Chances to slightly selective colleges?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I’m sorry that is so long, if you read through some or all of this, thank you and I really appreciate your time. I would also appreciate your opinion on my chances at schools such as RPI, Tufts, Boston Uni, and at schools with a high, but not too high of a selectivity rating despite not having many opportunities and extreme need for financial assistance.

For background, I am currently a junior at a rural and very poor school in New York with a total K-12 enrollment of less than 800 students. Since enrollment is so low, they are only able to offer two AP classes (US History and English Literature and Composition) and only a handful of college level courses. I come from a very poor family with an income of less than $10,000 a year and I have very little means to take summer programs at a “local” community colleges let alone larger universities since they are a long distance away and we probably couldn’t afford it anyways. I believe I will be considered a first-generation college student, though I have to ask my counselor later to be sure.

Intended Major: Astrophysics/Physics or another STEM major

GPA:
Cumulative Average 8th-10th: 98.375UW/98.926W
Junior Year so far: 99.000UW/102.390W

Courseload:
Physics is only offered at my school at the regents level and only to seniors

My freshman and sophomore years are highly underwhelming since my school doesn’t offer college level or AP classes until you’re a junior, however I did take the honors version of every class they offered it in and I took the year above’s math course. This year I’m taking both of the AP classes as well as Spanish IV and Precalculus through NCCC and taking US History through GCC (it’s dual AP/college). Every other class I’m taking is only offered at regents level if applicable. I’ve also taken band since 4th grade and am taking choir this year and took it half of last year. Next year I plan to take college-level Calculus, Statistics, Spanish V, and English, as well as Advanced Chemistry/Honors, Physics, and the social studies requirement.

Standardized Testing/Regents:
Lowest score was a 96 on the A2/Trig Regents, everything else was 97-100.
Taking my SAT in March and June, ACT hopefully in June as well.
PSAT: 1240/1520

Rank:
Top 5%, 3 out 72 as of the end of sophomore year.

ECs:
-All-County and Area All-State bands every year 5th-10th (5th-6th clarinet, 7th+ bassoon)
-Buffalo State Honor Band 10th & 11th
-A Capella 10th
-JH Student Council 8th
-HS Student Council 9th-11th (Co-Treasurer 11th)
-Class Treasurer 8th-11th
-Varsity Soccer 11th (Club Treasurer)
-Intramural Softball through the town 1st-10th
-Tri-M 11th
-I’m a candidate for NHS, but I won’t know if I’m accepted until later this year
-International Exchange Club (hopefully taking a trip next year) 11th
-Yearbook Club 9th & 10th
-I took viola lessons between 9th and 10th, if that counts
-I play in the pit orchestra/band in the school musical (BariSax, BassClar, Bassoon 8th-10th, Bassoon 11th)
-The choir sings at local events such as Veteran’s Day Dinners and local fundraiser breakfasts, attendance not mandatory
-Currently trying to self-teach myself Norwegian, if that counts, and my friend and I are working on ASL here and there.

-Volunteered and helped my band teacher when we hosted All-County
-Jazz Band 9th & 10th (AltoSax 9th, BariSax 10th)
-I may be forgetting one or two, but oh well

Awards:
-Highest Honors in 8th, for being in the top 10 throughout junior high
-Principal’s Award in 7th or 8th, for being a good noodle and being helpful to classmates
-Coach’s Award for Varsity Soccer 11th, for helping out my coach and trying really hard even though I’m terrible at soccer
-Various Softball awards for our team winning the town league
-A lot of really small awards that I can’t remember off the top of my head
-High Honor Roll every year

2

You need to apply schools that meet full need. You notice that most of these schools are highly ranked, but please look at some of the slightly lower ranked schools too. You are a female (softball)? Then really consider some of the women’s colleges that meet full need. Take a look at Mount Holyoke which is part of a consortium.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2015/09/14/colleges-that-report-meeting-full-financial-need

Here is a list of automatic full ride scholarships.

http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/

Consider Temple, Howard, The University of Alabama and The University of Alabama at Huntsville among others.

Once you have SAT (check if your schools require SAT II Subject scores- you need to take tests appropriate for your major) and /or ACT scores, then people here can help you compile a college list made up of schools you can afford.

If you have worked, work counts as an EC.

You are smart to realize that finances are super important to consider.

3

I would pick two or three of those you were considering (Tufts might be a reach) and look at some automatic full rides, as mentioned above.

4

FYI, nobody really cares about middle school achievements after middle school.

5

“For being a good noodle” lol nice

Kudos for recognizing that finances are a thing, unlike a ton of people on this site.

6

I second the suggestion to consider Mount Holyoke and the other Sisters. I wonder if it is practical to look much further away than driving distance because universities (in general) are not going to grant you airfare, or shipping costs, or living expenses for things you could bring from home.

You will need advice on completing applications (as stated above activities prior to 9th grade are usually omitted) and need SAT/ACT scores. Good luck- check back in!

7

Since you listed, “Principal’s Award in 7th or 8th, for being a good noodle and being helpful to classmates” as an award I’d say no. I’m just kidding but when I saw that I almost burst into a frenzy of laughter. If you title your college essay, “The Evolution of being a good noodle” and explain how you managed to embrace “Being a good noodle” as part of your identity, and alluded to the fact that it was a humorous joke and sculpt an essay that shows how academics and caring for others always meant something to you from a young age I think that’d be a pretty buenos essay. Overall though, I think you have a good shot at some schools maybe Tufts EA, but with your financial situation i’d look for some schools that are willing to bust open some piggy banks for you just my dollar minus 9 dimes, a nickel, and 3 pennies.

8

Colleges generally do not hold it against you if your HS does not have certain classes offered.
Also note most HS do not have AP classes until junior year (I am a parent, when I was a kid we
only had them senior year, in an affluent suburban school district).

One red flag, while you have good grades in all subjects, if your lowest score in Regents was in Math,
you should consider what is your strength and if Physics is best for you (math heavy). Also all your EC
activities are more oriented towards liberal arts and social sciences. No science research, no math competitions,
etc. I am not saying do these to pad your application, do them if you think you would love them.
And if you don’t love them, don’t select Physics as a goal.

Too early to be thinking of specific colleges, until you have your SAT/ACT scores, after you have done
very well (or as good as possible after a few tries). Those scores will narrow down where you can get
accepted and get merit scholarships.

Also note you must do research on how financial aid works at each school.
Some of the best schools gives aid in the form of scholarships, others give loans.
Harvard could be cheaper than a state U.