<p>Fordham is high on my college list. What do you think my chances of getting in are?</p>
<p>State: Louisiana
ACT: 31 (35 English, 35 Reading, 29 Math, 25 Science)
Writing: 11 (from another ACT testing in which my comp. was a 29)
Superscored ACT: 32
GPA: 3.8 unweighted at a very competitive residential high school that teaches all classes on a college-level. My school does not rank, and is good enough to have been listed as one of Newsweek's Public Elites in past years.</p>
<p>EC's:
- Founder and Editor-in-Chief of my own online technology news publication, PC</a> Fastlane- Tech News & Reviews, which has been mentioned on USA Today's website and is taken seriously enough that companies send me free products to review. I also own several other websites, which together earn thousands of dollars per year as my own business.
- 200+ volunteer hours at Katrina-affected hospital.
- Designed website for said hospital as well as local high school.
- 2-year internship with National Center for Preservation Technology Training (a government agency that is part of the National Park Service)
- #2 at State Literary Rally in Computer Science (9th grade)
- Speech & Debate President
-JCL (Junior Classical League)
- Young Democrats
-NHS
-Beta Club
-Ambassadors
-Tech Squad
-Newspaper
- Currently working on 5,000-word paper to be submitted to the Concord Review.</p>
<p>I am in an unusual predicament. My family doesn't qualify for a lot of need-based aid on paper, but due to unusual circumstances, won't be able to help me pay for college. How much merit aid, if any, do you think I could potentially get? If I raised my ACT, would I stand a chance at getting the Presidential Scholarship? Also, does being from Louisiania, a geographical minority, give me a boost in admissions?</p>
<p>Well, no one except the Fordham Admissions Department can answer the aid question. I do know that EVERY application (all 23,000 of them) that come in the door are automatically considered for merit aid. Here is my suggestion, since its so high on your list, then it behooves you to apply for non binding Early Admission and to do that the earlier the better, as the early bird gets the worm. </p>
<p>Further, I would explain your financial situation to Fordham right up front. I dont know what their policy is on declaring students to be independent from their parents, but I can imagine it becomes next to impossible if you are still claimed as a dependent on your parents tax returns. </p>
<p>You dont have to apply for financial aid, and instead can see what happens with merit aid. But all students who receive even scholarship money must provide (later on) a basic financial picture. Fordham is not needs blind in its award of scholarships either, though I dont think that it would knock you out of the picture. They try to be fair to everyone applying and being admitted to Fordham, spreading the scholarship and grant monies around as best they can. They are also reaching out to applicants from states other than the immediate tri-state region. I know of some students from far away states on VERY high scholarship. I also know of one kid from Westchester on essentially a full ride. In these cases they are brilliant kids. </p>
<p>You will have no trouble getting in, in my view, unless you blow the application somehow or convey a lack of interest. Make sure they know of your STRONG interest in attending and that can serve as a powerful motivator for admissions staff when considering merit aid as well.</p>
<p>Just the same, its always helpful to spread your risk and apply to as many colleges as possible and see what comes in and how much aid you get. </p>
<p>You won’t have a problem getting in, and I think you would get at least a Loyola Scholarship from your GPA/ACT. If your aim is to get the Presidential Scholarship, definitely comment on your financial situation. Apply EA and see what you get. If you aren’t awarded the scholarship you want, write to them again to see if they will reconsider.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice guys. I will definately apply EA. If I get my ACT up to a 33 or so, do you think I would be competitive for the Presidential Scholarship?</p>
<p>The reason for that zleela is because Fordham uses a holistic approach, not a pure numbers approach to both merit aid and financial aid. While they always want to recruit the exceptional students regardless of financial need and thus will award top scholarships to them, for the rest of the bunch who are extremely bright…like above 1400 SAT or above 30 ACT, there is a measure of need involved…and what you bring to the table…a particular skill or interest. Also, people on this site, with the exception of Mr. Peter Farrell who pops in (he is the Admissions Director) from time to time (but not very often, usually to clarify a controversial statement for example), nobody here works for Fordham and we dont have the ability or authority to speak for them. We only can report anecdotal things. The OP here has excellent credentials and I suspect will be solidly in the scholarship pool (every application that comes into Fordham is previewed for that…). But what it will be and how much, I have no idea. He (and you) can call Fordham and inquire and see what they say. I also said that applying early is critical as the early bird gets the worm. Fordham Early Admission applications are non binding so there is no penalty to do so.</p>