<p>Hey, everybody! I'd like to know if you think I'm on track, and what you think of the schools I'm interested in. Here's a little bit about me:</p>
<p>School
High School Junior in PA
Rank: 6/207
GPA: 4.3 weighted
SAT: 1210 (Math/Verbal) 1800 (Math/Verbal/Writing)
AP Classes: Earned 5 on Bio as in Grade 10; currently taking AP Chem and AP US Gov & Politics; will take AP Calc, AP Econ, and AP Physics next year
National Honor Society
Distinguished Honor Roll
taking toughest course load available</p>
<p>EC
Black Belt in Karate (started at age 7)
Testing for Black Belt soon in Tae Kwon Do
Regional Band French Horn Player
Some volunteer work
No job</p>
<p>Wants/Needs
Stay in PA
Need a cheap school since I don't have much money, but at the same time there's no way I'll qualify for any aid
I bit of a larger school (10,000<)</p>
<p>I want to do PreMed and minor in music. My top school is Penn State University Park. I also kind of like U Pitt. Recently, I've also gotten really into the United States Naval Academy or Air Force Academy. Any suggestions? Do you think I could aim a bit higher? Do you guys happen to know anything about the service academies that could help?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Pennsylvania has a ton of top universities and colleges. You should not ignore the private colleges. They give grant aid, need-based and merit. The difference in net cost to your family may not be as great as you think.</p>
<p>Among the publics, Penn St UP and U Pitt sound like the best bets.</p>
<p>If you retake the SATs, I bet you can raise your score. It would help.</p>
<p>So there's no misunderstanding, my financial situation is as follows: My family is well since my dad is a successful doctor. However, my parents grew up in Canada decades ago where tuition was like a thousand bucks and that was it. Since they could pay for college by themselves, they think I should pay for college by themselves. They just don't seem to understand that now-a-days, the bill is at LEAST $20,000--a big difference from their time.</p>
<p>Rice University in Houston is private but reasonably priced.</p>
<p>If you can't get around the money issue, Penn State UP is a good option.</p>
<p>With your scores the Naval and Air Force Acadamies are probably out of reach, but Penn State and UPittsburgh are definitely within your realm. Seems like your parents need a reality check.</p>
<p>"They just don't seem to understand that now-a-days, the bill is at LEAST $20,000--a big difference from their time."</p>
<p>Start looking at colleges with them including going to information sessions. There, your parents will hear about how expensive college is now.</p>
<p>You also could consider Canadian colleges -- and show your parents how much those cost (often much less than US colleges, but still far more than $1,000 a year).</p>
<p>Get your SAT scores up and you might have a shot at some more selective schools. Also, higher scores may also get you some merit money.</p>