<p>Hi there. I'm trying to help my daughter identify schools she might apply to, hoping someone here has good advice. Here is her info:</p>
<p>Senior at a very exclusive private boarding school, receiving full tuition because we have very low income (my husband is in college now, and our estimated contribution is $0). She has excellent extracurriculars - she's been involved in 10 drama productions, select choir, was assistant head of her dorm, has done community service internships for the past 3 years (including 1 for a senator), along with multiple clubs. </p>
<p>Her problem is somewhat mediocre grades - her overall average is an 84%. Her school does not do rankings as a philosophical thing, so she doesn't have a class ranking. She will have great instructor and advisor recommendations. Her SAT score was 1790, which I know is also not fantastic. </p>
<p>Our biggest problem is, as I said, extremely low income. We cannot afford to take out loans, nor do we have much cash. We had hoped that going to this boarding school would give her the opportunity to get into a selective school with paid tuition or no-loan policy - but with her grades and SATs being what they are, we're not so sure this will work out. Hoping someone here can suggest some schools that have good financial aid but have a higher acceptance rate. Location and size are not as important as the financial aid (east coast would be great), because if she doesn't get into a school with aid, she's going to be at home and going to community college. Which would be ok for me, but she'd be really miserable. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Community college followed by transfer to a four year school to complete a bachelor’s degree is not necessarily a bad thing for a motivated student. It is not the best for all students (particularly those extremely advanced in a subject like math), but many students use that route either to save money or as a second chance.</p>
<p>We’re considering this route, of course, but my daughter really wants to go away to school. I wonder if colleges consider the quality of the high school, also - she’s doing work that is basically on the level of the average college freshman or sophomore. If she were in our local public school, I’m almost positive she’d be near the top of her class. So does she get any credit for being with an already selective group of students?</p>
<p>I’m 2/19 at my small private school, yet my friend who was salutatorian at the local public high school (400+ kids) last year had scores lower than mine. This doesn’t change the fact that my 2/19 looks way worse than maybe 2/400. She may get a bit of credit for the school she attends, but you can’t just assume “If she went to this public school she would be higher ranked, so colleges will consider that and give her better chances.”</p>
<p>First, you and she need to sit down and map out a plan. NOW. And draw up 15 schools to apply to. You can get application fee waivers and also use the common application.</p>
<p>Second, get a hold of Petersen’s Directory or Barron’s Directory. Start geographically and find schools, and also look by your/her interests.</p>
<p>In general she needs to apply to low second tier and high third tier schools, which are fine academically, but off the radar screen. </p>
<p>there are OODLES of them. Some really good private schools. Look at Catholic colleges, and other nominal religious schools. they sometimes pour money at you. </p>
<p>She will get in and she will be fine.</p>
<p>Finally, its absurd for her to say she won’t take out student loans. They are deferred until 6 months after leaving school. If she does well first year the college may do another internal scholarship as well. The national avg for graduating college seniors debt load is around 18k. That is not overly burdensome. Also you may qualify for Pell Grant money.</p>
<p>Fill out CSS and FAFSA and submit applications to colleges, preferably starting in late December before the January 1 deadline for many and January 15 deadline for others.</p>
<p>You/She will be fine if you follow those simple instructions.</p>
<p>All those schools can “pour money at you,” but even if that means a $20,000 scholarship for a $40,000 COA, the math still doesn’t add up. Even assuming max Pell and Stafford, that leaves a huge gap with no way to bridge it.</p>
<p>She needs a full ride or an affordable state school.</p>
<p>*
Her problem is somewhat mediocre grades - her overall average is an 84%. Her school does not do rankings as a philosophical thing, so she doesn’t have a class ranking. She will have great instructor and advisor recommendations. Her SAT score was 1790, which I know is also not fantastic. *</p>
<p>Unfortunately, less selective schools don’t even “meet need,” much less not include loans.</p>
<p>Senior at a very exclusive private boarding school, receiving full tuition because we have very low income
but my daughter really wants to go away to school.</p>
<p>Your D’s peers are likely much more affluent so she’s used to hearing her classmates say that they’re going away. That can be a problem when a low income kid has affluent classmates.</p>
<p>What state are you in?</p>
<p>All those schools can “pour money at you,” but even if that means a $20,000 scholarship for a $40,000 COA, the math still doesn’t add up. Even assuming max Pell and Stafford, that leaves a huge gap with no way to bridge it.</p>
<p>Exactly! And the student’s stats aren’t high enough for a school to “pour money at you.” A $15k or $20k scholarship (if even possible) isn’t enough for privates that are costing $50k+.</p>
<p>Does the boarding school have any connections with any colleges that might work out financially?</p>
<p>Don’t despair! Selective private boarding schools generally have excellent college counseling advisors, so your daughter will receive good advice on where to apply to college. Her advisor will be able to help her identify colleges that will be affordable and will offer appropriate opportunities to your daughter. Also the advisor will be able to craft a recommendation letter that will put your daughter’s accomplishments into perspective.</p>
<p>Many college admissions offices know a great deal about the high schools. If your daughter’s school has a particularly demanding curriculum and high grading standards, the colleges will know that. Furthermore many colleges seek to expand the socioeconomic diversity of their student body. That might work to your daughter’s advantage.</p>
<p>I’m definitely doing everything suggested here - going over as much data on schools as I can find, talking to my daughter. She’s coming home this weekend for break, so we plan to go over this more in depth in person… Her attitude is kind of that she really wants to go away - I don’t think she’ll be devastated if she has to do 2 years community college first, but I know she’d rather not. But we’ve begged her all along to really focus on her grades and stressed that we just don’t have any money, and she’s chosen to pay more attention to her activities and social stuff, so her grades have suffered. It’s been disappointing, because it was such an amazing opportunity - this school costs $48,000 a year, and she’s been paying only $1000 a year! Wish she had taken it more seriously, but nothing to do about that now, I suppose. I’m sure she’ll regret it as an adult. </p>
<p>As far as loans so, we were under the impression that since she’s considered dependent, we would have to take out loans ourselves, which we are not willing to do. Partly because we can’t afford to pay them back right now, and partly because we feel like my daughter has had an amazing opportunity and not worked up to her potential, so we aren’t going to go into debt as a result. We’re willing to help her go to community college and give her the opportunity to transfer to a good school with good aid, but going into thousands of dollars of debt when she hasn’t shown that she’s fully committed isn’t going to happen. With that said, I am willing to do what I can for her to help her get into a school with good aid - if that’s possible. </p>
<p>My hope in posting here is that someone out there might have specific suggestions of schools they or their kids have found or were able to get into without such great grades, or maybe schools that are more interested in the other stuff a kid has going for them (like positions of responsibility, extracurriculars, internships, etc).</p>
<p>As far as loans so, we were under the impression that since she’s considered dependent, we would have to take out loans ourselves, which we are not willing to do.</p>
<p>Federal student loans are taken by the KIDS…you wouldn’t be responsible…but the amounts aren’t a lot.</p>
<p>frosh 5500
soph 6500
jr 7500
sr 7500</p>
<p>A school might also put in a Perkins student loan, but that won’t be much either…like maybe $1k or 2k. Schools are limited to how much Perkins loans they can give. </p>
<p>*
Don’t despair! Selective private boarding schools generally have excellent college counseling advisors, so your daughter will receive good advice on where to apply to college.*</p>
<p>It doesn’t sound like this GC is used to dealing with low-income students with modest stats based on some of the schools (Harvard!) that the GC suggested.</p>
<p>There are lots of schools that will accept your daughter with her grades and test score. I think it is safe to say that none of these schools will offer her a ‘full-ride’ that includes tuition and room and board. I can’t see any way that you can avoid having your daughter take out loans (and quite probably you) if she wants to go away to school.</p>
<p>The best option will be community college or an instate public.</p>
<p>What does the exclusive boarding school have to say. You may find that kids with “mediocre grades” get into some pretty first class schools. They may not know much about scholarships, but they ought to have pretty good idea of which schools will want your D.</p>
<p>Get excellent recs, have excellent essays, do every extracurricular available, and score a 2200+ SAT, and then apply to the best schools. Hopefully one will accept, and they all have very generous aid :)</p>
<p>the score quidelines are not that high. D may qualify to apply. What state are you from?</p>
<p>Your D should also look at Loyola U of Maryland. Not very selective and known for giving huge grants. She would need to interview. I am working with a student right now and we are focusing heavily on this school and JMU.</p>