Great undergrad program with merit opps

If your transcript includes the weighted GPA, Indiana will give you the 9k (my weighted/unweighted GPA was identical to yours and I still got the 9k).

Wisconsin offers a $10K/year scholarship as part of the Wisconsin Scholars Program to about 100-200 students/year. You might be qualified for it. They've also got reciprocal reduced (not quite fully in-state) tuition agreements with a few Midwestern states, on top of that.

If my parents were only willing to pay for something close to in-state tuition, I'd be taking a good look at Wisconsin. They get kids to Wall Street- not a whole lot, but enough to probably be considered a semi-target. The Wisconsin Scholars program will be enough to get you the same consideration as H/Y/P if you can get your resume in front of the right people.

I should also add that I'm a California student.

vanillathunder12: My transcript only provides my weighted GPA. I'm guessing they just won't recalculate an unweighted GPA from my transcript?

IlliniProgrammer: I can't seem to find the right link for the Wisconsin Scholars Program. Could you perhaps link me? Also, my brother's a freshman at UIUC studying compsci :P

purdue will give you a lot

"Pur" don't go to Purdue.

if youre from cali then why not ucla or uc berk

To be honest, I'd like to get out of California. Besides, the way UCLA and Berkeley have admitted from my high school is making me feel I wouldn't get in. My UC GPA is a 3.8, which is way under average for both.

if ur looking for more money, go to a cc at CA and get straight A's, then apply to haas school of business. thats what i would do if i knew what i knew now.

i'm from louisiana and i can tell you that any big public school in the south (texas a&m, texas, lsu, florida, alabama, etc.) will most likely give you a full ride since you're national merit. so if you're interested in that part of the country, i would apply to all of the big schools in that area. exceptions are uva and unc.

mrgrape: I guess. I mean it's something I'd definitely consider, but I don't want to be stuck in case I can't transfer in.

peacerenity: Are there any notables that do well in job placement relative to their rankings nationally?

UT Austin, UVA, and Michigan all do extremely well in regards to placement. Wisconsin, Penn State, and SUNY are also standouts for their US News ranks, though that's not to say they aren't excellent schools that deserve the recruiting.

Babson College.

I would either try for a Cali state school or look at something near Chicago (Purdue, UMich, Chicago, etc) or look at a school near NYC (NYU, Villanova, Fordham). Honestly, you can get a lot of money from most schools. You just need to speak with the head of the financial aid or grants department and make your case. I got another 6K a year out of Syracuse by hard balling the guy. Just have a convincing story and they will give you cash. Most people take what the schools offer letter says without ever speaking to anyone.

and before the monkey shit starts flying I was just rattling off a couple schools I know of within close proximity to major metro's. I am sure there are tons of other options.

Anthony: Thanks for your advice. I'll keep that in mind.

I realize that location plays a good part in the recruiting process, but there's got to be some sort of reputation for schools right? I've read that Fordham, for example, doesn't exactly place as well as some others could. How can I find schools that have a history of great placements but perhaps less competitive enough so that I could get some scholarships right out of the gate?