College search help needed!!!

<p>Hey everyone, college application season is here! And I am so nervous about making any type of college decisions, I have a final list of where I want to go of 8 schools but I don't know how to decide if I get accpeted to those schools. I'm not sure if I have done enough research but I also don't know what type of things to look at besides the basics: location, school spirit, rank, etc. I want to double major in English and Anthropology and all my schools have that so I don't where the buck should stop? I am so confused, I'm applying to alot of schools to maximize the amount of money I get. I guess I just need a little advice? Suggestions maybe?</p>

<p>(Top Choice to Safety)
University of Texas at Austin
University of Pittsburgh
University of Virginia
University of S. California
Ohio State University
University of Alabama
UNC-Chapel Hill
University of South Carolina (Safety)</p>

<p>SN: You may have seen this post somewhere else I'm new to this and am not sure if my posts are posting.</p>

<p>When you get accepted, then you can decide what school you’d prefer. </p>

<p>Things you should also consider are whether you’d prefer a larger school to a smaller one, the strength of its anthropology major (look at a school’s course catalog), and just the general atmosphere of the school. If you’re looking for money, the only schools you’d probably be able to afford are USC and the other USC. Why? You’re in-state for one of them, and the other gives good financial aid. The other schools are OOS and will probably expect you to pay full price.</p>

<p>Do talk with your parents about how your family is planning to pay for your education. Find out whether or not they are willing to shell out for an OOS university.</p>

<p>If your grades and ACT/SAT scores are good enough some of these will have merit-based money for you, so do your best to determine whether you will qualify for any of it. Some of the others have decent need-based aid. To guesstimate what that would look like, run the Net Price Calculator at each website. For more ideas along that line, spend some time in the Financial Aid Forum.</p>

<p>As Happymom said, check on how much your folks are willing to pay. UT will cost $60K/year OOS.</p>

<p>Thanks whenhen, I will do that? And I come from a single family home, my sister was a national merit scholar and got a full ride, and my other pays barely nothing for school, so I’m expected to get a full ride or a scholarship that I could combine with financial aid. I’m in the top of my class, I have taken many AP Scores and have passed all of them with a 4 and above except for two but I’m canceling those two scores because one was for practice and the other was a 2. I took the SAT once and got a 1780 but SAT isn’t for me and I know I’ll do better on the ACT (I am taking it twice) but I’m taking the SAT again just in case plus a subject test. UT is my top school, so your saying I wouldn’t get much money??</p>

<p>Also, I prefer a big school thats big on sports because obviously your going to have school spirit thats a big thing for me. But I also wasn’t blessed with the social gene so it’s hard for me to get know people. But I have accepted that its a part of the college experience and I need to step out of my shell so that isn’t too much of a concern.</p>

<p>Most OOS institutions do not have good financial aid for OOS students. Your SAT score is not in the range for significant merit money at those few that do. All of that kind of information is right smack on their websites. Spend time looking at the financial aid and scholarship policies, and then eliminate places where you aren’t going to qualify for the kind of money that you need.</p>

<p>One of your sisters got a full ride as a National Merit scholar…your scores aren’t really in that range unless you did much better on the PSAT than you did on the SAT. How do your scores compare to the other sister? You’re only going to get significant amounts of aid as an OOS student if you have good scores. You may want to look more towards in-state schools where you can get guaranteed aid.</p>

<p>I think its pretty presumptuous of you to think that I was comparing my scores with my sisters. What I was saying was that my family doesn’t have much money to spend on college and I am expected to get a substantial amount of money to a good school just like my siblings. I have good grades despite my SAT scores, which aren’t the end of the world because I’ve only taken it once and haven’t even taken the ACT. I know I didn’t qualify for a National Merit Scholar, but i am starting to figure what direction I need to be headed but thanks for the input.</p>

<p>And happymomof1, i will do that</p>

<p>What about Clemson?</p>

<p>University of Texas at Austin-- not sure
University of Pittsburgh- not sure
University of Virginia- I have heard if you get in OOS they give good fin aid
University of S. California- good merit scholarships: 1/2 price for national merit
Ohio State University- Another school with great merit scholarships
University of Alabama- Same as last 2
UNC-Chapel Hill- same as uva
University of South Carolina (Safety)</p>

<p>no anthropology at Clemson but if for some reason you’re considering it and have any questions, let me know!</p>

<p>

No need to get so defensive. Bruno was pointing out that to get substantial merit aid you need better scores. Work on it.</p>