<p>My first choice is UCSB, and USD or SDSU are my backups, depending on how much scholarship money I can get. Can anybody tell me my chances of getting into the schools, and if I get in how easy it will be to get financial aid? Keep in mind, I live in Nevada currently, so these schools are out of state. Thank you.</p>
<p>SAT (Still debating which one to send in):
1st Test
Reading: 490
Math: 620
Writing: 600</p>
<p>2nd Test
Reading: 570
Math: 590
Writing: 560</p>
<p>ACT: 27 composite</p>
<p>GPA: 4.13</p>
<p>Class Rank: 26/342</p>
<p>Extra Curricular/Activities:
- 4 years high school D-1 football, started all four years.
- NJHS (30 total community service hours)
- NHS (30 total community service hours)
- Block D Letterman's Club (60 total community/school service hours)
- Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (40 total community/church service hours)
- Independently played guitar for about 11 years</p>
<p>Awards/Honors
- Football Nevada All-State Academic Team (2012-2013)
- Academic Excellence 4.0 GPA (2011)
- Academic Excellence in Mathematics (2011)
- National Honor Society Certificate of Membership (2012)
- Perfect Attendance (March 22, 2013)
- Honor Roll (June 13, 2011)</p>
<p>Your test scores are low for UCSB and even a bit low for SDSU as it has become more selective. You will get little if any FA from either as you are OOS. Heck they just don’t give out much money to anyone. You might have a better chance for FA at USD since it is private. You have a shot at admission there but your test scores are still on the low side. Can you retake in Dec.?</p>
I wasn’t necessarily planning on it, and if I wanted to I will have to apply by tomorrow. I think after taking the test twice, and getting relatively the same scores, I don’t think it will be worth the money to take a third.</p>
<p>Really try to get your SAT scores up, maybe try applying to a few test optional schools? Also keep your mind open and do a lot of research, there are plenty of schools out there.</p>
<p>OOS means no aid beyond federal entitlements for UC and CSU. It is too bad you didn’t spend some concentrated effort on your test scores, given you aimed at Stanford. They are so lopsided with your gpa. I’m not sure anyone with your SAT’s was admitted last round. I take it you aren’t being recruited. I think 83% had ACT of 30+.</p>
<p>Yeah, I have realized this. Stanford is definitely a major reach, so I’m simply applying in hopes that my GPA and a solid app can let me squeeze in. It is very unfortunate that I got the low test grades that I did, because I don’t believe they properly reflect my academic level. But oh well, I’ll do with what I got.</p>
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<p>I have made a separate thread for this purpose. I realize that I am limiting myself, but I have relatively high standards. I suppose I am not very aware of colleges that would work for me, but again I am a bit picky on the environment and social scene of schools too. My goal is to get into the best possible school that I can in Southern California, while also being able to enjoy a large student population and social scene. UCSB is my main goal (but will put a massive financial burden on me, so that will be a big consideration whenever I decide), SDSU is my second choice, and USD is my fallback simply because financially it will probably work best, and I have some family that attended and currently attends. If you have any other suggestions or input, please let me know. This whole situation is starting to slightly stress me out, because I don’t want to dig myself into a hole where I either don’t get accepted to my schools or can’t afford them.</p>
<p>The UC’s are going to he $50,000+ For OOS so you might want to look at other options. Cal States will be less, but still no FA. if you want So. Cal., you might look at Cal State San Marcos which is a little north and inland to SDSU but still near the beach. Maybe CS Long Beach also? You might also consider Santa Barbara City College which would enable you to feed into UCSB. It is a beautiful campus right across from the beach. As long as you do OK it would be easy to transfer and might make itore feasible economically.</p>
<p>Yeah, I am aware that UCSB will be $50k. When it comes down to it, I am simply going to have to decide what kind of financial situation I want to risk putting myself in. UCSB is literally my dream school, but the real decision comes when I have to decide if it is worth it. SDSU will be a bit more manageable, and I will most likely be willing to just get loans for whatever price that may be. But again, I want nothing more than to attend UCSB. It’s just unfortunate that I am OOS. </p>
<p>SBCC has definitely been something I have considered, and to be honest I’m not sure why I don’t consider it more highly. I guess it’s a pride thing. I have worked so hard in high school to attend a university, so why attend a CC and essentially put all of that work to waste? That might be a poor mindset, and I realize that, but it is just something I can’t avoid.</p>
<p>But you cannot ‘just get loans.’ You are only eligible on your own for these amts over your 4 years: 5,500-6,500-7,500-7,500. No one will lend you more than that. It would have to be borrowed by your parents. Or cosigned. And then you are getting into too much debt. As soon as you have trouble making a payment and having to be able to make the payment on a fresh out of school salary, they are coming after your parents. Your parents would be fools. How much are they going to contribute per year?</p>
<p>How in any way is a CC transfer and graduate from UCSB a waste? When it saves you $80,000? Have you no sense of proportion?</p>
<p>Have you ever analyzed your practice tests to see what the problem is? Did you ever read the Xiggi test prep tips in the SAT-Prep forum? It is going to raise huge flags at many colleges, maybe just not the state ones. Is your HS known for grade inflation? What have you scored on AP’s or SAT II’s? </p>
<p>If you are more open minded you’ll have more options, even with scores as now. You do qualify for some automatic merit aid, but I suppose it won’t be good enough for you. Maybe if you posted a College Search & Selection and talked about your picky criteria some people can help.</p>