<p>So my GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, etc. are all good but not exceptional. I want to go to the best school I possibly can so I wanted to know which types of schools I should be looking at based on my stats. I obviously know my scores are nowhere near good enough for Ivy Leagues or anything like that but what are the best schools I should try for? Please let me know your suggestions! I plan to major in Psychology and would like to go to grad school afterwards to continuing pursuing it. Also if the school has some type of dance program or dance team thats a plus but not a necessity.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.8 out of 4.0
Unweighted: I'm not really sure but it's definitely above a 4.0
SAT: 1930 (CR-640) (M-640) (W-650 -- essay-8 MC-660)
ACT: 30 (English-34) (Math- 27) (Reading- 32) (Science- 27) (Essay 8)
Class Rank: 3/80 ( I go to a Private Catholic School and my class happens to be very small)</p>
<p>Ethnicity: Hispanic </p>
<p>AP CLASSES
Sophomore year- AP Biology - 3
Junior year- AP Psychology - 5, AP English Language and Composition- 3
Senior year- I plan to take AP Spanish, AP Government, AP Literature, and AP Calculus
Any class that was not AP was an Honors course.</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
Dance Company- Been dancing at my studio for 13 years, I do 15 hours a week of classes, I also compete in dance competitions and conventions, Usually place in the top 10 and have won some scholarships at different conventions</p>
<p>School Dance Team- all 4 years of High school, Captain Jr. and Sr. year - 2 hours a week
Student Council - 4 years
National Honor Society - 3 years
Habitat for Humanity- 3 years
Make a Wish Club- 4 years
Students Against Destructive Decisions- 3 years</p>
<p>Essay: Haven't written it yet but I'm planning on writing about how dance has helped shaped me as a person.</p>
<p>Thanks for reading! Please let me know which schools I should consider. I don't mind traveling so any national university would be great. </p>
<p>In terms of my financial situation I would definitely need some financial aid. My parents have not indicated exactly how much they can contribute but it probably wouldn’t be more than 20,000 per year. I’m anticipating having to take loans out. That is what my sister did when she went to college.
Also, my state of residency is in Massachusetts.
Although I’m not too picky I’d probably prefer a college in the Northeast area. The farthest out west I would go would be Chicago unless I got into an amazing school that was further.
For size I would want a mid-size school. A school with around 15,000 total students.
I also prefer urban or suburban campuses. I don’t really want to be in the middle of nowhere.
Again I’m not too picky as long as it has a good academic program. I’m also not interested in big party schools or in joining sororities or anything like that.</p>
<p>@daisy5132 what do you think about Boston schools like BU and Northeastern? Unfortunately these will probably be too expensive for you. I think merit aid at BU/NEU is given for higher stats than yours.</p>
<p>UMass Amherst is your best shot at only paying $20K/yr. It doesn’t really fit what you are looking for, but it’s reputation is improving- I know a number of recent students love it. You are qualified for the Honors College, which sadly does not really cost any less, but should be a better experience depending on your major.</p>
<p>@daisy5132 also check out Fordham in NYC- very strong dance program, urban, and around 15K total students. You are an academic match for this school- close to the 75th percentile of SAT scores and you have a decent GPA.</p>
<p>I believe the dance program is quite competitive here though.</p>
<p>I was actually just looking at BU today. I really liked it. How much would I have to increase my test scores to perhaps be eligible for some type of scholarship? I think I might focus on ACT rather than SAT because I think it was higher than my SAT. I’m not sure what else I can do about my GPA. I have a 93 now but with 4 APs next year there’s no way I’m going to have an average above 95. I think it’ll stay the same.</p>
<p>Again if I can increase my text scores do you think I would have a chance for Boston College??</p>
<p>Sorry I’m not really familiar with merit aid at BU. I know they do have some but I think your stats need to be higher (gpa around 3.9-4.0) and I would guess like 2200 SAT. It’s not a great option for good but not great students like you that need significant financial aid (BU is $60k/yr). But maybe worth a try.</p>
<p>BC is a little harder to get into- I think you have a chance but I’m guessing not for merit aid. If your family’s EFC is $20K (is this what they are willing to contribute, or their EFC?) I think they are a 100% need met school. But it is a low reach with your stats currently.</p>
<p>Here’s a list of 100% need met schools. Many of them are more selective, but there are a number on there that you’d be a match for (Colgate, Hamilton, Trinity):</p>
<p>Georgetown would be a reach but maybe worth a try.</p>
<p>MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO THIS SUMMER: talk with your parents about finances and try to figure out what your EFC will be by using the Net Price Calculators at these schools, and try to decide as a family what you can afford.</p>
<p>It would really help if you could move that ACT score up a couple clicks if you want to get merit. Your ranking is great and boosts the GPA, but the standardized tests pull you down. I’d prep really hard over the summer and retake the ACT in the fall. Having more info about the net price calculators will also help. The only school anyone’s mentioned that your parents can likely swing is UMass, if your parents make more than 100K. The schools that have been mentioned have a dozen or so full tuition scholarships but you won’t get one, and after that they sometimes offer 20K scholarships that won’t do you any good and you’re not likely to get anyway. The NPCs are critical before we can mention schools that you can get into AND afford.</p>
@daisy5132 I was revisiting old threads and decided to check your recent replies.
Wow, accepted at Northeastern to the Honors Program!!! Congrats! I hope this means they gave you good merit aid since Honors is for the top 10% of students.
@hagbardceline howdya like them apples? You two could be classmates!
@ormdad Thank you! Unfortunately I only received $7,800 in grants from Northeastern. I was definitely a bit disappointed to not get any merit aid since they accepted me into the Honors Program. However, I got the Presidential Scholarship at BU for 20k. I am still waiting for other acceptances but BU is definitely above NEU now on my list.
LMU in los angeles, and you’ll get good merit money. They love catholic school kids. A struggle with private school kids are the UCs/other public schools, so I say stick with privates, preferably catholic, and you’ll get in fine. Santa Clara is nice, but I didn’t like the vibe on campus and they sent an almost insultingly low merit scholarship haha. Perhaps gonzaga?
If you’re looking for schools where you won’t get merit, you can reach into some of the upper-privates with some good essays.