Outstanding (and Selective) Summer Programs, Non-STEM

Competitive applicants for top colleges, universities, and conservatories have taken their summers to develop their skills and talents.  There are many, many summer camps for high school students across the country.  Many universities host them.  For many colleges, they are a great way to earn money for the institution.  They also increase the likelihood of participants applying and attending their college.  But, most of these, despite their hefty price tag, do very little to nothing to build the students' profile.  That is certainly true at the most selective colleges and universities.

In order to help families find the selective summer camps, I have put together a couple of lists.  This post, as well as the adjacent one on STEM focused programs, lists a number of selective summer camps generally highly respected by selective colleges and universities.  Some are expensive.  Others cost nothing but transportation.  They all require applications, essays/auditions, and recommendations.

Since they are quite selective, it is wise to apply to additional programs as well.  At Celtic College Consultants, we have helped students find their passions, create a powerful college prep plan, and be accepted into top universities across the country.

Performing Arts

Tanglewood Institute at Boston University

Annual two to eight week institutes for age 14-20 (incoming 9th-12th and first and second year collegians.) Costs range from $3,000 - $8,500.  Financial assistance is available.

Applications are due January 29th and include an audition.

Indiana University music academies
varying dates

Annual two week programs for ballet dancers, pianists, saxophonists, string instrument players, percussionists from grades 7-12.  The programs are residential and include staying in a dorm and meals on campus.  Financial aid is available for the string and piano academies. 


Applications are due at various times.

Interlochen Arts Academy


Each summer, Interlochen offers one, three, and six week long residential programs for people from third grade through twelfth grade in performing arts ranging from theatre to strings to harp to ballet to modern dance to organ to piano to singing to percussion to winds to motion picture arts to creative writing.  Six week programs cost just over $9,000.  Three week programs cost about $5,500. Financial aid is available.

The priority application deadline for programs which involve an audition is February 1.

Business for Women

Young Women's Institute (at Indiana U)
June

Four one week programs for women with 3.5 or higher GPAs.  The only cost is your transportation to and from Bloomington, Indiana.  Participants attend workshops with the business school faculty and prepare real world business case projects.  They will build leadership and communication skills.

Applications are due by March 26th.

Journalism

JCamp
July 22 - 27, 2017

JCamp is a six-day multi-cultural intensive journalism training for high school students. Students learn from professional journalists and get hands-on training in writing, photography, television broadcasting, online media, and reporting. Sessions and workshops are led by experienced journalists from top media companies.The program is open to freshman, sophomores, and juniors.  All costs are covered, including airfare.  In 2017, JCamp will be at Temple University.

Applications are due by March 12th.

Princeton U Summer Journalism Program for low income students

August 4 to August 14, 2017

Annually 35-40 high school students from low-income backgrounds every summer to Princeton's campus for an intensive, 10-day seminar on journalism. The program is for juniors with at least a 3.5. All expenses, including students' travel costs to and from Princeton, are paid for by the program. Students who attend the program come from across the country. The combined income of your custodial parent(s)/guardian(s) plus child support payments, if any, must not exceed $45,000. Only 11% of applicants are accepted.

Applications are due February 24th.

Cronkite Institute for High School Journalism Summer Journalism Institute
June 4-16, 2017

This selective program brings top-performing high school students to Arizona State U. for two weeks of intensive, hands-on experiences in broadcast and digital journalism.  Students report and produce original stories and create an SJI website or news broadcast. Students are expected to cover their transportation to and from Phoenix as well as their incidental expenses.

Applications are due March 17th.

Leadership

U Pennsylvania - Leadership in the Business World

The Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania have six summer programs.  These range from a program for international (non-American) students to programs open to 9th - 12th grade students to a program for rising seniors.

U Notre Dame - Leadership Seminars
July 15-26, 2017

Notre Dame Leadership Seminars explore topics affecting the global community. The courses are centered around vibrant discussion and a robust exchange of ideas. This creates a context in which students are encouraged to examine their own conclusions and hone their own leadership capacities by improving their communications and analytical skills.

Expenses for students accepted to Leadership Seminars—including transportation to and from Notre Dame—will be paid for by the University except the $150 enrollment fee. Approximately 100 students are admitted to Leadership Seminars each year, and students are eligible to receive one college credit upon completion of the program.  The program is for juniors with at least a 1360 on the new SAT, or 31 and above on the ACT.

Applications are due January 30th.

Economics

Economics for Leaders
various dates and sites

Economics for Leaders (EFL) is a selective one week long annual summer program that teaches leaders how to integrate economics into the process of decision-making in a hands-on, experiential environment. The goal of EFL is to give promising students the skills to be more effective leaders and to teach them how to employ economic analysis when considering difficult public policy choices. The program is competitive with approximately two applicants applying for each available space.

Through a partnership with the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, two semester hours of undergraduate credit are available to students attending EFL. There is an additional fee of $244 for the credits and students who opt to receive credit must complete additional assignments.  Financial aid is available for the program.

Current sophomores and juniors are welcome to apply.

Early Application Deadline – Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Standard Application Deadline – Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Other

Yale Young Global Scholars

Yale offers a number of summer programs including sustainable development and social entrepreneurship, math and science, applied science and engineering, international affairs and security, biology and biomedical science, and politics, law, and economics.

Admission is selective.  The median SAT is 2200 (of 2400) and the median ACT is 33. 30% of recent applicants were accepted. Applications are welcome from international students as well as Americans. Tuition is $5,800, which does not include transportation to and from New Haven, CT.  Partial and Full need based scholarships are available.

Applications are due January 31st.





Other

Texas Tech - Clark Scholars
June 19-August 2, 2017

The Clark Scholar Program is an intensive seven week summer research program for highly qualified high school juniors and seniors. Scholars to have a hands-on practical research experience with outstanding and experienced faculty. The Scholars will receive a $750 tax-free stipend and room and board. This program provides opportunities for research in all academic areas in the university.

Research can be done in these areas: Accounting, Advertising, Agriculture Sciences, Animal & Food Sciences, Anthropology, Architecture, Art, Autism, Bilingual Education, Biological Sciences, Business, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Classical and Modern Languages, Communication Studies, Computer Science, Dance, Design, Economics, Education, Electronic Media, Energy, Engineering, Finance, Journalism, Nutritional Sciences, Geosciences, Health/Exercise/Sport Sciences, History, Horticulture, Human Development & Family Studies, Law, Management, Marketing, Mathematics and Statistics, Medicine, Music, Natural Resources Management, Philosophy, Physics and Biophysics, Plant & Soil Sciences, Political Science, Psychology, Public Relations, Social Sciences, Sociology, Theatre Arts.

Applications are due February 8th.  International Students are eligible/welcome to apply. Applicants must be 17 by the time the program starts.  Recent participants' SAT score was greater than 2276 (out of 2400) and PSAT was greater than 223.



Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP)

TASP is a free six week long program.  Students attend TASPs because they want a personal and intellectual challenge. Telluride Association seeks students from all kinds of educational backgrounds who demonstrate intellectual curiosity and motivation, rather than prior knowledge of the seminar’s subject matter. TASPers participate solely for the pleasure and rewards of learning with other intelligent, highly motivated students of diverse backgrounds. The TASP offers no grades or college credit.

Each morning students attend seminars for lectures and involved discussions on various subjects.  In the afternoon, participate in a public speaking program.  One of the program’s remarkable features is that the students are responsible for organizing most of their out-of-classroom time through weekly group meetings and on smaller committees. This element of self-government is an essential part of the TASP experience. Students plan all kinds of activities, including group-wide discussions, field games, community service projects, music and theater events, reading groups, and excursions to state parks and art museums. Participants also share responsibility for keeping their environment clean and safe.

Top STEM Summer Programs for High School Students

Preparing to apply for college starts early.  Summers are prime times for students to explore their interests and for students aiming for top universities to distinguish themselves.  Applying to summer programs is similar to applying to colleges.  Applications include essays and require test scores, transcripts, and recommendations.  There are other programs available, but these are very highly regarded.  Since they are quite selective, it is wise to apply to additional programs as well.  At Celtic College Consultants, we have helped students find their passions, create a powerful college prep plan, and be accepted into top universities across the country.

STEM Programs

1.     Research Science Institute/Center for Excellence in Education at MIT

June 25 - August 5, 2017 

Each summer, 80 of the world's most accomplished high school students gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the Research Science Institute (RSI). RSI is the first cost-free to students, summer science & engineering program to combine on-campus course work in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research.This extremely competitive competitive science and engineering summer program combines on campus work in scientific theory with off campus work in science and technology research.  During the program, students will read the most current literature in the field they choose.  They will draft and execute a detailed research plan and deliver conference style oral and written reports on their findings.  Many use their research projects as a basis for entry to science competitions like the Intel Science Talent Search, International Science and Engineering Fair, and the Siemens Science and Technology Competition.

Students invited to the program receive free tuition, room, and board.  Their only expense is transportation to and from MIT.  Invited students typically have PSAT math scores of at least 740 and reading of at least 700.  Their ACT math scores are typically at least 33 with at least 34 verbal scores. The program is not for high school seniors.  Applications close January 26th.

The program's schedule:

Week 1 - Intensive STEM courses with top professors

Weeks 2 - 6 -  Individual research projects conducted under experienced scientists

Week 7 - Students prepare written and oral presentations on their research

2. Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University

June 26 - August 8, 2017

For the summer between junior and senior year, this annual research program at Stony Brook University offers hands on research in the STEM fields.  The acceptance rate for this competitive program is around 12%.  Like RSI, the application process requires an essay and recommendations.  Students need to be nominated by their high schools; each high school is limited to three nominations.  Applications must be sent by January 18th.

During their time on the Stony Brook campus, Simons Fellows are matched with Stony Brook faculty mentors, join a research group or team, and assume responsibility for a project. The Simons Fellows conclude their apprenticeship by producing a written research abstract and a research poster.   At the closing poster symposium, students are presented with a $1,000 stipend award.

There are several other programs at Stony Brook for scientifically inclined high school students. 

3. The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program

June 12 - August 3, 2017

Students are juniors or seniors and must be 16 years old to participate in this annual program.  There is no cost to the program; student researchers receive a $500 stipend.  Students will spend 40 hours/week in the lab.  There are no dorms; students come to campus each day so Bay area residency is a soft requirement.  There are 8 institutes (immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, bioengineering, stem cell and regenerative medicine, cardiovascular biology, bioinformatics, genetics and genomics).  Students indicate their area of interest.

Application period: December 15 - February 25th.

4. COSMOS (California State Summer School for Math and Science)

UCSD –  all clusters:
UCSD Computer cluster: – embedded computers
UC Davis – all clusters:
UC Irvine – clusters (academics drop down menu)
UCSC – all clusters (see drop down menu)
UCSC – computer networking & robotics:

An annual intensive four week summer residential program for students completing grades 8-12.  Apply to only one campus.  Typical students have a 3.5 GPA. Application period is 1/17 – 2/17, math & science teacher recommendations are needed.  It’s very selective.  Only 160-200 students/campus.

5. Michigan State University High School Honors Science/Math/Engineering Program

June 18 - August 5, 2017

An annual seven week intensive residential summer research program for students between junior and senior year in high school.  Students will work on a research under the mentorship of a university researcher.  This program costs $3,800; financial aid is available.

Applications are due March 15th.  Students must be in the upper 20% of their high school classes, have taken at least three years of college prep math and two or more years of science.

6. MIT Launch Summer HS Entrepreneurship Programs

June 12 - July 8 or July 11 - August 10

This four week summer program helps students explore entrepreneurship by launching businesses.  The first week is more intensive with time in the classroom to lay the foundation, after which classes are only in the mornings with the majority of time spent working on your startup - interviewing customers, planning, and prototyping.The program costs $6095 and financial aid is available.  It is open to students in grades 9-12.

Application deadline: February 20 (Best to apply early - Early deadline is in December.)
The admissions committee looks for candidates who show initiative, action-orientation, coachability, and a fit with our values. We look for students who show to us that they have what it takes to become successful entrepreneurs. There are no minimum grade or activity involvement requirements.  A video is required as part of the application.

7. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)

Program I and Program II both run July 10 - August 5, 2017

Intensive study in advanced math for talented rising juniors and seniors.  There are two courses: Program I and Program II, with unique topics for each course.  Students are enrolled in one program each summer and may return for a second summer.  The $6,500 tuition includes room and board and transportation to and from the San Francisco International Airport.  Need based financial aid is available.

Program I: Abstract Algebra & Number Theory, with research in cryptography, constructibility, coding theory, and symmetry.

Program II:  Algebraic Topology, with research topics to be determined. 

Applications are due March 3, 2017.  SUMaC students are selected based on their grades in math courses, their performance on standardized math exams and math contests, their teacher recommendations, their reasons for wanting to come to SUMaC as expressed on the SUMaC application, and their performance on the SUMaC admission exam. Particular emphasis is placed on the admission exam, which is a collection of challenging math problems for applicants to work on at home over an extended period.


U of Iowa Secondary Student Training Program
June 21 - July 28, 2017

SSTP is an annual five and a half week residential summer scientific research program for sophomores and juniors. Students will conduct research in a university research group under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Students will also produce a research poster and paper as a part of the program.

The program has a fee of $5295. This fee covers all room, board, materials, and admission to all regularly scheduled activities. 3 semester hours of credit are given by the University of Iowa and cost approximately $900 . Students and their families will assume responsibility for transportation to and from SSTP and incidental expenses, such as souvenirs and snacks. Consideration for financial aid will be made after the students are selected.

Applications are available November 1 and are due February 3. 

Additional Programs:

Research in Science & Engineering at Boston U.

Canada/USA Math Camp

Summer Academy for Math & Science at Carnegie Mellon U.

Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics

Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program

MIT Minority Introduction to Science & Engineering

MathILy at Bryn Mawr College

Michigan Math and Science Scholars

Monell Center Science Apprenticeship Program

National Institutes of Health Summer Internship in Biomedical Research

Ross Mathematics Program at Ohio State U.

Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists

Have Special Needs? An IEP or 504 plan? Testing Tips

The College Board, home of the PSAT, SAT, AP, and SAT subject tests just changed their policy for getting testing accommodations. (December 2016) :

 

"At the College Board, we believe that all students should have access to the testing accommodations they need so they can show their best work on our assessments.  We've heard from SSD coordinators, counselors, students, and families who've asked us to simplify the process of requesting College B testing accommodations.

 

We recognize that educators know their students best, as we want to cut down on the time and paperwork needed to submit a College Board testing accommodation request.

 

Beginning January 1, 2017, the vast majority of students who are approved for and using testing accommodations at their schools through a current IEP (Individualized Education Program) or 504 Plan will have those same accommodations automatically approved for taking the SAT®, PSAT™ 10, PSAT/NMSQT®, SAT Subject Tests™, and AP® Exams. Most private school students with a current, formal school-based plan that meets College Board criteria will also have their current accommodations automatically approved for College Board exams."

 

Homeschoolers Please Note

 

The above mentions private schools.  In many states, home schools are considered private schools.  Contact the College Board about getting accommodations for your children who need them. 

Regarding the CLEP exams

The CLEP tests are not mentioned in the College Board's announcemnt, probably because they are primarily taken by adults or homeschooled students, neither of which typically have IEPs or 504s. These tests are also designed to be college equivalency tests, where IEPs don't exist and 504s are generally modified.  If you have questions, please contact the College Board directly.

What about the ACT?

The ACT has not made a similar announcement at this time.  Given the incredible competition for students between the two companies, a similar announcement is expected in early 2017.

The Power of PSAT Scores

Your PSAT Score is a Key to Scholarships and Much, Much More!

 

PSAT results are due to arrive in mid-December.  For sophomores, this is the first nationally compared test score.  For juniors, if you are in the top 10% of scores in your state, you are a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist.  In a few months, you’ll be contacted by the National Merit Scholarship people so you can take the next steps to qualify as a finalist.

 

College Search (Key to Happiness and Scholarships!)

 

For Sophomores, this is a VERY useful piece of data.  The College Board now includes an estimate of your SAT score based on your PSAT score.  If you plan to take the ACT, you can search the internet and easily find either the College Board or the ACT’s correlative tables so you can translate the score to an ACT.  Now your search for colleges can get MUCH more focused.  Are you looking to be accepted into the honors college or program?  Are you on track to score in the range required?  Do you need to adjust your sights a little or get serious about test prep?  If you score well and are now serious about going to top tier schools, it’s time to explore the possible AP and CLEP exams you can take this year and next year. 

 

What to do next summer? A Key to top tier schools and Scholarships

 

Your increased clarity regarding the tier of college or university you are realistically aiming for will be the conduit to additional clues.  What should you do with next summer?  Take college courses?  Go to a summer camp? Do some research?  Etc.?  What are the schools you are now targeting looking for?  What can you do that develops your skills and abilities and explores your interests in order to continue to prepare to be a competitive applicant at those schools?  Do your research.  Many of the summer programs have applications which are due in January so there’s no time to lose.

 

ACT or SAT?

 

For both Sophomores and Juniors, you have gained experience with the College Board’s testing style.  The ACT poses its questions differently and covers slightly different material.  It also includes a science section, which students planning to study majors with heavy science requirements do well to take.  If you choose the SAT, verify with your schools; sometimes SAT subject tests are required to supplement the SAT scores.

 

Professional Guidance

 

Given the fact that selecting a college is a $150,000 - $280,000 proposition, getting professional guidance is prudent. If you would like additional help with college selection and college preparations, let’s talk.  Finding the right schools to apply to is absolutely essential if you want to get the best college education you can for the least cost to your family.  Since 93% of all college scholarship dollars come directly from the schools, as do the various programs and majors, college selection is MISSION CRITICAL.  Email or call today to schedule your private college readiness consultation.  We’ll discuss your goals, preparations so far, most pressing needs, as well as available resources.  Schedule yours here.

You may call me at 858-705-0043 or email me at KOB@CelticCollegeConsultants.com. Katherine O'Brien, MA CCPS, Founder and Chief College Planning Specialist at Celtic College Consultants.

 

 

The Far Reaching Impacts of the 2016 FAFSA Financial Aid Application Changes: Families can Avoid Crippling Loans by Starting College Planning Early

This year, the financial aid application process has been significantly changed.  The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA, can be filed for the 2017/18 school year starting October 1, 2016.  Previously, the FAFSA was filed in the first few months of the year.  With the filing date change comes a second deviation from the past: the use of the “prior, prior year” income information.  For the 2017/18 school year, FAFSA filers will use their 2015 taxes.  These two changes have numerous implications for all college bound families.

First, families should receive their financial aid awards considerably earlier.  This will give them several months to determine how they will fund the upcoming school year.  For those applying to college, alarming changes to their financial aid awards well after the May 1 decision date should be eliminated.  In the past, numerous families received very unwelcome news after having committed to a school.

Second, families need to begin serious college planning much earlier.  The financial aid base year is now the calendar year which begins in the middle of sophomore year. Used well, this information can help families avoid taking on crushing amounts of debt.  Those working with me will benefit even more from my expertise.

The FAFSA is the financial aid form required by nearly every college and university in the US. In order to be able to take federal student or parent loans or to get any federal grants, the FAFSA must be filed.  In California, the FAFSA must be filed by March 2 in order to qualify for a CalGrant.  Additionally, most of the colleges and universities across the country use the FAFSA results to determine how to distribute their own grants and tuition reductions.

With annual college costs exceeding $70,000 at a number of schools and many more topping $60,000/year, even many wealthy families are qualifying for need based aid.  The FAFSA uses what is called the “federal methodology” to calculate the EFC, or Expected Family Contribution.  In turn, financial aid offices use the EFC to determine the aid they will award.

There are two primary reasons for the filing date change.  A few years ago, the IRS and Department of Education introduced the DRT or Data Retrieval Tool.  This tool enables filers to transfer their tax information from the IRS database into their FAFSA. Unfortunately, the IRS could not process returns fast enough to provide the data in a timely fashion.  As a result, some families committed to a particular college or university, only to have their financial aid package altered months later when their tax return data was finally available. 

Additionally, with the earlier filing period, financial aid offices will be able to provide financial aid awards to families much earlier in the application process.  Families will then have more time to determine how to pay for the upcoming year of college.  They will also have time to work with the financial aid office to create a workable plan or to apply to additional schools, if needed.

In order to make October filing happen, the income information had to come from what is called the prior, prior year.  This is the calendar year before the calendar year that is finished before the year of school starts.  For example, for the 2017/18 school year, the prior year is 2016 and the prior, prior year is 2015.  By October of 2016, when families can file the FAFSA for the 2017/18 school year, the IRS should have been able to process their 2015 tax return.  When the families use the DRT in the process of filing their FAFSA, the tax information should be processed and ready to be pulled into the FAFSA.

The reason you need to start working with me during freshman year is because of this shift to using income data from the prior, prior year.  Here's an example:

For students who just started high school in August 2016, their high school timeline was this:

2016/17 Freshman year

2017/18 Sophomore year

2018/19 Junior year

2019/20 Senior year

Their first college year, assuming they go directly from high school to college, will be 2020/2021.  These students will apply for college during the 2019/20 school year.  In October of 2019, they will also be able to file their FAFSA form.  2018 will be their financial aid base year, the year of income used by the FAFSA processor to calculate the EFC (Expected Family Contribution).  2018 is the prior, prior year to 2020, their first year of college.  Take a look at those high school years again.  When does 2018 start?  It starts in the middle of the sophomore year.  Therefore, any changes which would be beneficial to a family’s financial aid eligibility need to be identified and executed during 2016 or 2017, the freshman year.

Unfortunately, most families don’t consider working with me until the junior or, even, the senior year.  With the changes, college funding planning can start sooner, since families will be able to know their EFC and financial aid eligibility a year earlier in the process.  With student loan debt crippling so many college graduates’ lives, finding good colleges which are affordable is more important than ever.

Additionally, the average time to complete a bachelor’s degree is six years.  Often this is due to students arriving at college lacking sufficient academic skills, the necessary life skills, or a clue what they want to study.  Without these three elements, students cannot complete their degree on time.   By starting to work with a college planning specialist like me who works both with student preparation as well as college financial aid and funding, the student has time to develop a focus for college and the family has time to prepare for their first financial aid base year, 2018.

To schedule an appointment to discuss your particular situation,click here: LET'S MEET!

29 Affordable Colleges for Middle Class Families

College prices are absolutely outrageous.  NYU, for example, now costs over $70,000 for ONE year!  Not surprisingly, many are questioning the value of college, which is certainly logical when you consider making a $250,000 - $300,000 investment for a bachelor's degree.  In many places in the US, you could buy a very, very nice house on a large lot for less than that amount.

Be not afraid!  Most families do NOT pay the advertised price for college.  Let's explore some more affordable, yet very high quality, options.  I'll address them in alphabetical order.  Each entry will end with a link to that school's financial aid page.

Amherst College, Amherst, MA

Financial need is NOT considered during the admissions process.  A student's financial need, or lack thereof, will not impact admissions chances.

Amherst College's admissions approach is "high need affirmative." This means that, if all other factors are equal, the college will give preference to first generation students.

Amherst provides generous financial aid packages.  All students can graduate debt free.  Amherst works with QuestBridge for students with very limited means.  They meet 100% of demonstrated need for both American and international students.  Amherst does not include loans in its financial aid packages.

58% of Amherst's students receive aid.


https://www.amherst.edu/admission/financial_aid

Barnard College, New York, NY

Barnard has a need blind admissions policy.

Barnard awards no merit aid but does meet 100% of demonstrated financial need.  Applicants must apply for aid when they apply for admission, not after they are admitted.  Barnard does include loans in its financial aid packages.

http://barnard.edu/sites/default/files/financial_aid_fact_sheet_heop.pdf
http://barnard.edu/finaid/general-policies

Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME

Bowdoin has the "Explore Bowdoin" program which encourages high achieving students to visit the campus for three days by covering the entire cost of the trip. For more information: http://www.bowdoin.edu/admissions/explore/

Bowdoin does not consider financial need during the admissions process.  A students' ability to pay will not impact the admissions decision.

Bowdoin no longer includes loans in its financial aid packages.  Bowdoin meets 100% of demonstrated need with grant/scholarship assistance and a small work award.

Nearly half of Bowdoin students receive need based financial aid. (46% of the Class of 2018)

http://www.bowdoin.edu/studentaid/index.shtml

Brown University, Providence, RI

Brown also uses need blind admissions policies, ensuring that a student's ability to pay will not impact his or her chances of admission.

Brown meets 100% of demonstrated need. For families with a total income below $60,000, and assets less than $100,000, no parent contribution is calculated towards the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). (This lowers the EFC, increasing the family's financial aid eligibility.)  For families with total income below $100,000, the loan component of the financial aid award is replaced with additional scholarship. (No loans are included in the package.)  For families with total income below $150,000, reduced loans are included in the aid package.  Brown offers free tuition, room, and board for families making less than $60,000 per year.

42% of the Class of 2019 receive need based aid.

https://www.brown.edu/about/administration/financial-aid/financial-aid-basics

California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA

All of CalTech's financial aid is awarded based on need.  CalTech meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.

52% of Cal Tech students receive need based aid.

http://www.caltech.edu/content/financial-aid

Columbia University, New York, NY

Free tuition, room, and board for families making less than $60,000.
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art, New York, NY

Cooper Union has a need blind admissions policy.

Every admitted student is awarded a half tuition scholarship and is eligible for additional merit aid.  Need based aid is also available

http://cooper.edu/admissions/financial-aid

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Cornell has need blind admissions for American applicants.

Cornell does not give merit based aid but does meet all documented need.  Cornell includes loans in its financial aid awards.  Families making less than $60,000 are given free tuition, room, and board.

66% of students receive aid.

http://admissions.cornell.edu/costs-and-aid

Dartmouth College, Hanover, NJ

Dartmouth has a need blind admissions policy for all US applicants.

Dartmouth meets 100% of demonstrated need.  At Dartmouth, free tuition is provided for students from families with total incomes of $100,000 or less—and possessing typical assets. Loans are not required in their financial aid offer.

http://admissions.dartmouth.edu/financial-aid/how-aid-works/how-much-help-will-i-get

Duke University, Durham, NC

Duke gives preference to first generation students and participates in the Say Yes to Education program, offering full tuition support to accepted Say Yes scholars with an annual family income under $75,000.

Duke meets 100% of American students' demonstrated need and does not consider financial need in the admissions process.  Duke limits the amount of loans in its financial aid packages.  Families making less than $60,000 get free tuition, room, and board.

55% of Duke students receive aid.  The average scholarship is $46,315.

http://admissions.duke.edu/application/aid 
https://financialaid.duke.edu/

Georgetown University, Washington DC

An undergraduate applicant's ability to pay tuition is not a criterion for admission at Georgetown.  

In 1978, Georgetown began its historic commitment to meet the financial need of every undergraduate who merits admission. The University works to provide eligible students 100% of their demonstrated financial need through scholarships, loans and other forms of assistance. Our practices mean that every eligible undergraduate student, once accepted, can afford to enroll.  

Each year over half of Georgetown undergraduates receive some form of financial assistance.

http://www.georgetown.edu/

Harvard College, Cambridge MA

Harvard provides generous financial aid packages.  All students can graduate debt free.  More than 20% of Harvard undergrads' families pay NOTHING.  Financial need is NOT considered during the admissions process.  Therefore, your financial need, or lack thereof, will not impact your admissions chances.

All of Harvard's financial aid is based on financial need, with none being awarded for academic merit.  Families with total incomes under $65,000 pay no tuition, room, and board.  Harvard works closely with each family to ensure each admitted student can attend.  They expect families who earn between $65,000 and $150,000 to contribute up to 10% of their income.  Families with significant assets are asked to pay more as are families with incomes over $150,000.  Home equity is not considered, nor are retirement assets.  Harvard does not include loans in its financial aid packages.  They meet 100% of demonstrated need for both American and international students.

Over 60% of Harvard undergraduates receive aid.  Their four year graduation rate is 97%.

https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid

Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA

Through the Future Achievers of Science and Technology program, students from traditionally underrepresented populations in the STEM fields can visit for free.  They are also granted an application fee waiver. 

Harvey Mudd has a need blind admissions policy for all domestic applicants.  They also meet 100% of demonstrated financial need and have merit scholarships available.  Harvey Mudd does include loans in its financial aid awards.

76% of Harvey Mudd students receive financial aid.

https://www.hmc.edu/admission/afford/

Haverford College, Haverford, PA

Haverford does not consider financial need during the admissions process.

Haverford meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.  More than 50% of students receive a college grant, with the average grant being over $40,000.  Students with family income below $60,000/year will not have loans included in their financial aid package; loan levels for incomes above $60,000/year range from $1,500 - $3,000 annually.

56% of Haverford students receive some form of financial aid

https://www.haverford.edu/admission/tuition-and-aid
 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

In addition to practicing need blind admissions, MIT meets 100% of demonstrated need.  The six year graduation rate is 93%.  Families making less than $75,000 per year don't pay tuition.

91% of undergraduates receive some sort of aid.  33% receive awards totaling more than tuition.

http://sfs.mit.edu/

Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT

Middlebury is need blind in admissions and meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students.  They do include loans in their financial aid packages. Middlebury limits the endebtedness of its low income students. Middlebury does not offer any merit based financial aid; all aid is given based on financial need.

http://www.middlebury.edu/offices/support/sfs/faqs

Franklin Olin College of Engineering, Needham, MA

Olin's admissions is need blind; they do not consider a student's ability to pay during the admissions process.

Olin college is committed to meeting full the financial need of its students.  Every student is offered a $93,000 tuition scholarship for eight semesters of study. This scholarship covers half of the tuition costs.  In addition to that scholarship, 100% of demonstrated financial need will be met with aid.

47% of Olin's students qualify for need based aid.

http://olin.edu/admission/costs-financial-aid/ 

Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

Princeton has a need blind admissions policy for US and international applicants.
 
Princeton eliminated loans from its financial aid packages in 2001, the first university to do so.  We determine a family's ability to pay using Princeton's own need formula, with fair and generous individual results.  Princeton offers full ride scholarships (covering tuition, room, and board) for families making $54,000/year or less.  Families making more than $54,000 but less than $120,000 per year, Princeton gives full tuition scholarships.

60% of students receive financial aid.  Class of 2019's average grant: $46,000+

http://admission.princeton.edu/financialaid

Rice University, Houston, TX

Rice has a need blind admissions policy and meets the full demonstrated need of its students.  Rice does include loans in its financial aid packages.  Rice partners with QuestBridge for low income students.

 http://futureowls.rice.edu/futureowls/DACA_and_Undocumented1.asp
http://financialaid.rice.edu/

Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Students with family incomes less than $125,000 are expect to pay nothing toward tuition.  Stanford does not consider financial need when making admissions decisions.  Families making less than $65,000 are not expected to pay for tuition, room, or board.

71% of Stanford students receive financial aid.  Their four year graduation rate is 95%.  Last year, 47% received need-based aid from Stanford and paid an average of $13,600 toward their bills.

http://financialaid.stanford.edu/undergrad/

Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA

Swarthmore has partnered with QuestBridge to assist low income students.

52% of students receive financial aid.

Tufts University, Medford, MA

Tufts partners with QuestBridge to help low income students attend the university.

Tufts does not offer merit aid.  Tufts includes loans in its financial aid packages.

http://admissions.tufts.edu/apply/first-year-students/

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Penn has a need blind admissions policy.

Penn strives to meet the full financial need of traditional undergraduate students with an all-grant aid policy.  Penn does not include loans in its financial aid packages for dependent students whose families' incomes are less than $50,000.

http://www.sfs.upenn.edu/announcements/announcements-penn-finaid-initiative-expanded.htm
http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/volumes/v52/n27/admissions.html

Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt makes three important commitments to U.S. Citizens and eligible non-citizens to ensure that students from many different economic circumstances can enroll at Vanderbilt:

First:  Since talent and promise recognize no social, cultural, economic, or geographic boundaries, our admissions process is need-blind for U.S. Citizens and eligible non-citizens. 

Second: Vanderbilt will meet 100% of a family’s demonstrated financial need. 

Third:  Financial aid awards do not include loans. Instead of offering need-based loans to undergraduate students, Vanderbilt offers additional grant assistance.

http://vanderbilt.edu/financialaid/


Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY

Vassar has a need blind admissions policy.

Vassar meets 100% of the demonstrated need of all admitted students and eliminates or reduces loans in the financial aid packages of low income families.  Some families receive over $60,000 in financial aid.

Nearly 60% of Vassar students receive financial aid.

http://admissions.vassar.edu/financial-aid/

Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

Wash U meets 100% of demonstrated need for all its students. Entering first-year students and returning full-time undergraduate day-school students with parental incomes of less than $75,000 annually are not awarded need-based loans and instead receive grants from the university that will not have to be repaid. Families with parental income somewhat higher than $75,000 also may receive additional student loan relief based on demonstrated need and their financial circumstances.

https://admissions.wustl.edu/footernav/financial-aid-scholarships

Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT

Wesleyan does not consider financial need in the admissions process.

Wesleyan meets 100% of demonstrated need.  They do include loans in their financial aid awards.  All financial aid is need based.

http://wesleyan.edu/finaid/ProspectiveApplicants/index.html 

58% of students receive aid.

Williams College, Williamstown, MA

Windows on Williams (WOW) gives high school seniors the opportunity to spend three all-expenses-paid days at Williams. WOW is a selective program open to high school students in the U.S. and Puerto Rico; preference is given to high-achieving students who couldn’t otherwise afford to visit Williams.

Williams practices need blind admissions.  They admit the most qualified and compelling students without regard for their ability to pay—a family’s financial circumstances will never play a role in their admission decision.  Williams also partners with QuestBridge to assist low income students to study at Williams.

Williams meets 100% of demonstrated need.  There are no hidden costs at Williams. Once you’re here—no matter how much financial aid you receive—you’ll have access to the same opportunities as every other Williams student. Financial aid is portable and can be applied to study away programs as well as Winter Study trips and projects. It covers 100% of the cost of books and course materials so the price of books will never be a factor in the courses you choose. The college also subsidizes most campus events. You’ll attend parties for free, movies for $1, and major concerts and events for less than $5—making the cost of living at Williams far lower than at almost any other campus.

Nearly half of their students receive aid.

http://admission.williams.edu/affordability/ 

Yale University, New Haven, CT

Yale admits students without regard to financial ability to pay for the costs of a Yale education.

Yale's financial aid is given on the basis of financial need.  No merit aid is given.  Yale’s financial aid policies ensure that 100% of every student’s demonstrated need is met with a package that does not include loans. The main component of Yale’s undergraduate gift aid is the Yale Scholarship, a type of need-based grant, but a financial aid award may include other grants and outside scholarships. For costs not covered by scholarships and grants, students and their families have options such as campus jobs and education loans.  Family's making less than $65,000 are given free tuition, room, and board.

In 2015/16, the average scholarship was $43,989.

64% of students receive financial assistance.

http://finaid.yale.edu/costs-affordability/types-aid-and-other-financial-resources