<p>I'm currently a junior so this is just so far and any advice for the next years is appreciated!</p>
<p>GPA 4.2 out of 4.0
APs: AP World History (5)
Currently taking AP Chem, Lang, Psychology, and US history. I'm also taking pre calc honors and yearbook as an ec. I'm expecting to do well in these classes </p>
<p>Community service:
I'm starting a hospital job this school year and continuing all school year and next.
I'm also doing a shadowing program this summer at a neuroscience clinic so add that!</p>
<p>About the scholarships, I'm from really low income, I'm African American, and first generation in college, will I get enough aid? </p>
<p>I know it's not much but I just want to know of I actually have a chance and if you guys have any advice on what I can do to improve my chances!</p>
<p>Financial Aid-Fill out the net price calculator to determine what aid you might receive if accepted.</p>
<p>You should take either ACT or SAT soon so that you can attain your desired score.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Have you taken the PSAT yet?</p>
<p>I believe Columbia meets 100 percent of demonstrated need (in terms of financial aid), so you should be fine. I am from a lower/middle class family (some places classify me as low income, some don’t) and the schools I was looking at the meet 100 percent of demonstrated need were giving people with similar household incomes around $45,000, so I don’t think paying will be an issue.</p>
<p>You are lacking in the EC department right now, it would have been stronger if you had joined earlier. Try and get some leadership roles this year. Also I agree with OP, start taking standardized testing soon, at the very least some practice tests so that you can see where you are at.</p>
<p>I don’t see how you could afford to go to Columbia without getting your parents on board with your plan (<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1393380-need-convincing.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1393380-need-convincing.html</a>).</p>
<p>All financial aid at Columbia (and the other Ivies as well) is need-based; there are no merit scholarships. But you don’t get to determine how much aid you need; Columbia does. When Columbia determines your need, they will take into account how much your family can pay for you to attend college, not how much your parents are willing to pay for you to attend college in New York. If your parents have a comfortable income, Columbia will expect them to contribute substantially to the cost of your college education. If they have also saved money for you to go to college, this will be even more true. But whatever their income or your family’s financial position may be, the aid you get from Columbia will be determined only by what your family can pay, so your race and your parents’ level of education won’t enter into it at all.</p>
<p>Columbia does have a few scholar programs with some monetary benefits (they are stipends i believe) however very very few accepted students are selected for such programs, mainly the cream of the crop. You look like you’ll be a competitive applicant based on your GPA, classes, and ethnicity (really is impossible to say without an SAT score though) but not impressive enough to be selected for the scholar programs.</p>
<p>Im pursuig a career in neurosurgery, so I was trying to keep my ECs relevant. Was that a bad idea? </p>
<p>Also in a lot of Honor Societies and in Key Club if that counts. Im also planning on running for some leadership office in National Science Honor Society. Any other EC ideas?</p>