<p>In the very beginning of freshman year, my family was supposed to move to another country and I spent a month at public school during the transition because it was inefficient to keep sending me to my old private school for such a short amount of time. Just as we were supposed to leave, my mother's health checkup with her doctor revealed that she had cancer, and needed immediate and extensive facial surgery to remove the tumor. Ok. So moving was out of the question now, with the subsequent radiation that she would need to go through. Clearly, it was not a good year for me, and I struggled with the transition BACK to my old school, moving back into my old home, taking care of said home while my mother was sick/in hospital/etc. My GPA was 3.1 that year, and I had absolutely no ECs at all besides uh, being involved in the Drama Club and working backstage at one of the shows. </p>
<p>Sophomore year was better (3.5) and this year has been ok (~3.4, report hasn't been sent out yet). I have many more ECs, 100+ hours of volunteer/internship work, and am currently on a summer internship at a law firm in another country. I plan to make senior year the best, but the lack of many available APs in my school won't be helping me get a 4.4 or anything. I'm expecting a 3.8 or, haha, 3.9.</p>
<p>Now, my college counselor (who I wouldn't trust with much) said that she would mention my problem, but I'm unsure as to how this affects the schools that I want to apply for next year. Here's my list:</p>
<p>NYU (High reach/impossible, but I'll just try for the heck of it)
Boston U
Loyola Marymount University
University of Washington
Seattle University
Fordham University
University of San Francisco
George Mason University
American University</p>
<p>I want to know whether or not I should pad it with more safeties. I'd like to think that there would be a little leniency in this area, but I'm also ready to accept the cold truth that I can't always get what I want. What do you think?</p>
<p>I would say that yes the gpa’s have done their damage the questions you have to answer are what do you want out of a college education and how do you plan to get what you want. A little info on what you want to do what environment you are looking for and the such could help those on this forum pinpoint a few schools in the match/safety range for you.</p>
<p>Thanks, and I’m definitely looking to go into law school after undergrad. If I change my mind about law school, I’d go into clinical psychology.</p>
<p>As for environment, I’ll only go somewhere urban. Currently, this is limited to Boston, D.C., NY, Seattle, and such.</p>
<p>What are your test scores? That will also affect admission chances…</p>
<p>You’re applying to a LOT of schools that don’t meet need. </p>
<p>IF your family can pay full freight, then that is fine. However, if you’ll need FA, you need to change your list a bit.</p>
<p>If your parents can’t pay full freight, how much will they pay? If you don’t know, you need to ask. And, you need to find out what your likely EFC is.</p>
<p>I agree with mom2collegekids: Unless your family can pay full freight, you need to revise your list. For instance, NYU is notorious for accepting students and offering them tens of thousands of dollars less than the financial aid that the students need. I personally know outstanding students whom this has happened to, and who chose to go elsewhere despite getting an acceptance to their dream school.</p>
<p>Most colleges will take under admissions consideration the kind of family circumstances that you describe.</p>
<p>I understand, and my household income is slightly over $120k, but they have a mortgage + new car payments, plus my private tuition… Cost is really of no matter to me right now, the question is really whether or not I still have a chance at getting into the school. Those are all schools I love (aside from the safeties), and I would risk shouldering a hefty loan to go there. Considering my family’s income alone, I wouldn’t ever expect colleges meeting even half my need or something. </p>
<p>As for test scores, my SAT right now is 720 CR/610 M/610 W. I’m almost positive that’ll increase after my most recent take, as my writing is usually much higher/proficient than that level… Subject test’s 710 in Lit.</p>
<p>I would risk shouldering a hefty loan to go there.</p>
<p>Students can’t take out “hefty loans” - you won’t qualify.</p>
<p>You are limited to small amounts each year for a REASON…and the reason is that new grads don’t earn enough to pay back big loans.</p>
<p>Your scores are almost high enough for some good scholarships at various schools. Work on your Math score and take the ACT, some do better with that. </p>
<p>What is your intended major and career? How much do you think you’ll be earning upon graduation?</p>
<p>Ah yeah, I know that loans and such are still things I need to be very clear about. My college counselor didn’t mention much in this aspect, so I’ll look into it further. Thanks for the tip!</p>
<p>Upon graduating, I intend to go to law school! Right now I’m looking at a Psych major with either Philosophy/Journalism/Marketing. If law school fails, I plan to further my psych. studies and do something with clinical psychology.</p>
<p>
If you intend to go to law school you need to reduce any debt you can during your undergrad program. There is a limit to how much debt you can carry over both programs (Mom2CK can supply that - I don’t remember the number).</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
<p>If you want to go to law school or grad school for psych, then you need to save your borrowing power for that. Do not borrow much (if anything) for undergrad.</p>
<p>Federal loan limits for undergrad are about $30k. But, the combined undergrad + grad/law school limit is $138,500. So, obviously, you’ll need to reserve that for grad/law school because you’ll need at LEAST that much for that. If you borrow $30k for undergrad, you’ll only have $100k for grad/law school - which probably won’t be enough.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that young lawyers and young therapists do not make a lot of money. The monthly payments on $138,500 are about $1600 per month. So, obviously paying that much back each month will be difficult. Borrowing more than that would be a disaster. </p>
<p>You need to make a reasonable list so that you can afford law/grad school. Neither of those professions require you to go to a particular school.</p>
<p>Remember…the DREAM is your life’s career - your dream is not 4 years of college that will be over in a flash. Your adult life will be 50+ years - don’t ruin it with strangling debt.</p>
<p>Do this…ask your parents how much they will pay each year for college.</p>
<p>With that info, and test scores, we can help you with a better list.</p>