<p>Hi. I'm currently a senior this year. I have a 4.03 unweighted gpa. Took two ap classes last year (us history and lit and comp) taking W131, AP CALC, and AP Psychology this year. I'm in Nat. Honors Society, Student Leadership Academy, Spanish Honors Society, and Student Council. Anyway, I'm looking at colleges right now, and having a really difficult time. I really don't want to stay in Indiana. But my parents own their own auto business and we only bring in about $50,000 combined. So money is a major issue. I have a list of colleges I'd like to see made, but visiting all of them definately isn't an option, maybe 2 or 3. I want to major in either pre-med or psychology.</p>
<p>So far I have:
Boston University
Boston College
Northeastern
Ohio State Univ
Miami of Ohio
Duke (a reach)
UNC- chapel hill
UVA
Ball State or IU (just safties)
UC-santa barbara
UC- san francisco great psy dep.
UC- santa cruz</p>
<p>I'm open to more possibilities, mostly I want a pretty broad range of majors and in a college town or urban area. </p>
<p>Also, if one college offers me, say 1/2 tutition, can i go to another college and "haggle" that? For instance, tell them that i have this other offer and see if they'll match it?</p>
<p>"Also, if one college offers me, say 1/2 tutition, can i go to another college and "haggle" that? For instance, tell them that i have this other offer and see if they'll match it?"</p>
<p>Unlikely. Fin Aid offices have usually have very limited resources and they've probably already offered you all that they could. I have a friend who tried that (here at BU)--they mentioned that George Washington had offerered him more. The fin. aid woman's response was, essentially, "That's great! You should go there if you like that offer."</p>
<p>If you're looking for an urban area or college town, definitely look into your three Boston schools. Each are very different--usually, people will love one and hate the other two--and you should be able to get an idea as to which one you will like best without having to visit (granted, definitely visit before you make the final decision).</p>
<p>In terms of finances, your chosen major is going to make a huge difference. If you're going into pre-med, finance, accounting or engineering, I would say its ok to take out a (reasonably) substantial amount in loans (which are easy to get), as you'll be able to pay them back rather easily. Psychology, however, is going to be a bit of a stretch.</p>
<p>Let me know if you have any questions about Boston. Good luck.,</p>
<p>Seems like you are all over the place with your college list. Perhaps you could refine things a bit. For example, SAT scores? these could influence chances at UNC or UVA as an out of state student and BC at all. You can haggle with college financial aid offices IF they see you as a very desirable applicant. If you are not high on the list you will likely get the same response as noted above from the student at BU.</p>
<p>You can absolutely haggle, my girlfriend did it effectively. Not everywhere ut many places will. Also, do you have your SAT yet? How are your ECs? </p>
<p>Boston University
Boston College
Northeastern
Ohio State Univ
Miami of Ohio
Duke (a reach)
UNC- chapel hill
UVA
Ball State or IU (just safties)
UC-santa barbara
UC- san francisco great psy dep.
UC- santa cruz</p>
<p>I have been to almost every school on your list, they are very different in terms of selectivity. OSU is the pits by the way, I think you'd like IU much more, academically and socially.</p>
<p>Just wondering...how in the world do you have a 4.03 unweighted GPA? </p>
<p>Provided your test scores are really good, I strongly encourage you to check out UNC Chapel Hill. It's pretty good about attracting out-of-staters (yes, they do offer them scholarships), and their psych program is one of the best. The same applies to Michigan, which isn't on your list. </p>
<p>Boston U might be a good choice. It has a pretty good psych program, and it offers many very tempting scholarships, especially if you're a NM/NA finalist.</p>
<p>I'd say that you should apply to some Ivy Leagues. Many Ivy Leagues such as Princeton are actually better at providing financial aid to sub-100 K incomes than state schools. </p>
<p>...with a lot of loans instead of scholarships. </p>
<p>There are several reasons NOT to apply to Ivies:
1) His* list favors publics over privates. If he liked private schools, he probably would have put more on the list.
2) Ivy league schools don't provide a better an education than any other top school. If you encourage him to look at Ivies, he should also look at similar schools (Chicago, JHU, etc.). Ivies don't fit everyone.
3) None of the Ivies have stand-out psych programs. HYP (P for Penn) have pretty good programs, but that's about it. He might want to look into Stanford, however, which easily has the best psych programs.
4) Free money is good for lower income people. Ivies don't give merit money.</p>
<p>Basically, the best thing to do would be to find a very respectable school that's likely to give out a lot of aid (private school, probably) and has a good psych program. :)</p>
<p>Well, Princeton, I know, gives grants, not loans.</p>
<p>The majority of schools on his lists are public, agreed...but I thought that might also have been because of financial constraints, which can be overcome. I'm not saying Ivies provide a better education (although I could try to argue that), but the other schools you have listed (Chicago, JHU, etc.) are also private...I think his stats could get him into some Ivy Leagues.</p>
<p>None of the Ivies have great psych programs, but many private schools do. Harvard has Steven Pinker, MIT has the legacy of Steven Pinker, and Stanford has one of the best psych departments in the nation. As you mentioned, Stanford is yet another private school...so maybe private schools shouldn't be ruled out.</p>
<p>Your point about merit money is well taken, but, depending where the OP applies, merit aid might not be readily available (I know UT only gives out about 8000 or so for 1600 scores and National Merits...whereas Texas A&M gives out full-paid. It varies from school to school).</p>
<p>Anyways, consider my suggestion, but, as indicated by the reasons above, don't take it as a final word.</p>
<p>Andrea. Please understand that Indiana University at Bloomington is no safety. It is known nationally for impressive academics and it it quite popular with your fellow Midwesterners. Successful applicants often choose IU over Washington-St. Louis, Oberlin, Northwestern, etc.</p>
<p>Paco-
Princeton doesn't give loans???
<em>checks</em>
It doesn't! I really wish I'd known that before I didn't apply. :mad:</p>
<p>The others I mentioned are private schools, but I was just trying to steer the thread away from Ivy obsession, which is waaaay too important on CC. Isn't MIT mostly for cognitive psych? Just wondering. </p>
<p>Also, I forgot to mention that "haggling" does work, at least with some schools. If that fails, just beg for more money. It works. :D</p>
<p>IU instate should be a definite safety, especially if you get your application in early, assuming your SAT/ACT is decent (no essays or recs). If you don't want to stay in-state, then either apply to IU or Ball State; no need to spend money on both.</p>
<p>Miami OH does not have a specific pre-med major, but there is a pre-med focus. Most pre-meds major in a science-related field like zoology, microbiology, or chemistry. Have you looked into applying for the Harrison scholarship or the honors program? The honors program is stronger and more selective than IU's. I don't know very much about financial aid, but Miami gives quite a few substantial academic scholarships, plus national merit finalist ones. If you're interested in more info about Miami, feel free to PM me!</p>