<p>Okay, first let me start with a little background information. Currently I'm in 11th grade, and I'm finding myself stressing more and more about my future and college choice. I make straight A's. take plenty of AP courses, and scored reasonably well my first time taking the SAT (770 math, 600 reading, 680 writing). I plan on taking it more times as well. I live in Florida and as it is commonly known going to school in state is much cheaper than going to school out of state. I've always thought I'd end up staying here in FL due to monetary issues (I have no college fund, etc.), but recently find myself dreaming of going to some prestigious school like Johns Hopkins or Princeton or others of the like. I understand that it won't be easy to succeed in these rigorous universities, but I would definitely dedicate myself to being the best I can. My scholarly interests include math and chemistry. My friends have been saying, "Oh, with your grades universities will pay YOU to go to their school". Now I know this is exaggerated but it's stimulated some rethinking of my plans. I planned to stay in Florida so that I don't leave my family and friends. An Ivy League school sounds like the experience of a lifetime, but I don't want to be in debt for the rest of my life. Would a good option be to go to UF for my undergraduate schooling and then maybe try to transfer to a better school for graduate schooling? Is this likely to happen or even possible? Or should I just forget about staying in Florida and go somewhere where my talents are more likely to be shown and I'll put my mind to the test? I know this is a long read, thanks to those who answer.</p>
<p>You should at least apply to “dream” schools. If you could increase your CR score (even to 660), Hopkins could be a possibility. Maybe you could think about prestigious schools somewhat near you----Davidson among LAC’s and maybe Emory? It’s hard to know until you compare the schools and the financial aid offers.</p>
<p>It’s always great to dream big! Especially with Ivy League schools, money should not be a problem; they have some of the best financial aid packages. As long as you have great GPA, SAT scores, EAs, and essays with challenging high school courses, go ahead and apply to those dream schools! A motto that rang around my high school during college application time was “Better knowing than not knowing”.</p>
<p>I make straight A’s. take plenty of AP courses, and scored reasonably well my first time taking the SAT (770 math, 600 reading, 680 writing). I plan on taking it more times as well. …I’ve always thought I’d end up staying here in FL due to monetary issues (I have no college fund, etc.), but recently find myself dreaming of going to some prestigious school like Johns Hopkins or Princeton or others of the like… My friends have been saying, “Oh, with your grades universities will pay YOU to go to their school”.</p>
<p>Do not listen to your friends…they don’t know what they’re talking about. </p>
<p>First of all, the ivies don’t give merit scholarships - because frankly, they don’t need to, because nearly all their students have stats like yours or better.</p>
<p>Secondly, few schools give “free rides” based on stats. Some will give free tuition for your stats. </p>
<p>Are you a likely National Merit Finalist? What was your PSAT. Some schools will give NMF’s free rides or “near free rides.”</p>
<p>Again, do NOT listen to your classmates. Students who listen to such nonsense often make bad choices and then find out too late that their schools are going to expect them to pay.</p>
<p>Right now, your reading test score needs to come up to be strong contender for an ivy…for instance…</p>
<p>The following scores are for the middle 50% of students at Harvard</p>
<p>SAT Critical Writing, : 690 - 780
SAT Critical Reading: 690 - 780
SAT Critical Math: 690 - 790</p>
<p>As you can see, your CR & writing scores put you in the bottom 25% of the school. </p>
<p>Especially with Ivy League schools, money should not be a problem; they have some of the best financial aid packages.</p>
<p>We don’t know if money will be a problem at an Ivy for this student. We don’t know how much an Ivy will expect his family to contribute.</p>
<p>The single most important number for you to know right now is your estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC). This is the amount of money that the colleges and universities will expect your family to be able to pay. As soon as your parents have filed their taxes this year, sit down with them and run one of the EFC calculators. There are good ones at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) and at [College</a> Calculators - savings calculators - college costs, loans](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>Calculate Your Cost – BigFuture | College Board)</p>
<p>It is perfectly fine to go to the college or university that turns out to be the least expensive for you, and then pursue graduate studies at a different one. Students who have excellent grades and good letters of recommendation from their professors get into top grad schools even though the college or university that they did their B.A. or B.S. at is a place that isn’t famous at all. UF could be an excellent place for you to start.</p>
<p>With your grades and test scores, would you qualify for Bright Futures if you stay in Florida? That can be a wonderful way to save money on your education.</p>
<p>Some colleges and universities offer sizable Merit-based aid (scholarships based on your GPA and ACT/SAT scores). They may not be places that you have ever heard of. For ideas on how to look for this kind of offer, read through the threads at the top of the Financial Aid Forum (there is a link at the left-hand side of this screen), and take a look at the advice in these old threads:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/148852-what-ive-learned-about-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/148852-what-ive-learned-about-full-ride-scholarships.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/291483-update-what-i-learned-about-free-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/291483-update-what-i-learned-about-free-ride-scholarships.html</a></p>
<p>And, no matter what anyone else tells you, be sure to find a rock-solid academic and financial safety. This is a place that your family can pay for out of pocket without any aid other than federally determined (FAFSA) aid, and that will guarantee your admission based on your HS transcript, and that offers the major(s) you want. Chances are that it will be your local community college or one of your in-state public universities. Learn to love your safety. It may end up being the only place that admits you that you can afford to attend.</p>
<p>To moms2collegekids
Yes, I understand practicality over “dreaming”.
But SERIOUSLY, do you have to look at this person’s concern with the glass half empty?
My advice was just to try your best in high school and apply to your dream schools.</p>
<p>Take me, for example. I was in at the “lower” end of the SAT spectrum for Columbia University, and I was still was accepted -with GREAT financial aid. When I applied, I didn’t expect to get in at all; it was my dream’s dream school. </p>
<p>Also, it’s a great thing for students to support other students. I think its pretty sad for someone to lower other’s hopes just for the sake of statistics.</p>
<p>Do not listen to your friends…they don’t know what they’re talking about.
All I can say is, wow.</p>
<p>thanks a lot for the advice guys. i’m definitely going to get that Critical Reading score up, hopefully to at least 700 or so. i gotta study. i might be able to get a perfect math next time, though 30 points isn’t that much of a deal to Ivy’s i’m pretty sure. Hitch123 and inneedofadvice, I will be applying to those dream schools of mine. mom2collegekids, I don’t take offense to your advice, I understand that you’re just being real. Like I said, I’m gonna try to up all my scores on my next test in May. Also, they won’t expect my family to contribute that much. My dad makes around 40K a year, and my mom and dad are separated, and my mom jobless. Also, I’m not too sure about whether or not I am a NMF, I’m guessing not because I probably would have known by now. happymomof1, I was definitely considering Bright Futures highest paying scholarship, I technically already meet the requirements. That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to stay in Florida and go to the University of Florida. Transferring to grad school after getting my undergrad degree sounds like a good idea. And thanks for the links too!</p>
<p>doorsboy - At the family income range that you describe, many top schools may cost the same or perhaps less than the room and board costs at your in-state public schools after you get the tuition scholarship. Work on the verbal scores and take a shot at some along with your safeties.</p>
<p>gadad, that’s good news. and I’ll definitely get that score up.</p>