<p>I expect a SAT score of around 1950-2100 this time and have decent academics, will get pretty good recommendations and I'll also be writing great essays since I think I can write pretty well. My extra-curriculars are pretty much non-existent though other than a few things like tutoring children for free and a couple of internships/volunteer work and some similar stuff. My problem is that my family is poor and I don't think we can pay anything worth mentioning for college (My sister is already attending Syracuse University at a good FA package). It seems that most colleges which have extremely generous aid policies are the ones which have acceptance rates of under 30% and it would be very difficult for me to get into them although I will apply to some. I also want to have matches and safeties and therefore want to know about some colleges which give need-based aid generously but also aren't very difficult to get into (preferably over 50% acceptance rate). Do these exist or am I fcked if I don't get admission into colleges which are pretty much reaches for me (Vassar, Lafayette, Gettysburg, Vanderbilt etc)?</p>
<p>I'm a US citizen living in Pakistan, if that makes any difference.</p>
<p>Do you have a home state? If so one of the public Us there may be best. It would be lower cost and you might qualify for FA (being considered in-state).</p>
<p>The schools you mentioned are probably pretty good but I don’t want a college with lesser students in my high school. It just wouldn’t be the proper college experience.</p>
<p>If you want small colleges with admit rates over 50%, then the schools SmallCollegesFTW mentions are good suggestions. I doubt that the majority enrolled at those 4 colleges are all lesser students than the ones enrolled at your high school (if that’s what you meant to say).</p>
<p>I hope you don’t go to college with the idea that these are “colleges for lesser students”. Some of the brightest people I have met in my life go to Beloit and I went to high school in a class where the average ACT for the top 30% of my class was 32 (2100 SAT). The students at these schools often don’t care enough about working the high school system and going to the ivies. Many did other great things, like learn langauges, travel or art. They never prepped for tests and never cared too much about GPA. But these schools are more rigorous then you can probably imagine. I have a friend at Columbia who does half the work I do in a week and can find little intellectual outlet. These schools are different, and I think you’d be surprised that you may not even be in the top half of the school smarts wise.</p>
<p>You are correct that the best aid schools are generally the top colleges. Almost like for internationals, there are no safeties in the private college world for those needing a lot of aid. Community colleges and state schools will have to be your backups.</p>
<p>A 2100 would put you in a much better position than a 1900. Many good schools have already been listed above as long as your grades/rank are good.</p>
<p>As I’m tying this I’m realizing you may not have a state where you are considered in state. Hopefully you do! If not, working for a year to gain residency in a state that permits it could also be a solution.</p>
<p>No matter where you go, there are going to be smarter people than you. It’s a simple fact of life, and college is no different. My school typically sends our top students to fourth-tier uni’s as ranked by USNWR, just to give you an idea…</p>
<p>Guys, by “lesser”, I meant “fewer”! Sorry for the bad choice of word, Obviously people at those colleges are smart people!</p>
<p>hmom5: I’ll have no other option but to work for a year if I can’t get good aid from anywhere. I’m considering it.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids: I don’t know our exact income but my mom’s a housewife and my dad is a cab driver. My sister got better aid in her second year since she asked for a grant from the state of NY after she got residency. We had to pay around 10k for the first year which we certainly can’t afford to pay again.</p>
<p>There are other situations we’re facing as well, like my parents are on the verge of being divorced and my dad rarely sends us money, if that counts for anything.</p>
<p>OP, It’s to your credit that you are trying to look for schools that will be more affordable now rather than waiting until later. As far as the “verge of divorce and not sending money” those won’t be taken into account until something actually happens. If you are looking for larger schools then then you’ll need to try to get your grades and scores as high as possible. The usual large Us that offer the best merit aid are Arizona, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.</p>
<p>Hey
don’t get me wrong when I say this but why don’t you consider studying in Pakistan rather then going through a plethora of financial difficulties(as well as stranding your mother) and the trouble of working for a year? I know for a fact that pak has highly regarded institutions in almost every field!</p>
<p>I’ll stay in Pakistan if absolutely nothing works out. But I really want to do undergraduate studies in the US. I think that’s the place where I’ll fit the most, as I sometimes seriously feel like an outcast when around here when most of the students don’t agree with my views and especially when I can’t openly speak my mind about religion etc. I’m sick of the Pakistani mentality and would like to be around open-minded and liberal people for a change. The US would also be the place where I can best pursue my academic interests (People who study things like Philosophy are considered a joke around here). That plus the worsening condition of the country every day (suicide bombings, economic crisis, power crisis, ■■■■■■ president) makes it seem like only a stupid person would stay over here if he had the option not to.</p>
<p>As for stranding my mother, that’s something which I’ve deeply thought about and would be one of the major factors IF I decide to stay here. But decisions about college should not be made like that.</p>
<p>If your parents are separated (which it sounds like since you say your dad doesn’t “send money”) and your mom is a housewife, your mom will have to get a job. However, her income will likely be very low which shouldn’t affect your EFC.</p>