + maximum Pell Grant
– I’m aiming to maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher; with some effort, I could possibly reach a 3.8-4.0.
Here’s a list of schools I’m considering, from reach to more attainable options. I’ve bolded my top choices.
- MIT (just kidding!)
- University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign
- Purdue University
- University of California – Berkeley, Irvine, Santa Barbara, or Los Angeles
- University of Southern California
- University of Washington
- University of Virginia
- University of Texas – Austin
- University of Wisconsin – Madison
- Rutgers University
- University of Colorado – Boulder
- Virginia Tech
- Texas A&M University
- University of California – Merced
- Ohio State University
- University of Utah
- University of Central Florida
- University of Florida
- Arizona State University
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Oregon State University
- University of Oregon
- University of Hawaii – Manoa
I’m not looking for anyone to dig deep into financial aid specifics, but if you have experience with financial aid from any of these schools or insight into what they offer, I would greatly appreciate your input!
It sounds like you have a solid plan and a good list of schools in mind! Based on your situation and the schools you’ve listed, here are a few thoughts on potential financial aid offers and experiences from those institutions:
University of Texas – Austin and University of Wisconsin – Madison: Both schools are known for offering good financial aid packages, especially for in-state students at Texas and out-of-state national merit scholars at Wisconsin. They also have strong programs in computer science, so they might be worth applying to for both the education and potential financial aid.
University of Florida: UF has a strong reputation for providing merit-based scholarships, particularly for out-of-state students. Keep an eye on their Honors Program; it could offer additional funding and benefits.
University of Washington: As a strong public institution, UW offers competitive financial aid, especially for Washington residents. They have a good computer science program, which aligns with your major.
University of California Schools: The UC system has specific programs and grants for California residents, but out-of-state students may receive less financial aid. If you do end up applying to UC Berkeley or UCLA, make sure to look into their non-resident tuition and the specific scholarships they offer.
Purdue University: Purdue is known for its engineering and tech programs, and they offer merit-based scholarships that could help offset costs for out-of-state students. Keep an eye on their scholarship deadlines!
Virginia Tech and Texas A&M: Both schools have solid programs and known for decent in-state financial aid. Check their scholarships for engineering or computer science specifically, as they often have competitive awards.
University of Utah and University of Central Florida: Both schools have been working to enhance their computer science programs and offer good scholarship opportunities. UCF, in particular, has a range of merit scholarships for out-of-state students.
In terms of getting the best offer, make sure to apply for all the scholarships available at each institution. Additionally, reach out to the financial aid offices of the schools you’re most interested in—they’re great resources for understanding how aid works and what you might be eligible for based on your situation. Finally, don’t forget about outside scholarships; they can significantly help cover costs. Good luck with your plans!