Any chances of getting a full ride?

Paying for College
1

<p>(Sorry I just posted this in another thread but I'm not really clear on the etiquette here and I'm just looking for some help :) )</p>

<p>Hi, I'm going into my senior year at my public school in Southern California. I was wondering what my chances into getting hopefully a full ride scholarship are as a woman with Biochemistry as a prospective major. I also am planning on living in the dorms for my first year, and eventually getting a PhD and becoming a researcher.</p>

<p>My stats:
-4.6 weighted GPA.
-33 on ACT without much studying, looking to raise it with more studying
-I'm going to take SAT Subject tests in US History, Math 2, and Biology M but no the SAT itself.
-Currently at 16 out of a class of 513, expected to go up after this semester's grades are posted.
-Full IB/AP course load.
-All A's except for one B+ in ASB sophomore year.
-Senior year I have a heavy load, AP Calculus, AP/IB English Lit/Comp HL, IB History of the Americas HL, IB Spanish 4, IB Biology HL, and possibly an extra class such as AP Environmental Science, IB Anthropology, or AP Bio.
-I was in sports my Freshman (JV Tennis and F/S Basketball) and Sophomore year (JV Basketball) before I quit Junior year just before season because of all the stress and anxiety I was having.
-My parents are separated and looking to divorce, but I don't know if that will qualify me for any financial aid because my parents combined make around $130k a year.
-I've been in my school's NHS/CSF since sophomore year, and I applied for a leadership position for next year but I don't know if I got in or not.
-I'm going to start volunteering at either an elderly home or an animal hospital, but up until now I've been kind of slacking in the extracurriculars
-I'm applying for jobs, and I hope to work during the summer and throughout my senior year.
-Not affiliated with any church or other organization like that.</p>

<p>So generally, I've been kind of slacking in the extracurricular department, but from what I've been told, my grades make up for it and it's not that big of a deal for the types of colleges I'm applying to anyways. I'm hoping to apply to UC's, CSU's, U of Washington at Seattle, U of Oregon at Eugene, Oregon State in Corvallis, maybe NYU, and maybe some privates like USC, Stanford, Whitman, and Reed, but I don't really know that many so I'm trying to look for more. If anybody could provide me some more info about privates in the New York area or along the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) that aren't necessarily religious or all-girls, or something like that, that would be great!</p>

<p>I'm not looking for anything Ivy, even though I do have strong connections at Princeton (from what I hear, my dad's best friend is pretty active on their alumni board or something like that). My mom's uncle also donates to UCLA, a school I would love to go to, and I don't know if that would help me at all because he's not my like immediate family? I just want to know where I have the best shots at getting a full or at least partial ride. Any info you have will help, because the counselors at my school are literally so horrible at their jobs.</p>

<p>Thanks for all your help!</p>

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<p>What is your unweighted GPA?</p>

<p><a href=“Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #300 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>Automatic Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #300 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums; lists some full rides that you may get automatically for your stats (depending on your unweighted GPA in most cases):</p>

<p>Troy
Alabama State
Arkansas - Monticello
Howard
Louisiana Tech
Louisiana - Monroe
Coppin State
Southeast Missouri State
North Carolina Central
Prairie View A&M</p>

<p>There are also competitive full ride scholarships listed here: <a href=“Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #50 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #50 by BobWallace - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums;

<p>$130,000 per year may qualify for some financial aid at many schools; run the net price calculators on their web sites (do not be optimistic about out-of-state public schools here). However, divorce tends to be draining on the ex-spouses’ finances, and they may fight over who should pay how much of your college costs, with you being the loser because the colleges may believe that they will contribute more than they actually will. (But note that California publics consider only the parent whom you live with since they only use FAFSA information, while most privates add CSS/Profile to consider your other parent’s income and assets.)</p>

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<p>Thanks, that thread is pretty helpful. Unweighted my GPA is 3.95 if that helps clarify anything.</p>

4

<p>You won’t get any full ride to those colleges you listed because they simply do not give them without a need component. Your family will be asked to pay their EFC. You should realize that those out of state colleges generally will not give you any money except the outside chance you snag a merit award, which will not be anywhere near a full ride. USC gives some full tuition but only to about 3% (not totally sure on that figure, just saw it mentioned here, I know very competitive students who got nothing but good need based aid.) Princeton doesn’t give any merit aid, only need based which will expect contribution from both parents (but you will get a good offer if you get in), you will have to fill out a Princeton specific financial form. I very much doubt you will get any edge at UCLA although it is possible to get Regents on your own merit. Run the NPC for UC and CSU for the parent that you live with. All the private schools will require info from both parents on the CSS Profile or their own form.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.fao.ucla.edu/aid_estimator/”>http://www.fao.ucla.edu/aid_estimator/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>The “connections” you have noted for Princeton and UCLA will really do you no good at all. So put that aside.</p>

<p>If you are residing with one parent only, that is the parent you would put on your FAFSA. The FAFSA only will be used to determine your eligibility for the Calgrant. Is it possible that your custodial parent (the one you live with most) earns less than $80,000 a year…including any child or spousal support)? You might want to check the Calgrant eligibility requirements.</p>

<p>UCBA put the link to the thread for automatic full tuition/full ride scholarships. Look carefully at that…and the deadlines for applying for admission. Don’t miss them!</p>

6

<p><<<<
U of Washington at Seattle, U of Oregon at Eugene, Oregon State in Corvallis, maybe NYU
<<<<</p>

<p>No, to all of the above…they wont give you the merit that you need.</p>

<p>Your connections wont help you at all.</p>

<p>are you going to retest in both the ACT and SAT?</p>

<p>being a female in biochem isnt an edge.</p>

<p>will your parents pay anything at all? get clarification…as mentioned, divorce is a money-drainer and your parents may end up with debt and no means to pay.</p>

<p>You can get full tuition scholarships with your stats, but full-rides at schools that you’d likely consider is unlikely.</p>

7

<p>Apply to all the UCs. Only your custodial parent’s income will be used. How much does that parent earn?</p>

<p>the lower UCs may offer you merit that when combined with a Cal Grant and other aid may result in a near free ride.</p>

<p>be prepared to work over summers to earn money for misc expenses.</p>