<p>I'm a South Carolina resident, so OOS fees are practically unavoidable. I am also a rising senior. Stats are following:</p>
<p>3.6-3.7/ 4.0 GPA (still have senior year)
AP: APUSH (4), Chemistry (2, not an accomplishment, but science isn't my strong point)
Senior class president
Student council/ government
Academic Team
Key Club (could take some office such as VP or Prez this year)
I'm a published writer in a poetry book
Start work in one week as a Sears cashier
Classes for senior year: AP Stats, AP Lit, AP Lang, AP HG, and possibly AP Bio.
Class rank: ~30/ 180 (I started off freshman year ranked 125, so I've jumped a lot but I don't know if that's important)
I have a single mother going a divorce with my former stepdad, haven't seen or heard from my dad since I was maybe 6 or 7 (separation already took place, but the divorce is being filed)
Annual income was ~20K last year, but she worked overtime for about a month or two this year which I'm scared might've raised her income to ~25K (bad because next year that income won't be there)
Also we lost our house to foreclosure when my stepdad stopped paying for it because he said he didn't care about us, which is why they are separated now (that and an affair), so my mom, two little sisters, and I live in a two bedroom house in a poor part of town.
I'm Mexican-American and will be the first in my family to go to college.
SAT: 1500. I only took it once, but won't mess with it again. After about 10 ACT official practice my predicted ACT score is around a 29, which I'm hoping to boost up to a 30. I officially take the ACT in September.</p>
<p>I'm looking for a liberal arts college, size doesn't really matter but have been leaning towards small colleges. I have preference to cold climates, so preferably no schools known to be hot. I NEED a school that has generous financial aid packages. My mother never really had money to save. I'm willing to do work study and such. I want to be an English major because during a recent point in my life I found myself in a very deep depression and having panic attacks that I was able to overcome by writing out my feelings on a blog, so I want to become a writer. The English BA is versatile though so it can be used for other careers such as a journalist job. Any suggestions help! Even the small schools nobody knows about. I already have 3 safety schools where I would be content, but want a school I can call my dream school and SAT fee waivers give me one more, also I've heard about another type of waiver (NACAC) which may or may not give me a few more chances? But I would only use maybe two if I could use them, because my conscience wouldn't let me use a lot when other people can't afford many applications as well. </p>
<p>Also one final question, I've recently been receiving emails from about maybe 6 colleges so far that say something along the lines of "Your academic achievements have earned you a priority status in our application" and that I can apply free of charge (but obviously will still have to pay for sending scores) so just wondering if these are legit. The latest one I got was from University of Chicago which shocked me because it has a very low acceptance rate. Has anyone had experience with these? </p>
I was pretty certain there are colleges in SC. :)</p>
<p>Sorry about your family issues. Most LACs will also consider your stepdad’s or your dad’s income (I really don’t know which in this case). The vast majority of colleges will have good English programs. Don’t pay any attention to mailers from schools. They buy SAT/ACT lists and spam students (decreasing their admission rate). Can you afford your safety schools?</p>
<p>Try the Supermatch tool here on CC. Check the box that says: I’m interested in schools where I would be well above average, to increase my financial aid opportunities. Your scores will make a difference…SAT=1500 is 50percentile, while ACT=29 is more like 75percentile.</p>
<p>Also check out Questbridge.org…it helps low income students apply to top colleges.</p>
<p>This isn’t really a personalised list or anything, but I’m an English major who prefers small schools with good aid as well. I’m applying to Amherst, Bard, Bennington, Bowdoin, Connecticut, Dartmouth, Middlebury, Skidmore, Vassar, Wesleyan (not need blind), and Williams. All of these schools ended up costing pretty much the same amount of money for me. You can check out some of these/search for threads discussing similar schools. The Supermatch tool is also a great starting point.</p>
<p>Definitely check out Questbridge, and study hard for the ACT. If you can bring your score to a 30, that will help a lot.</p>
<p>As far as the college mail goes, it doesn’t mean a lot. Everyone gets mail from colleges saying that they are high-achievers. but there’s no guarantee the schools will admit you, so focus on the ones you are interested in and the ones you know will provide good financial aid. If it’s free to apply to a school you are really interested in, then apply, but don’t waste the money sending your scores to schools you’re not sure about.</p>
<p>@"Erin’s Dad" Hahaha. Luckily there are in state schools. And yes we have run the calculators and they are affordable and I can even get into the honors college at one (if I ever figure out how to properly structure my essay). Luckily the honors college one is my favorite out of the safety school and it would be my dream if it wasn’t for the heat. Average temperatures in mid 80s and even in winter it might only reach 70s. My body feels uncomfortable at anything above 68 degrees, it’s ridiculous. They will consider my former stepdad’s income? I know my mom gets child support but I think it’s around $100 every two weeks and it’s only for the two daughters they had together. The thing is with financial aid I’m certain he’s not going to fill out the information within the deadlines, mostly because he hates me (yes he hates me, he choked me one time) and also because he’s not on speaking terms with my mother. Last I heard he lost/quit his job and somehow makes a living only cutting grass. But I don’t know. I don’t want to lose my chance at a university because he won’t fill out the paper work. :/</p>
<p>Something, I think you’ll find that many affordable colleges will consider you a person of interest.</p>
<p>The first start is to try to clarify your family’s financial situation. You and your mother should run some net price calculators to try to get an idea of how much need-based aid you might be eligible for.Have a a divorced father and soon-to-be divorced stepfather complicates the situation. One or both of their incomes may be considered in your aid package. It’s hard to predict, so plunge in and start asking colleges for direction.</p>
<p>You should definitely contact QuestBridge ASAP. They will help you.</p>
<p>Many, many colleges and universities have good to excellent English departments. The list that @LAMuniv provided for northeast LACs is a good starting place. </p>
<p>I would add a few others that would be especially receptive to a high achieving first generation Mexican-American: Grinnell, Colby, Bates, Kenyon, Smith, Mt. Holyoke for example. </p>
<p>Hopefully your ACT will come out where you predict. Some colleges require 2 SATIIs along with the SAT.</p>
<p>I would try to solidify your ECs: To me, being class president and a poet are your strongest points. You need to use your essays, resumes and recommendations to demonstrate how your activities, interests, life experience and ethnic background could contribute to the campus community. Focus not on your personal hard times, but rather on how your experiences could add to campus diversity.</p>
<p>Lastly, if you’re serious about poetry you can submit examples of your writing as supplements to your application.</p>
<p>@momrath OMG thank you! Colby is actually my dream school right now! And I should’ve described my family situation a little better. My birth father and mother were never married, I was born out of wedlock. The only man my mother married was my stepdad. Also I’m not trying to be a poet, but a writer like books and stories. My teacher asked me to enter the poetry contest and I did and won a spot, but my dream job is to end up working on the New York Times. I had already planned to take the US History and Biology/Literature subject tests. They were my highest outcomes from the SAT website. And I actually got an email from Quest Bridge and just glanced at the website, but didn’t take it too seriously. But tomorrow I will definitely start investigating. </p>
<p>I’m not an expert on how financial aid considers absent/divorced parents, biological or otherwise. In America today this is not an unusual situation, so I’m sure there’s a lot of information available on line, on this site, and from the individual college’s financial aid departments. The amount of need based aid you receive will have an enormous bearing on your final list, so it’s worth the time researching the details.</p>
<p>If your stepfather’s income will be considered, then the next questions are
Will he contribute to your tuition? If not, will he help you will the financial aid forms? </p>
<p>It would be helpful for you to beef-up your ECs. Many colleges, especially LACs, will accept examples of writing – both fiction and non-fiction – to demonstrate your involvement. Believe it or not, a part time job can be a good, non-traditional EC as well (and good fodder for a writer too). :)</p>
<p>@momrath He will not contribute. I know that for a fact. And I highly doubt he would help me with anything. I can’t even remember the last time I talked to him. Ugh. Great just when I thought things were finally looking better for me. My job will bring me in some cushion money so that’s good and I can use it as an EC, so I get another thing on my app. I should also be invited to NHS this year. Also what are LACs? </p>
<p>LAC is the abbreviation for a small liberal arts college, like Colby. Their size is generally plus or minus 2000 students and they have few graduate or professional schools. They are known for small classes and accessible professors. Each LAC has its own personality and culture. If you use Colby as a starting point, you should be able to find others that are similar.</p>
<p>As I said, your situation with your father/stepfather isn’t unusual, but it is complicated so start trying to unravel the threads. Start with Colby, for example. See what they say on their website or contact the financial aid department directly with your question. They are there to help you.</p>
<p>Different schools may consider the situation differently; you will therefore need to put together a wide list. Fee waivers are there for people like you so don’t hesitate to use them.</p>
<p>Take a look at – or post on – the financial aid board on this site for more specific information regarding uncooperative parents/step parents.</p>
<p>@momrath Thank you so much! You’ve helped me so much today and it has definitely impacted my future, I cannot thank you enough! I did the super match and unfortunately Colby gives me a 9% and a school I know for a fact is a safety gave me a 48%, are these accurate? Or is it based solely on preference? </p>
<p>Well, there’s USC, College of Charleston, Clemson, and the Citadel. Those are all great in-state options, so OOS fees are not unavoidable.</p>
<p>For smaller LACs, there are Furman and Wofford within SC. Agnes Scott College and Oglethorpe (both in GA) are small colleges that may offer you some merit aid in addition to need-based aid. You might also be interested in Rhodes (TN), Eckerd (FL), Berry (GA), Knox, Hendrix, Elon (NC). If you like to write, Hamilton College in NY may be a good choice for you; they have an intensive writing curriculum there. You might also be interested in St. John’s College; it’s a Great Books college. There are two campuses - Annapolis and Santa Fe. Shimer College, in IL, is another very tiny Great Books college.</p>
<p>You can get an English degree at pretty much any small LAC.</p>
And I should’ve described my family situation a little better. My birth father and mother were never married, I was born out of wedlock. The only man my mother married was my stepdad. Also I’m not trying to be a poet, but a writer like books and stories. My teacher asked me to enter the poetry contest and I did and won a spot, but my dream job is to end up working on the New York Times. I had already planned to take the US History and Biology/Literature subject tests. They were my highest outcomes from the SAT website. And I actually got an email from Quest Bridge and just glanced at the website, but didn’t take it too seriously. But tomorrow I will definitely start investigating. </p>
My job will bring me in some cushion money so that’s good and I can use it as an EC, so I get another thing on my app. I should also be invited to NHS this year. Also what are LACs? </p>