Wow! Thank you so much for the information! What does what is a CSS Profile? I am taking my ACT in June, most likely, so I am hoping that I can score well in it. I highly plan on getting 4.0 my 11th and 12th grade years.
Well, I do not know about going to Bama for college. Is its UG physics program really good? Tbh, my college choices are based on the idea that I go to a state school for UG, and then go to an Ivy or Ivy level university in the same state, so that I do not have tp move too far away. Also, I am gay, and I really do not want to go somewhere that may be more conservative, you know?
You need to understand the application process better. Most of the schools on your list are going to be unaffordable. UCs cost an automatic $25,000 more for OOS students (on top of their original costs.) How are you planning on paying for college? Your grades are most likely not competitive enough for admissions to a top competitive college. Those are the most generous with institutional grants.
For grad school, the most important issues are going to be GPA, GRE score, UG research, courses completed, and recommendations from professors.
Gay issues are completely out of my realm of knowledge, so I have no help there.
But you need to understand that finances may completely drive your choices. They do for our kids which is why our ds is at Bama. He has multiple scholarships from them.
Well, tbh, I figured it would not be that bad to pay student loans off… I mean, I know that people say that they suck, but I don’t really think yhey could be that bad. Plus, I plan on getting a job during college, so I thought that I could use some of my income to pay off some of the cost. Have been considering doing a work-study program.
You cannot take out loans by yourself. Are your parents going to cosign (or even have the ability to) for upwards of $100,000+ in loans? Work-study might generate $7500/yr max (and that is being extremely generous.) Covering college costs in all loans is not a good plan.
I see what you are saying. Well, are there any colleges that I can pay in-state tuition for that also have good physics programs?
Actually, never mind. I signed up for a website that matches people with scholarships (I did this months ago.). I am in spring break right now, so maybe I can apply for some little scholarships, and then if I do that for the next few tears, then I can have less debt to worry about.
That is also not a good plan. Most of those scholarships are very small $$ amts and are not renewable. How will you pay for your soph, jr, and sr yrs? The best scholarships are awarded by the universities themselves. Follow the links in post #18. That is a place to start.
Look. I know what it is like to want to attend a school that is out of reach. I have 8 kids. #5 is a high school jr right now. They don’t get to attend dream schools. They have to attend affordable schools. It has not hampered my kids at all. My older kids have great careers. My sophomore at Bama loves every minute of it. The dept is incredibly supportive.
But without a shadow of a doubt, far better to attend an affordable school than stress about how you are going to pay for every semester and then drown in debt at graduation. (And you can’t do much with a BS in physics. You are going to have to attend grad school. That means even that much longer w/no real income.)
Thank you for opening my eyes. I see what you mean now. I thought it was going to be that easy, but it really will not be that simple. I will still apply for those little scholarships. They won’t help much, but that is one less textbook that I have to pay for, right? I will still apply for some of those schools on my list, but my list is not perfect. I still need to consider where I can afford to attend. Thanks for the advice and help.
Other than a few major ones (e.g. Gates), most outside scholarships are small. The biggest ones are from the schools themselves. Take a look at the links in reply #18 and http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com .
I would recommend you forget the UCs as they’re more stingy with aid. Apply to privates who “meet full need” since you qualify for financial aid.
I think you may be right. I am looking into some of the LACs right now. I would like to attend them, but sometimes of the have EXTREMELY low acceptance rates. I may as well apply to a couple of them, though, right? XD I still have 2 years of high school, so no worries.
“[some of the LACs] have EXTREMELY low acceptance rates” (#31)
Yes, they often do. But each typically accepts over 1000 students annually. There’s no reason you couldn’t be one of them.
With two more years of high school, you have 3-4 semesters (including this one) to raise your grades, and many chances to take the ACT and SAT (and the 11th grade PSAT to try for National Merit). The higher your grades and test scores, the more choices of colleges and scholarships you are likely to see.
Thanks, guys. That helps me a lot; you have no idea. Oh, and thanks for the correction. Sorry, my phone auto corrects weirdly lol.
You haven’t said what your dad’s status is. Do you have contact with him? Does he pay child support? Any idea what his income looks like? It will make a difference, as the schools that give the best need based aid will be asking these questions.
Also, you can only take $5,500 in loans freshman year, and slightly higher amounts the next three years. You need an adult co-signer for any amount above that, and in that case they are on the hook to pay back your loans if you don’t.
What loans are you talking about? If you qualify for Perkins and Federal loans, it’s at least $8500/year total.
As low income, to pay for college, you need either merit scholarships (usually based on your GPA/test scores) or to apply to schools that meet full financial need (preferably without loans).
The definition of “meeting full financial need” is a little tricky. Most schools offering this have their own institutional formula at determining your need. They usually also require submitting the CSS Profile (from College Board) in addition to the FAFSA. While the FAFSA only looks at the household income of the custodial parent, the CSS Profile typically requires income information for both parents (if divorced), and any step parents (if divorced parents are remarried).
What is surprising is some very expensive private schools can end up being very affordable, and potentially more affordable than in-state public schools. Of course most of them have very low admit rates. But many are looking for diversity (racial, economic, geographic) so that could help you if you are comfortable adding diversity to a school.
You should also look into Questbridge:
Beyond your GPA, what are your other stats? What science classes will you have completed by graduation? What will be your highest level of math completed? Do you have any test scores? Do you think your ACT score will be above 30? (Have you taken a practice test and have a ballpark idea?) Do you have any accomplishments outside of the classroom, a job, or ECs that you will include on an application?
And what is your father’s income?
Schools which provide the best need-based aid are going to be extremely competitive. They are also going to want your dad’s financial info.
The answers to those questions should impact your list and whether or not top competitive schools are a realistic goal. If they are and your father’s income is low, they could be cheaper than other options. The main objective should be to make sure you cover all your bases.
The EFC for Perkins loans varies by college, I think. He may or may not be offered them. Plus, taking out large loans for a physics degree may not be the greatest idea (I do have a sense of the job prospects, I have a physics major kid myself).