Chances for southeastern schools (UGA, Emory, Tulane, Vanderbilt)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Disclaimer: My post is extremely long. I apologize in advance, but I believe all the information is relevant to my questions. </p>

<p>Since they insist I could get a full ride, my parents are giving me no money for my college education, despite the fact they make 150k/year (what? EFC=like 50k? yay! no financial aid for me!) so I have to get a full ride. I realize a full ride from most of these is probably wishful thinking; don't be afraid to be harsh. Although I might be able to gauge what schools I can get into myself, I really have not a clue how to gauge whether or not I am competitive for the Foundation Fellows at UGA, Emory Scholars, Dean's Honor at Tulane, JEO Scholars at Oglethorpe, etc. Any help is appreciated! Also, I wouldn't mind knowing my chances for Honors programs at any of these schools, if anyone has specific knowledge of those.</p>

<p>Also, I am willing to take any advice for where else I should apply that I might receive a full ride to (I don't mind if they're not southeastern schools!), how else I could deal with my lack of college funding, and any suggestions for improving my chances.</p>

<p>It is also worth noting that since I am a GA resident, I qualify for the HOPE scholarship (full tuition at GA public schools, $3k/year at GA private schools) and the GA Tuition Equalization Grant ($1k/year at private schools in GA) If worse comes to worse, I suppose I might be able to go to UGA and commute there for class while living at home to avoid the cost of room & board (I live about an hour away).</p>

<p>So, what are my chances, College Confidential?</p>

<p>Applying to:
Mercer University (EA)
Oglethorpe University (EA)
University of Georgia (EA)
Furman University (EA)
Tulane University (EA)
Rhodes College (EA)
Emory University
Vanderbilt University</p>

<p>White male
Georgia resident
High school: North Hall High School - Public, average
Intended major: English & Theatre</p>

<p>GPA: 3.92 (weighted); 4.38 (weighted)
Class rank: 11 out of 198; Top 6%
SAT: 1940
- Reading: 670
- Math: 610
- Writing: 660
Expected June SAT results: ~2100
<a href="Note:%20will%20be%20taking%20SATII's%20in%20Literature,%20Mathematics%20Lv.%202,%20French,%20U.S.%20History,%20and%20World%20History">size=-2</a>[/size]
ACT: 31
- English: 32
- Math: 31
- Reading: 31
- Science: 30
Expected June ACT results: 33 or 34
<a href="Note:%20will%20be%20retaking%20the%20ACT%20several%20times">size=-2</a>[/size]
AP:
- U.S. History: 3
- Language: 4 or 5 (expected)
- Government: 3 or 4 (expected)
<a href="Note:%20these%20are%20all%20the%20AP%20courses%20my%20school%20has%20offered%20me%20thus%20far.%20Will%20be%20taking%206%20more%20next%20year">size=-2</a>[/size]
PSAT: 202-208 (I don't recall exactly); National Merit Commended</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities
National Art Honors Society
- 3 Years; Sophomore, Junior, & Senior
- Vice-President</p>

<p>International Thespian Society <a href="Drama%20Club">i</a>*
- 2 Years; Junior & Senior
- Historian/Librarian
- Involved in 5 productions Junior year:
[ul][li]Once Upon a Mattress: Ensemble[/li][li]How to Eat like a Child: Ensemble[/li][li]The Curious Savage: Backstage Technical Work[/li][li]Fools: Sheep[/li][li]Oliver!: Noah Claypole[/ul][/li] - Will be involved in 6 more productions Senior year, one of which I will be directing.
- Awards: Spotlight Award, 2007-08</p>

<p>Improvisational Theatre Troupe
- 2 Years; Junior & Senior
- Co-Leader
- Student-Run, concieved last year
- Performed 3 shows Junior year; will be performing 3 more Senior year
- Personally integrating Clowning & Physical Comedy during Senior year</p>

<p>Debate Team/Student Congress
- 2 Years; Junior & Senior
- Concieved last year
- Awards: 2nd place in Dramatic Interpretation, Gainesville High School Forensic Tournament, 2008</p>

<p>Interact <a href="Service%20Club">i</a>*
- 2 years; Freshmen & Sophomore
- Unfortunately lost sponsor after Sophomore year
- Nominated to attend Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership seminar by club. <a href="See:" title="Summer Activities">i</a>*</p>

<p>Yearbook
- 1 Year; Sophomore
- Photographer</p>

<p>Summer Activities
Community Theatre
- Junior-Senior summer
- Annie: Ensemble</p>

<p>Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Seminar <a href="%22HOBY%22">i</a>*
- Junior-Senior summer</p>

<p>Work Experience
- Local Pediatrics office
- Sophomore-Junior & Junior-Senior summers</p>

<p>Schedule <a href="%22Most%20Rigorous%22">i</a>*
Freshmen Year
- Computer Applications: 89
- Drafting: 92
- Writer's Workshop: 97
- Health/PE: 97
- Honors World Literature: 93
- Honors Algebra II: 88
- Honors Biology: 98
- Honors World History: 96</p>

<p>Sophomore Year
- Yearbook: 92
- Beginner Art: 96
- French I: 96
- French II: 97
- Honors American Literature: 95
- Honors Euclidean Geometry: 95
- Honors Physical Science: 95
- AP US History: 97</p>

<p>Junior Year
- Advanced Theatre: 100
- Advanced Theatre: 100
- Advanced Art: 96
- Honors French III: 91
- AP Language: 100
- Honors Precalculus: 92
- Honors Chemistry: 95
- AP Government: 96</p>

<p>Senior Year
- Advanced Theatre
- Advanced Theatre
- AP Art
- AP French
- AP Literature
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Biology
- AP Microeconomics</p>

<p>I also have a few specific questions:
[ul][<em>]My freshmen year, i took some useless courses because I didn't realize i could double up on core courses and I didn't get into any fine arts or foreign language courses, Computer Applications and Drafting. Will this hurt me at all?
[</em>]I will have taken a total of 7 fine arts courses. Will colleges think that this is because I take advantage of the supposed ease of fine arts and slack? (I strongly disagree with this opinion as my fine arts courses have taught me far more than any of my other classes, except perhaps mathematics courses. Visual art has opened so many outlets for creative thought with me, and I truly believe this is infectious and creates a far more intellectually-stimulating personal environment for my academic courses. (Note grades before I had taken any fine arts classes, and after. Generally low A's, high B's before, mostly mid to high A's after.) Theatre has opened me up to one of the most passionate and diverse parts of my life, and helped me realize how much I loved literary analysis and my dream career: a college literature professor. Also, the theatre program at my school is full of anything but slacking. Last semester, I spent literally nearly everyday after school for at least 2 hours (if not more, as much as 9 hours on a few nights!) in the theatre, and almost that much for the semester before that.)
[<em>]Should I even bother to list Yearbook as an extracurricular activity, as I was only involved in it for one year? Despite its brevity, I learned a lot about the practical end photography and this helped me greatly in Visual Art. Also, about 1/4 to 1/2 of the photos in the yearbook for that year were taken by me.
[</em>]Is Interact worth mentioning? It was the club that nominated me to go to the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Seminar, which had a profound impact on me, personally.
[<em>]Will colleges look down on the fact that I seem to have started many of my most focused extracurriculars late in the game? (I know I do personally. One of my biggest regrets is that I did not find my love for theatrical and visual art sooner.)
[</em>]In my application to Oglethorpe University, should I include the fact that the HOBY seminar I attended was held on Oglethorpe's campus?[/ul]</p>

<p>Once again, I apologize my most for being so annoyingly long-winded; I just have a lot I want to know. Any help or even just reading through the post without a response is greatly appreciated!</p>

2

<p>Very impressive work. If you live in GA you'd be crazy not to take advantage of the very good tuition aid for GA residents. UGA or Ga Tech are great schools. I know it's not glamourous staying in-state but IMO it's the best deal going for you. Good luck</p>

3

<p>just to warn you, new orleans is pretty dangerous and not the city it used to be...or so I have heard from my cousins over there</p>

4

<p>PS you cant commute 1 hr to class. Parents - give me a break. You have a great kid here. Help out with 6k for room and board for god's sake.</p>

5

<p>Thank you george and lilian!</p>

<p>Yeah, UGA is looking good, especially the Honors program. The problem is that even though I can easily get money for the tuition fees with HOPE, the room & board would be extremely difficult to pay for with scholarship money, as I'd have to get Foundation Fellows, and I don't know how qualified I am for that.</p>

<p>GA Tech would be a wonderful place to go if I were going to major in math or science, but unfortunately I'm more intrested in humanities and the arts.</p>

<p>I have heard the same about New Orleans, but I've also heard Tulane is in the better part of town. I think I'm going to try and visit their campus sometime next year.</p>

6

<p>Being at Tulane is just like being at any other big city college. It is very important not to wander into downtown at 3 am.</p>

7

<p>in at all,</p>

8

<p>In (maybe?) but not academically strong enough for the kind of merit scholarships you are looking for at some some of them.</p>

9

<p>I would predict that you get in at all (Emory or Vandy might not let you in if you don't get that projected SAT though)</p>

10

<p>Yea, it's not so much the Accepted/Rejected part I'm so worried about as the merit-based finanical support, because in my situation, Accepted means nothing if there's no Scholarship money to go along with it.</p>

11

<p>Honestly I think the only one you will get aid at is UGA. I know this might sound strange, but when I attended a Harvard applicants meeting (for my sister) they said that Harvard will consider you for aid (and pretty much ignore your EFC) if your parents absolutely refuse to contribute to your college education (I'm pretty sure that it isn't this simple, but they sounded pretty understanding). Anyway, you could consider applying there. Also, I have heard that the finaid offices at the University of Dallas will pretty much give you a full ride if you have awesome academics. If you are thinking pre-med, apply to Wayne State's MedStart program (they will give you a merit based scholarship that is pretty enormous, and guarantee your admission to their med school :)
See here: Honors</a> - MedStart</p>

12

<p>Do you mean UGA aid outside of HOPE? Or do you mean HOPE by the aid UGA will give me?</p>

<p>That's kind of disheartening. I thought I was pretty well-qualified for some decent scholarships with Oglethorpe and Mercer on top of HOPE & the GTEG.</p>

<p>You really think I should expect an acceptance from Harvard to even get to the point to financial aid?</p>

<p>Thanks for the information about U Dallas and the pre-med program!</p>

13

<p>Sorry, what I meant was that UGA would probably give you some merit on top of the HOPE, and I wasn't referring to either Oglethorpe or Mercer (you are well-qualified for some great scholarships there).
And I think you have a shot at Harvard. Harvard is a crap-shoot, yes, but you still have a shot.
And you're welcome :)</p>

14

<p>Well, that's a little eye-opening. I hadn't imagine Ivies as a possibility; I didn't think I could go under normal financial circumstances, much less my current ones.</p>

<p>smart, you stated that my current SAT score might be a problem at Emory and Vanderbilt. If I fall short of my projection (which I'm not to worried about, bu, you never know), would it be advantageous at all to submit solely my ACT score and forget about submitting my SAT score?</p>

<p>I don't have an ACT essay score yet (nor do I have any idea how I might do on an ACT essay), however, that is to be rectified on Wednesday.</p>

15

<p>Hmm....If you do get a 33 or a 34 on the ACT, and fall short of 2100 on the SAT, then yes it would be advantageous to submit only your ACT score :)</p>

16

<p>Thank you, smart! You have been far more helpful than you know.</p>

<p>Would anyone happen to have any kind of answer to the questions posed at the end of the original post?</p>

<p>Again, thanks to all for the help!</p>

17

<p>Look at Momoftexas thread for full ride colleges if you want to go away for school. You can give some of the smaller schools like Mercer a try for a full scholarship, but getting one of those is very difficult. Make sure you find out how many full ride merit awards they give out and what the typical student who gets one has in terms of profile. As a rule, getting a generous merit award from a school means being one of a handful of their top students both test and gpa wise.</p>

18

<p>Thank you cpt! I have done a bit of research on the merit scholarships of Oglethorpe, and basically what I found told me last year 10-20 applicants to Oglethorpe had ACT scores around mine or higher, and 5 applicants (not necessarily of those 10-20, though I imagine they would be) were awarded the James E. Oglethorpe scholarship (Full tuition). I think no more than 100 students also received merit-based awards for something like 60% of their tuition. I am fairly certain my numbers are correct, although there is always the chance that I am wrong. I suppose I will be doing some research of Mercer's scholarships as well, then!</p>

<p>It just scares me that I would be going to a school where only 10-20 applicants were, according to the ACT, "of my caliber," I suppose (although I absolutely abhor the weight given to standardized tests. I feel there are so few forms of intelligence that can be recognized by the choices A, B, C, D, or E. And even if I were to get a 36 on the ACT, this by no means qualifies my intelligence.). And a lot of me hates that fear and feels like an absolute snob and a hypocrite for it, but I have always sought after the most challenging academic opportunities I can find.</p>

19

<p>Anyone who knows anything about the UGA Honors program, what kind of chances do I have to get in?</p>

<p>Thank you for your time & responses!</p>

20

<p>The Univeristy of Alabama has an excellent honors program and the only requirement is a min. 28 ACT then maintain a 3.5 GPA to stay in. With your qualifications they would be lucky to get you. To get a full ride there you need a 3.7 GPA and 32 ACT- I think that even includes at stipend and a laptop. Check out the website ua.edu and look under scholarships. Honors students get priority registration and excellent housing accomodations. Good luck!</p>