<p>I'm going to be a senior in high school. I live in PA and would like to stay in state. I'm interested in finance, business law or pre law. I am a minority, if that helps.</p>
<p>SATs:
CR 600 Math 630 W 620
CR 580 Math 640 W 570</p>
<p>Extra curriculars:
2 Years of FBLA, won 3rd regional in Computer Problems Solving
Junior year work experience over the summer w/ Hershey Park
I'm gonna do more in my senior year.</p>
<p>What schools should I be looking at?
I visited Penn State University Park as my 1st college and loved it. Although, I don't think my chances are good. My GPA is low; I'm thinking of taking easier classes my senior year and not slacking and raising my GPA. What are my chances for Penn State Main/Smeal?</p>
<p>If money is a concern – at it is for most students – check the financial aid web pages at the colleges that you’re considering. Most colleges aren’t able to meet 100% of students’ demonstrated financial need. Even for the relatively few colleges that are, most such colleges require students to take out loans and work during the school year and summer. Also, in many cases, what colleges expect students’ families to pay is far more than what the families feel they can afford.</p>
<p>Talk to your parents about how much they contribute.</p>
<p>Most state schools aren’t able to meet the full financial need of most of their students with need. Being in state is an advantage, but even most instate accepted students won’t get all of the aid that they need. Being at the top of the academic range of their applicants, and applying early – including getting your financial aid paperwork in early – may help you get aid with public schools.</p>
<p>Talk to your GC and also buy one of the college guides like the ones put out by U.S. News, which are available at many bookstores and news stands.</p>
<p>My kids have applied to all of these schools in the past. I’d guess your odds are very good at Temple, 50-50 at Pitt and that Penn State is a little reach. Penn State posts a chart with GPA and SATs, so you can see where kids from other years got in with various GPAs/SATs. The higher the SATs, the lower you can go with a GPA. High school guidance offices get a copy of the chart too, so they should be able to show you where you fall and your odds of acceptance. Definitely apply early for Penn State. One of my kids applied in September and was accepted. He knew kids with slightly better numbers who applied in November that got rejected. </p>
<p>If you can visit Pitt for a tour, they waived the application fee for kids who applied during their visit (2-yrs ago/call to verify they’re still doing this). D has scheduled a tour next week, so I’ll find out if they’re still doing it.</p>
<p>You might consider the Behrend campus of Penn State as a safety. In two years or 60 credits at a regional campus you’ll be guaranteed admission to State College (and the diploma will never show that you started at a regional campus). Behrend has a nice campus with good dorms. While it’s not conveniently located, it’s not a bad way to get through general ed classes and get that Penn State degree if you don’t get admitted right off the bat. (Unfortunately, you still pay Penn State tuition at the regional campuses.)</p>
<p>^ I agree, your chances are good at all three.</p>
<p>As a 1st Gen, you’re going to have to “carry the ball” so to speak. Stuff like Pins for FAFSA, financial transparency for PROFILE, showing interest, and different acceptance rates for different schools within a university are non-intuitive. PLEASE find a mentor who can help you cover all the necessary base. Otherwise, your chances for acceptance could fall from “probably” to “maybe.”</p>
<p>American would be a very good choice. It has an excellent undergraduate business program, with tons of in-term internships and opportunities, and it is easy to double major or major/minor. You’d have a pretty good chance of getting in, and they have scholarships for first-generation minority students.</p>
<p>Pitt is also a fine school in a great city.</p>
<p>I’m sure I’ll miss a few things, but necessary bases include building an application list from the bottom up, making sure the admission safeties are also financial safeties, making sure you like your safeties and would be happy to attend there, making sure your GC knows what you’re planning, making sure you have the correct forms and know all the deadlines, making sure you take all required tests for all schools on your application list, getting an early start on applications so you can polish them and have them reviewed by someone who can provide feedback on how adults (you know, like admissions people) are apt to respond to them, finding teachers who will give you good recommendations and asking them early (so you’re not the 55th person asking), checking your HS transcript for errors, if you’re applying early making sure your GC knows when the deadlines are, checking the college Web sites to make sure all application materials have arrived, collecting the necessary financial data for the FAFSA and getting the necessary PINS, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.</p>
<p>One idea, look into taking the ACT, people who don’t do so well on the SAT and are much more academic (if you do well on state tests or APs) tend to do better on the ACT. </p>
<p>Also, look at Bucknell University, Villanova University, St. Joesph’s University, Leigh University, Muhlenburg University, Bloomsburg University, Gettysburg College and York College</p>
<p>your gpa is not that low… A B+ average is perfectly fine. I don’t think Penn State is too out of your reach, especially since you’re in state and a URM. You should buy yourself an SAT prep book and work your butt off to raise your scores. </p>