<p>I am going into my senior year and getting my college applications together. I already know I am going to apply to at least four colleges: Portland State (my safety school), Yale (a bit of a reach, but my dream school), University of Washington and Western Washington (both in-state and public, but farther from home). I have a high GPA (4.0) and SAT scores (2250 total, 800 W, 800 CR, 650 M). I hope to double major in English and theater. I am trying to decide if I should apply to another college. I kind of want to, but I'm really not sure which one if I do. I have considered a lot of different colleges, including Pomona, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Kenyon, Occidental, Williams, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon, University of Chicago, Bowdoin, and Carleton. I really can't decide if I should even apply! Any suggestions at all would be welcome. By the way, I'm also looking for a college that has good financial aid as well as also a good English and theater program.</p>
<p>You would be full pay at UCLA and UCB, and would have to rely on FA at many of the others. Do you know your EFC? Some families think that just because school is expensive they will get FA and that is not necessarily the case. Try the Net Price Calculator at each of the schools to see what the forecasted cost is.</p>
<p>Not only is Yale a reach (not for you, for EVERYONE). If you want to go to Yale, you should find other top-of-the-line schools that have the same attractive points that Yale does (whatever those are to you) and apply there as well. Is it Yale’s size as a mid-sized U? Then also Harvard, Stanford, Chicago. Do you not care about the size and just want the community of top students? Then also add Pomona, Williams. There’s nothing wrong with applying to more than four schools, and most students who apply to Yale will apply to several others “like it” just because schools at that level always have more qualified applicants than they can admit.</p>
<p>There are two types of financial aid - need-based and merit. They are NOT interchangeable - you need to know which kind you’re looking at. </p>
<p>For need-based, it’s based on what the school thinks your family can afford, not what you think you can afford. Need-based is based on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). You can find out your EFC from the FAFSA 4Caster and probably other places. So if the schools think your family can pay $25K per year, and your family can only pay $10K per year, it won’t work out. </p>
<p>You would qualify for merit-based aid at many schools - search for threads on “guaranteed merit scholarships”, or just look at schools of interest and check out their policies.</p>
<p>Might look at Bowdoin and Holy Cross on the East Coast-both very good LAC’s.</p>
<p>What about USC?</p>