Are you eligible for the Questbridge program? Alternative way to apply to schools as a low-income/first-gen student. They also have a program for Juniors. The application is opening soon! A benefit is that the Junior app is the same as the Senior college match application, so you can reuse essays and start your college application as a Junior. Any of the Questbridge schools give GREAT financial aid. You will likely end up paying less money than at your state’s flagship.
You can do a lot better than the schools ClarinetDad suggested (UConn, Towson, Rutgers, etc.). They don’t offer anything you can’t get at UMASS. I think a private school with good financial aid or merit will be more affordable than an out of state public univ unless they are known to be generous. You got some good suggestions for private schools above. You might also want to look into schools like RPI and RIT, both in NY State
@citymama9 - she can “do better”?
Please share what you mean. Thanks.
@ClarinetDad16 URM, female interested in STEM, first generation, almost perfect unweighted GPA, close to the top of her class… I think she will be a very desirable candidate to many very good schools. I think she can aim higher. For a safety she has UMASS which will cost less than Rutgers and UConn. A less selective private school with FA and merit might even cost less than those OOS public universities.
So @citymama9 you recommend she should pick from the highest “ranked” schools that accept the OP?
Do these schools that are in the “aim higher” group have many African American females like the OP?
Do they have excellent resources to support first generation students?
Will these schools offer a wide range of majors in case the OP wants to switch what she studies?
Do these schools have solid research opportunities?
Do their students land excellent internships?
Are they hands on learning environments?
Are they in or near major cities with diverse cultural opportunities?
Will she be excited to attend, supported to thrive and ultimately graduate? (Then land a great job or feed into a solid graduate program and then tap into a vibrant alumni network)
the ranking of schools for the op should be custom for her…
Did @DancingwithStars ever chime in about finances? I’m not seeing it if they did.
What is your budget per year?
You are in a sweet spot with great GPA, ECs, STEM, female and URM. The one thing you need to work is your test score. It would be a tragedy if you didn’t start working now to get that score improved.
Take the ACT also. Take it for free at home and score it–you may like the ACT better.
To improve your score (ACT or SAT), stay motivated, do a practice SECTION every other day in the months before your official test and study what you missed. Message me if you want more tips.
@ClarinetDad16 I stand by my original posts. The OP can do much better than the schools you suggested. Townson? Really? A school like U of Rochester can’t meet her needs, but Rutgers can?
So you mean by better schools that reject more applicants and have higher standardized test scores.
A little baffled how RIT or RPI is much “better” for the OP than say University of Maryland.
Perhaps you are viewing schools through the lens of your daughter. A first gen African American female STEM student might very well evaluate schools differently than your child or a generic “ranking.”
@ClarinetDad16 I can find a Questbridge School that can answer every single one of the questions you listed in the affirmative. Questbridge is an amazing program and each of the schools participating recognize the special challenges first-gen students have to overcome. OP has the grades for it.
I’ll use Brown University(a Questbridge partner) as an example:
-
Do these schools that are in the “aim higher” group have many African American females like the OP?
Brown actively tries to ‘recruit’ more female minorities into its STEM programs. It also has campus chapters of the National Society of Black Engineers and the Society of Women engineers. Their engineering program is 41% female and 21% underrepresented minority. -
Do they have excellent resources to support first generation students?
Brown opened the first Low-Income/First-Generation Center of its kind with writing centers and other resources just for these groups. -
Will these schools offer a wide range of majors in case the OP wants to switch what she studies?
Brown has 79 concentrations and students can choose to make their own majors if they so desire. -
Do these schools have solid research opportunities?
Brown is a top research school focused on undergrads. -
Do their students land excellent internships?
Students are specifically recruited by top companies. While Brown is not pre-professional, grads have no shortage of opportunities. -
Are they hands on learning environments?
Students are encouraged to make their own learning paths -
Are they in or near major cities with diverse cultural opportunities?
Providence is a city known for its rich cultural diversity. -
Will she be excited to attend, supported to thrive and ultimately graduate?
No one can answer that except OP. It’s her choice where she goes and not mine. I just don’t want to see another student with high potential choose a school below their potential. It happens all the time at my school and OP should know she has options. Schools throw money at students with her traits because they are so underrepresented in virtually every applicant pool.
@carachel2 My family makes around 90-95K a year, and my mom said she would probably spend AT MOST 15K per year
and @citymama9 and @ClarinetDad16 there is no need for so much argumentative speech. I am thankful that everyone has had the opportunity to chime in with their own opinions, and I will consider ALL possible options
@Hamlon Thanks for the info about Questbridge! It seems like a great opportunity to get in touch with some top notch schools. However, I saw that most students who are in the programs have families that have an income of 65K or less, so I’m assuming I wouldn’t be eligible?
@DancingwithStars You wouldn’t necessarily be ineligible. The 65K is for families of 4. Questbridge takes extenuating circumstances into account too. Do you have any siblings that will enroll in college or attend at the same time as you? Contact Questbridge and ask if you would be a good candidate. Even if you aren’t eligible, the Questbridge partners are a good place for you to start as a first-generation student.
OK @ClarinetDad16 your defensiveness is bordering on annoying me. I added RPI and RIT to the already good suggestions above such as Brandeis and Northeastern, because they are good for Stem and not that far from MA, and medium sized. They are not the only two schools out there. I am not suggesting the OP go to some racist school that would not welcome her. What on earth are you getting at? I am a huge believer in every student finding the right fit. I think it’s more important than the academics, to be honest. So please stop this dialogue with me. Suggesting she go to an oos public that will probably not be that generous with FA makes no sense. If you mentioned Alabama or even UN Chapel HIll I would not have shot you down, so to speak. And my daughter has zero interest in STEM and would hate the schools I suggested. I am not rankings obsessed. I just think the OP can do better than Towson.
OP, based on your family’s income you should focus on schools that meet full need and have generous merit. There are lists of schools here on CC. For kicks, do the NPC for Rutgers and U of Maryland and see what it might cost your family.
@DancingwithStars based on your preferences, I’d say RPI could be a good fit, especially if “nerdy student body” appeals to you. If you can increase your SAT score you’ll probably get merit aid, especially being female and URM. WPI is another option.
OP, follow your dreams and keep all doors open to you. Find the right fit for you and recognize there is no trophy for being admitted to a school.
The reward is for graduating and launching into a dream career.
Make your family proud and start your own legacy. You got this!
@Hamlon thanks for the info on questbridge! I will be the only one attending college at the time I attend, but I will contact questbridge and ask them about my eligiblity.
@insanedreamer I have looked at RPI, and it looks like a great school! How high would I have to raise my SAT score to be eligible for merit aid?
@ClarinetDad16 thanks so much for the encouragement! I really appreciate it 
I don’t know the exact threshold, but shoot for 1450-1500. Your GPA and AP scores are high, so with practice and prep you should be able to get your SAT scores up. (My D took a practice test, at home, each week for 10 weeks.) You qualify for the Rensselear Medal scholarship (http://admissions.rpi.edu/undergraduate/admission/freshman/rpimedal.html) if you’re in the 10% of your class in your junior year – but your school has to nominate you, so ask your teacher/school and express your interest. But RPI has other merit (and need) scholarships as well. My D got a lot of aid from them (she scored 2300 old SAT).
If for some reason your SAT scores don’t improve substantially (some people are really good students but don’t do so well on SAT), focus on applying to top schools that value GPA and other factors more than SAT. There’s a list of them here: http://blog.prepscholar.com/the-complete-guide-to-sat-optional-colleges
Good luck! I’m sure you’ll do well.
PS. Here’s a list of schools that meet 100% need: http://www.thecollegesolution.com/schools-that-meet-100-of-financial-need-2/
@insanedreamer thanks for the info about RPI! I’m not sure if my school participates in the program, but I’ll ask around. I’m gonna try to get my SAT score up by taking a prep course, and see how I do on the May SAT
Try Khan Academy for your prep, it is free.
I was talking to my family, and they said I should focus on schools that have good merit scholarships. Any other schools other than RPI that gives good merit scholarships?