<p>Surfette, re UCSB I suggest you go to that forum and do some reading. I'm afraid that with your SAT scores UCSB is a big reach for you. Also, please understand that UCSB is a large school and really has a reputation for being a party school. I live near there and have direct experience with the situation.<br>
That said, I have heard their creative writing program is great....BUT I feel sure there are other schools with good programs that might be a better match for you.</p>
<p>UCSB's "party school" reputation is well earned, but that isn't a turnoff for everyone. D was accepted into their CCS program (math), but went elsewhere for just the reasons ebeeeee mentionedl (we live near too, and we've all seen enough). Still, numerous classmates were delighted to go and couldn't understand why D chose a tiny LAC in the cold and rainy NW far from the beach. She's up there in sub-free studying 24/7 and is happy.</p>
<p>Surfette, your $$ situation sounds lots more encouraging that I thought, with family help. Now I understand your confidence about your college list. And I think you might have a shot at UC admission, even as an out-of-stater, particularly if you do well on your Subject tests and can pull up your SATs just a bit. UCSB's formula is on the UC Admissions website. To figure your UC GPA you have to count only those courses that fall within their a-g list, and only sophomore and junior years (can you get your college counselor to help? It's pretty arcane). Also, SATs have to be from one sitting (can't combine best parts of different sittings).</p>
<p>Congrats on winning the writing contests -- do apply for related scholarships; aside from the money, that sort of thing helps with admissions. I'm a "retired" writer/editor/writing teacher, so if there's anything you want to share or get some feedback on, you can email me.</p>
<p>Sorry about your cursed blondness :) But maybe you'll get a tiny boost just for geographical diversity. We can hope.</p>
<p>So I am trying to narrow it down a bit more but I am getting a top heavy list. </p>
<p>So far I have (in order of difficulty):
Vanderbilt
Boston C
UCSB
Bucknell
Boston U
Villanova
Syracuse
UCSC
U of Puget Sound
U of Iowa
Santa Clara
Loyola Marymount
Gonzaga</p>
<p>Any comments about chances? Financial aid? Writing at the schools? The schools in general?</p>
<p>Thanks :)</p>
<p>"...my parents own their own business and make a combined salary of around 65,000 a year."</p>
<p>Be sure to try to get a grip on your expected EFC. Filling out FAFSA for business owners can be disappointing. It's possible that you won't qualify for as much financial aid as you think. I'd be very concerned about the affordability for Boston College, Bucknell, Villanova. None is really known for their good financial aid packages (and all 3 are known for very poor merit aid). I'm just saying, make sure you have some similar schools that offer good merit money. (Denison for sure, Alleghany too and there are many others not on your list.)</p>
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[quote]
My grandpa and uncle have both offered to help out by giving me 10,000 a year for tuition. I am incredibly fortunate and I bet my parents could afford between10,000-15,000 a year, so I just need to find a way to pay the rest. I am willing to do student loans, work, or whatever it takes to pay for college."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>weenie, before we teased this out of surfette we were all singing the same tune; now it looks like she has $35,000 in promises, so admissions becomes the main issue.</p>
<p>I understand Maui HI is part of the WUE, and that would make you eligible for a reduced rate based on instate tuition fees rather than OOS. Google WUE for a list of schools that participate-they are west coast state colleges & univ. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Find a teacher who recently went through the college app process with their child, provided they didn't just settle for the state u without getting into the process. (I am not saying that going to the state u is bad, just that some people never get past their safety.) Find out where their children are going. Then, talk to that teacher. I mentored the student who became val whens he was just a sophomore, and she never even considered anything past the state u! I wrote one of her letters of rec, and she is at P right now. That's not to say that you should apply there, but someone who has gone through the process of selecting schools, reviewing essays, etc., could be a huge help to you and if nothing else relieve your mind about what you ARE doing. There ar emany people out there with info for you - seek them out.</p>