<p>I have no idea which school to apply to! I don't even know how to start looking...there are so many. And I'm completely by myself, meaning, my parents won't help me, they don't want me to go to college. Let's just say, I'm sheltered. Which also means I can't visit any campuses. l: I have a 3.2 GPA and I'm going to be a Senior in August. I live in Tennessee, but I don't have to go to a school here. I have no extracurricular activities. I want to major in Psychology, Social Working?, or Special Edu. I want a campus that I'll fit into. I don't really have a religion, so that doesn't matter. I want a place with nice, warm people with a beautiful setting. Help? ._.</p>
<p>Oh, I was emailing someone at Cornell College, but I wasn't very formal. Will that affect what they think of me?</p>
<p>The Internet is your friend. Use one of the college search sites. College Board is easy to use and you can put in all kinds of parameters for what you want, including your grades and scores. That is a great way to narrow choices, and then you can look at colleges’ Web sites. Also, you might look at some of the books available–a Barron’s or other guide to colleges. They are full of information. Another book we looked at was Colleges that Change Lives. I know that there is a thread on here about that book, but it brings up some good points to get you started in the search. </p>
<p>Once you narrow your choices, you can find all kinds of info on this site. Good luck. Have fun.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Figure out what you will be able to afford. If your parents don’t want you to go to college, I’m assuming they won’t help out much if at all with the cost. If possible, you need to figure out what your “EFC” is (Expected Family Contribution). That is how much colleges will expect your family to pay. Even if your parents refuse to put up a penny, colleges mostly stick to that number and expect that amount to come from them. It can be pretty difficult if they could pay, but won’t. There are online calculators to help.</p></li>
<li><p>Do you have a guidance counselor at your high school? Go see them. They might have some books you could look at. You can compare your test scores to the ranges of the colleges in the books to see if you might be a good candidate. If you need scholarship money, look for colleges where your scores are above the 75% mark. If you haven’t taken the SAT yet, you need to do that for many 4 year schools (or the ACT). If you don’t have a guidance counselor, you might ask a trusted teacher for advice, too.</p></li>
<li><p>Cornell is not warm. And, unfortunately, not a very likely destination with a 3.2 GPA.</p></li>
<li><p>A lot of students with financial constraints spend 2 years at a community college, then transfer to a 4 year college. Generally it is easiest to transfer to in-state public 4 year colleges. You mentioned that you want to leave Tennessee. Do you have a relative in another state where you could live and go to CC and work part time for two years? Then maybe transfer to their state 4 year college? You will incur a lot less debt by going this route if finances are an issue.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Your GPA is a little low for Cornell College, but not impossible. Do you have SAT or ACT scores? Have you thought about how big a college you would like? Do you think you’d prefer urban, suburban or rural? Do you want to join a sorority? Do you want a school with sports (either to play or to watch)? You could look at some local colleges and see what things appeal to you and use that as a way of making some decisions about what kind of a college to look for. If you are thinking special ed, you may want a college with an education degree.</p>
<p>My son is attending Auburn University in the fall which is relatively close to Tennessee. The campus is great and both the people and weather are warm; get on their website and see for yourself. I’ve read that students that go to community colleges have a very low rate of actually moving on to 4 year schools, but if you’ve got the drive and motivation, it’s a much cheaper option. If you do end up liking Auburn, there’s a junior college ten minutes away that prepares students fairly well for the university. Good luck.</p>
<p>With no extra curriculars you’ll want to focus on colleges that are only going to be looking at the numbers: GPA, SAT/ACT score, things like that. So that will mean for the most part larger public universities. </p>
<p>One thing you need to focus on is what you want out of this process. Do you want big city/small town, do you like an environment where the school is really into sports, would you ever consider joining a sorority? What can you afford? How far from Tennessee are you comfortable going? Once you start answering these questions, that can help a lot.</p>
<p>If you are financially and geographically constrained, do not dismiss your state U’s, or living at home and commuting or some other practical combination. And if so, please don’t place too big a deal on “fit”. </p>
<p>The reason I say this is American students make this into being a giant deal, fit is the end-all/be-all and yet like a lot of things, fit can be found in a ton of places and is more illusion than reality. another symptom of the giant industry called higher education that spends inordinate amounts on advertising propoganda. In large school environments, you can ‘find your people’ and there is a fit for everyone, including often a small school within a large school. </p>
<p>In Canada and much of Europe, students go to their local large university, most do not live in campus, and most get a great, inexpensive education and have the time of their lives. If you look at NSSE ratings for example, students at Canadian publics are just as satisfied as most American students who spend gigantic energy on finding THE school. Turns out- thankfully- most students end up quite satisfied and happy at the school they go to, regardless. </p>
<p>I’m not dismissing the issue of fit, if you can manage it. I think finding such a school, enjoying the dorm life and all is wonderful. But I am saying that given your circumstances, if you aren’t able to do the ‘find and go to the dream school’ route because it’s not practical, don’t get discouraged. You probably are not missing out as you might imagine you are, and you will have a fantastic time just the same.</p>
<p>You need to focus on the money - find out what your parents are willing to do; will they file FAFSA? Will they contribute financially to your education and, if so, how much?</p>
<p>There is a relatively new book “Crossing the Finish Line” that addresses the low graduation rate of community college students. Try to keep all immediately accessible in state options open until you have your financial aid offers in hand. Not overlooking out of state options - your lowest cost is often close to home, particularly with your gpa.</p>
<p>Find out why your parents don’t want you to go to college and do the work it takes to persuade them that this is something you can and want to do that is in your best interest. Your life will be easier if your parents get behind your plans financially and emotionally.</p>
<p>I think “fit” should be a deciding factor, assuming you have the resources to make that decision. I don’t think it is illusion at all. My kid would not be doing as well at Big State U, that is just how she is wired. She does better at her small LAC. That being said, could she get a good education at her “non-fit” big state U? Of course, but in the end I want her four years to be a happy experience, not just something she does as a means to an end. Just her experience, she was applying through Questbridge 2 years ago, and had her schools “ranked” according to preference. The submission date for QB was to be while she was on a visit to an LAC that was ranked #3 on her list. By the end of the first day there, she called to tell me to switch her rankings to place her LAC at #1, that she knew that this is where she belonged. After 2 years, her feelings are even stronger, she says if she could stay there forever she would be happy. That is why “fit” matters.</p>
<p>For many kids, finding the perfect fit isn’t affordable. For those with the stats and who are selected for Questbridge, they’re in a different situation. Most don’t have that option. </p>
<p>It’s better to go to a school that is affordable and may not be the perfect fit, then not go to college at all (because of funds) or to end up with massive debt.</p>
<p>many kids survive high schools that aren’t the perfect fit. Only a small number of parents pay for the perfect fit for high school.</p>
<p>Unless this student has high stats or gets accepted into Questbridge, money will be the major deciding factor.</p>
<p>I think if your school has Guidance Counselors, step one would be to talk to yours. He/she can get you pointed in a direction and walk you thru the steps: SAT test, researching colleges, applying, finding scholarships and Financial Aid, etc. </p>
<p>You said your parents don’t want you to go to college - do you mean they don’t want you to attend college at all, or that they don’t want you to go AWAY to college? There’s a difference there. I think most of the other parents who are posting here assume you mean your parents don’t want you to go away… but if they don’t want you to attend college classes at all that’s an even bigger obstacle to deal with.</p>
<p>Thank you for your replies.
And, I don’t really care what type of setting,the size, or climate, it’s in. I just retook my ACT so I’m, not sure of scores just yet.
And to the last poster, uh pretty much both lol. Like I ask them about it and they say they are ‘just kidding’ but then they start up again and try to make me feel guilty for wanting to go…
So yeah, pretty much all I’m looking for is somewhere with nice people, someplace that will accept my scores, and one I could afford on my own with the help of financial aid. Do they offer financial aid for people with a 3.2 GPA?</p>
<p>Very true regarding QB. I think the question of fit is what I was trying to convey, whether it be QB school #1 vs. QB school #2, or Flagship A or southnorth state U. There is always something about a particular school that will grab the attention of a student. In D’s case, she had ranked Yale, Princeton, Amherst, and after day 1 had me change and submit Amherst #1. </p>
<p>Taking finances out of the picture, “fit” is IMO the deciding factor.</p>
<p>There are two types of aid: merit aid, and financial aid.</p>
<p>Merit aid is given to students that colleges want to attract for a particular reason - a high gpa, a particular talent, etc. They can be athletic or academic, etc.</p>
<p>Financial aid is given based on financial need. If you’ve been admitted, your gpa probably won’t make a huge difference in the financial aid you receive. It will be based on what the college thinks your family can afford (it’s difficult, but not impossible, to get yourself separated from your parents’ income for purposes of financial aid eligibility, even if they have vowed not to pay a penny for your college education). Also, not all colleges can afford to meet all of your “need.”</p>
