Okay, guys here is my situation… I am getting ready to graduate with a 4.04 GPA and a 1370 new SAT score (I know it is not as high as some people on here, but I think it is decent, right?). In those years I have been a member of a program called Saturday Scholars (prestigious in my school), I have been a member of NHS, and I have won my current school’s “best business student” award (I plan to study business in college) among other things. I certainly am not the best student ever, but I think this proves I at least am a student who is worthy of going to college.
Okay, that is the simple part, so time to move on. In the past four years I have attended four different high schools (military parent), and I have received very mixed information. Long story short, nobody explained to me the process of applying for colleges, the time in which one needs to do that process, or even that I had to do to take the SAT or ACT (I just did the SAT a month ago actually). I know it sounds like I am blaming others, but I know the blame solely is on me. This situation is my fault, and I need to dig myself out of it alone. That being said, it would be nice if you guys helped a little. So my question is, what do I do? I currently have all the stuff I need to apply for colleges now (including FAFSA), but I am in the second semester of my senior year and I missed most of the deadlines. What would you do in my situation?
Also, (bonus question) what should I do if I fall short of a school’s “Coursework Requirements?” I recently found out some colleges require four years of math and I only will have three. I do not want to sound like I am blaming others, but I was never told certain schools require certain things (I thought a high school diploma was kind of like a pass for everything). I was told I needed three years of math to graduate and just assumed it was all I needed because surely someone would tell me if it was necessary for certain colleges, right? Wrong. How can I work around this, or maybe find a way to solve this issue.
Thanks, this is my first post, so please excuse any errors and sorry for the wall of text. Anything helps, have a great day!
You have the option of taking a gap year, and applying during that period. If you really want to go to college next year, look at ones with rolling admissions.
You’ll want to search for schools with ‘rolling’ admission dates.
The list you’re thinking about is the NACAC list.
They publish schools with available spots after May 1st, usually on the 6th or 7th.
In the meanwhile, keep doing your research to figure out which schools you’d like to attend. If you’re considering business, check into which schools have programs that you feel an affinity for and check their admission policies. Depending on what you’re looking for, you may want, as someone mentioned above, to take a gap year.
Google universities and colleges with rolling admission and ones with late application deadlines. There are some that will still accept applications. For example, Clemson’s deadline is May 1. You can also check out that NACAC list.
Alternatively, you could take a gap year or go to community college for a year. I like to recommend work in the national parks for a gap year. You get paid. Many provide subsidized housing and sometimes food. You get to spend time in a beautiful place. Good luck!
Taking a gap year is a good idea. If you do that, please get teachers lined up to write your recommendations before you leave high school. You usually need two recs, plus a rec from the counselor who provides school info. Sit down with your counselor and discuss everything you need to do so that if you apply,next year, it’s all ready to go. Then do something productive with your gap year. Don’t just sit back and relax. Keep up with activities, a job, etc…
The math issue may well be a barrier to enrolling in college this fall. Discuss with your counselor. If you really want to go to college this fall, look at colleges with rolling admissions, or wait for the NACAC list in May, which will be linked on this website. And have your counselor write in his or her rec that you have a military parent and have been to four high schools. I am a little surprised your counselor hasn’t had you in for a meeting already, but you have to be proactive and advocate for yourself. The counselor can help you figure out how to address the math issue. Perhaps you can be accepted and complete a math requirment once enrolled. Or do it online, or at a local community college.
Post in the college search and selection forum. There are plenty of people who might be able to give you suggestions for suitable colleges. Sit down with your parents, who it seems aren’t super clued up about college, and explain that you need to understand the financial situstion before you apply. How much can they afford per year? That is going to dictate much. Depending on their answer, you may well need to take a gap year and apply for colleges where you can get merit aid. I suspect that you might be able to get a much better score if you retake the SAT, whihc could help you get some good merit scholarships. Too late for that during this cycle though.
There are some really great pinned threads on various forums here. Start looking through them so you can out the whole process together. It’s quite complicated, and hopefully your paretns can help you too. Good luck, and feel free to come here and post questions.
P.S. Going to CC this fall will actually be a really easy way to get right inot college and skip some of the hassle of recs, etc… Plus you can take the needed math class easily. You can alos so a summer math course at CC.
How much can your parents pay per year without borrowing? I’d consider taking a gap year and applying in the fall. Don’t take any college courses after you graduate from high school or you may be considered a transfer student. The best aid goes to freshmen.
What state are you in? Go to the website of one of your state’s public universities and run their Net Price Calculator to get an estimate of what it might cost. Also run the FAFSA4caster to see if you’re eligible for a federal Pell grant. If your family income is under ~$60k you may get a small grant. If it’s ~$40k or under you could get a grant of up to ~$5k/year. If you file the FAFSA, you can take the federal student loan (~$5500/year).
Let us know your budget and unweighted GPA. We can try to help you find something.
Okay, @college_query as far as in-state goes, I do not know. My family is military and moving in a few months, so I have no Idea what my “in-state” will be. That being said, I currently live in Illinois. Personally, in-state does not matter much to me.
My dad is giving me his GI bill, so my financial situation is depends on which schools have a yellow ribbon program.
Finally, I have no geographic preferences. I have lived virtually everywhere and can adapt easily to almost anything.
I have two options. I could attend a cheap college or I could use my dad’s GI Bill as far as cost goes.
I live in Illinois, but I am in ineligible for low income aid. Also, I will not live here once the school year is over (unless I attend college here). I should also add that I am currently a Texas resident, but I probably will not be in a few months when I move.
My budget is either free with GI Bill or as cheap as possible. My unweighted GPA is 3.99, I have taken honors classes, but very few. It is difficult getting in to honors when you attend a different school every year.
From what I seem to understand these are my options…
I could take a gap year, get my letters of recommendation early, attended community college/online courses during that year, hold a job of some kind, improve my SAT score (I know I could if I had the time), and apply this fall for the 2018 - 2019 year.
Or I could apply for a college that is still taking admissions like Clemson. By the way, is Clemson’s business school good?
Thank you all very much! If you have an other ideas let me know, have a great day!
I think you must first find out a little more precisely what your parents can afford. At this point, frankly, you will have “slim pickings”. But, on the up side, the NACAC list will have some good schools that still have spots available. Money will be an issue, it sounds like. With a good GPA and an improved SAT score, your choices will be a LOT better if you wait until next fall. But if merit scholarships aren’t going to be enough (I would say $20,000 a year is a typical “good” merit award) you might have to stay in state. I suspect the military will be able to help you somehow. There must be provisions for kids in your situation, but I don’t have my idea about that, sorry to say.
In your position, I would wait a year. You will have time to improve your SAT, and do some productive things that will boost your app. You will have much more time, obviously, to do some research and figure out where you would like to go to college. You will also have a nice break from school work and studying. You can earn some money for college. Gap year is a smart choice for you, but please do make an appointment with your school counselor.
Okay. Let’s start with the colleges that participate in the [Yellow Ribbon program.](Yellow Ribbon Program Information 2016-2017 - Education and Training) Start looking in whatever state you might have residency in. If you start as a state resident, they may let you keep that status even if your family moves.
If I understand correctly, the colleges that participate make up the difference between the part of tuition the GI bill will cover and the actual tuition. So if tuition was $24k/year and the GI Bill covered $15k, the Yellow Ribbon Program would cover the other $9k. Please ask your dad if that sounds right.
How much can your parents pay per year? If the GI Bill & YRP cover tuition, you’ll still need money for room and board, travel expenses, books, and spending money. That’s probably ~$15k/year. You can borrow ~$5500/year. Can your parents pay the rest?
Ask your guidance counselor to address whatever courses you may be lacking. It seems to be due to frequent moves and school recommendations. Colleges may cut you some slack for that.
Don’t necessarily sign up for a community college during a gap year (if you decide to take one.) Many more merit scholarships from schools are awarded to freshmen than to transfer students, which is what you would be if you attend CC.
Regarding the math, take a deep breath. My D15 was also a year short of her dream school’s requirement – long story – so we contacted them. Everything else in her application was in great shape, so they let us know that she could be admitted and “make up” the extra class once she was enrolled. Once you narrow down your choices, call each admissions office and check. They might even waive the requirement, given your frequent moves.
Yup, you may be considered a transfer student if you take ANY courses at a community college during a gap year. Many colleges only accept junior transfers or accept very few transfer students, so you could be severely limiting your options by taking CC courses unless you stay for a full 2 years and complete required courses/units to qualify as a junior transfer. Merit money can also be more limited for transfers, but admission standards are often more relaxed for junior transfers…
Lots to think about, but I would fully explore all of your options before making a decision. Given how much you’ve moved and still managed to do well, I don’t doubt you could adapt anywhere and do well, but this may be the first time in your life where you get to decide where you’d prefer to live and continue your education. Take advantage of the opportunity and make the most of it. You’ve probably lived enough places that you have an idea of what kind of climate you prefer if you could choose. Are you most comfortable in an urban, suburban or rural environment? Also, some colleges have a few thousand students while others have 20K to 30K. What atmosphere do you think would best fit you? Smaller fish in a bigger pond, or bigger fish in a smaller pond?
If you can give people a better idea of your preferences, I think there are a lot of people here who could give you further suggestions of specific colleges to consider that would be good for your intended major and career aspirations, but right now I think you need to decide on whether to take a full gap year and apply as a freshman the following year, or go straight into CC with the expectation you’ll be there 2 years until you qualify as a junior transfer. As @Lindagaf said, your options for 4 year colleges and merit money for this coming fall would be slim pickings at this point.
The problem with a gap year is that you sacrifice a year of working at a professional salary in exchange for a year of working fast food. If you can go to college in the fall you really should aim for that.
Truman State University is an honors liberal arts college in Missouri that will likely accept you for the fall right now. I believe they offer business. They are one of the cheaper options.
Another option is to extend your high school graduation by a year (if this option is available in your “new” state of residence) and take dual enrollment classes you final year while meeting your 4-year high school Math requirement. I see this done by many high school students, What state will you be moving to next?
Doing dual enrollment will allow you the opportunity to amass a large number of college credits without impacting your freshman status come Fall 2018. So, technically, you start as a college sophomore for Fall 2018, something you wouldn’t be able to do during your gap year and gives you the option of increasing your SAT/ACT scores.