College Search Advice for a Jersey Girl who's Good at Math and Loves her Job

College Search & Selection
1

Hi everyone! I’m a high school sophomore but I’m considering going to college a year early, so I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about where to go. I’m a strong student, I’m fortunate enough to test well, and I go to a good public school in central New Jersey. I am involved in geography club, math team, and peer tutoring at school, but I’m definitely not a person whose entire life revolves around school activities. I have a great part-time job. I love spending time with my family. I hope to work in a community organization with families or be a teacher, find a husband, and have a family of my own when I’m older. Some schools on my (incredibly random) list are:

Princeton, Rutgers, MIT, Penn, NJIT, Wash. U

–BUT I really don’t know much about a lot of schools and would be interested in learning more; I mostly listed schools that are closer to home but that’s because I don’t know much about schools that are farther away. Close vs. far away, big vs. small, and urban vs. rural are not things I’m decided on; it would depend on the specific schools. Here’s what I do know:

I don’t want to go somewhere where my whole life would be on campus. I enjoy interacting with people of all ages and in a variety of different settings. This is one thing I really like about working part-time and volunteering in the community, during the school year as well as in the summer. I want to really be a member of the local community as well as the school community wherever I go to college, not just one or the other! I’d be interested in joining student organizations and maybe even a sorority.

I don’t want to go somewhere super-liberal or super-conservative, nor do I want somewhere where you get a feeling that a lot of the students are very similar to one another (I got these feelings when I was at Smith on a school trip, in case you want an example. Don’t get me wrong; it seemed like a great school, just not the right place for me for a number of reasons).

My parents don’t have money saved for my college, but they and my grandparents can probably pay somewhere between $5000 and $15,000/year if need be (I don’t know; our income fluctuates from year to year). I can pay about $7000-$10,000 or so per year on my own, including living expenses. I would like to have my family pay as little as possible because I have two younger siblings and I don’t want to stay dependent for too long. I’m interested in large scholarships at state schools.

I don’t know what I want to major in, but I want it to have some relevance to a future career. Maybe I’ll double-major and have one of the majors be more vocational and the other more for general interest. Math? Education? Sociology? Statistics? Business? Chemistry? I don’t know!!!

I want to work (off-campus) while at school. Sometimes I fantasize that I’ll go to college close to home and keep my high school job (which I’ve had since the beginning of freshman year) for seven or eight years total (even if I go far away I can work there during the summer). I’d be able to earn more certifications and do different jobs within the same workplace, so hopefully I wouldn’t get bored. I’d also be interested in working at similar places while attending college. I love my community so much that it’ll be hard to tear myself away, but at the same time I want to explore somewhere new!

Sorry for the long post. If you can tell me anything about the schools I’ve listed or any others you think sound like good places for me, please let me know and I’ll be eternally greatful!!! And, of course, I’d be happy to go over any threads you’ve posted. If you’re considering Princeton and want to know about the community in this neck of the woods, hit me up! Replies from anyone are much appreciated <3.

2

If you don’t mind me asking, if you love your community at home so much, why are you considering graduating a year year early?

3

You will need super stats for Princeton and MIT. Perhaps you have them.

Add TCNJ to your list. Next to Princeton its the best school in NJ and highly qualified students go there for much less than 20k a year.

Rutgers is exceptional in math.

4

Haha good question. I ask myself that sometimes too, which is part of the reason I’m still undecided. I guess it comes down to the fact that, as much as I love certain things about my life here, I want to live somewhere at least a little bit different, with people who aren’t from my town and don’t think the same way. Also, I don’t feel particularly attached to my high school and I’ll be academically (and possibly socially) ready for college. I wouldn’t graduate early, I’d just go to college early, but my questions about college really apply no matter when I go.

5

How about Stevens? Hoboken is a great town to be in and Stevens does not dominate the town at all.

6

Thanks! My SAT was 2310 and I have a pretty good GPA with APs and other weighted classes so I’d say it’s not out of the question. Also Princeton admits roughly 20 students from my school per year out of a class of <400, but then again a lot of their parents have affiliations to Princeton and mine do not. Time will tell!

7

Thanks for the tip; definitely on my list to visit.

8

Other posters can correct me if I’m wrong, but in my experiences colleges greatly prefer kids who spent 4 years in high school. High school is not just about learning- it’s also about maturing and developing socially. Kids who graduate a year ahead of schedule have the potential to be lacking in that department. I think your opportunities, both financially and in general, would be better if you didn’t graduate early (plus, that’s another year you can use to save money). Have you run NPCs for any of the private schools you’ve listed to ballpark their price to your family? MIT and the Ivies are known for generous aid.

A 2310 as a sophomore is exceptional. Take the psat next year and you have the potential for some big merit money for NMF.

9

Thanks for your input! I’ve discussed (and will continue to discuss) the this year vs. next year question with my family and school. I am old for my grade and have more experience working with adults than some of my peers, and sometimes it seems like college might be a better fit by that time (I’ll be 18 for almost all of senior year if I stay). We’ll just have to see what happens! It’s a good decision for some people but not for others. I got the 2310 last year and 230 on PSAT this year, and I wrote 2016 as my expected year to leave high school just in case, so I’m hoping for some National Merit money.

10

I recommend you stay in high school for four years. You’ll be competing against other students who have completed four years and have a full transcript. Your stats are phenomenal. Congrats with that! (I hope you marking 2016 as your grad year won’t affect National Merit actually. They may think you’re a junior and give you money when technically as a sophomore, you are not allowed to qualify.)

It sounds like major-wise and career-wise, you’re very confused and undecided. And that’s okay! You’re young and have a lot of time. You can even go in undecided and make up your mind later, once you’ve dabbled a little. Based on your interests and passions, what can you currently say you are intrigued with?

Because of your budget, you need to stay in-state and close to home. Whether that NJ school is TCNJ, Rutgers, Stockton, Stevens, NJIT, Ramapo etc., you need to keep your in-state options open and use them as safeties. (IN the case of Rutgers, you’d be a high match probably.)

Princeton, MIT, Penn and WashU are excellent schools but they are reaches. And they can be pricey. So don’t bank too much on great financial aid packages in order to attend these schools. Once in a blue moon, a great FA package DOES present itself before you but the money the schools give you are not always optimal compared to your budget and what you can afford. So definitely keep that in mind. What you CAN bank on are merit scholarships and NMSF scholarships from the in-state schools.

11

Thank you; that’s super helpful! I know WashU does have some large merit scholarships, so those were the lines along which I was thinking for there (I can try for it even if it’s unlikely), and the other private schools are more wishful thinking. My family has a pretty high income but no savings, so I’m not really sure how we’ll measure up to different schools’ financial aid plans.

12

@Dragonsgo Physical maturity does not equal emotional maturity. In my grade, at least, being 18 for the vast majority of senior year was the norm- I would say about a third of my grade was 18 by the end of October of our senior year. You sound rather mature in writing, but it’s hard to know online.

Regardless, @TheDidactic brings up a good point- an extra year in high school will give you the opportunity to take more classes, expand upon your extracurriculars, and make yourself a stronger applicant overall (and being a stronger applicant = more $$$). Also, while it is perfectly fine to be undecided on a career path or major path when you leave high school, if you are undecided, an extra year and additional courses can give you time to find out what is right for you. I won’t press you any more, because it’s your life and ultimately your decision, but it sounds like you need a stronger game plan in terms of paying for college and where you want college to take you that an extra year could ameliorate.
Best wishes!

13

How good at math are you?

14

I’m in total agreement with the didactic- stay in HS for 4 years and you will have a much better chance of acceptance at top colleges, as you will be a much stronger candidate, / and have a better chance of winning full ride scholarships at schools like these:

http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/
Cutting short your HS career would be a huge mistake.
Have patience- it WILL pay off for you!

15

@Qwerty568 so much for taking the time to respond! It’s good to know that staying for senior year could mean more financial aid/scholarship-that’s an important factor my decision, and it might make it worthwhile to stay. I’ll keep exploring my options for now, but thanks again for your insight.

16

@NavalTradition by what metric? It’s always been my strongest subject and I’ve finished all the math classes at my school.

17

USC[ Southern Calif, not Carolina] offers about 140 full tuition scholarships each year to exceptionally capable students. Be sure to complete your college application to USC before their Dec 1 scholarship deadline in order to be considered.

18

Thanks! I’ll keep that on my radar.

19

Like have you done AMC or AIME type competitions?

20

@NavalTradition yes, honor roll last year, distinguished this year, took AIME twice but haven’t made it to USAJMO.