confusion might lead to depression

I started my college search back in December but I am now realizing that some of the colleges I’m interested in I might not be able to go to them because of financial reasons. I am going to redo my college search but I’m just completely lost and need help.

GPA: 3.9
ACT:33
EC: math honor society, science honor society, student council, a job at a fast food restaurant, (I’m trying to find an internship next school year) and my extracurriculars are low because I am depressed.
grade: junior
ethnicity: African American female
parents salary: my mother is currently unemployed and my father makes $12k a year. I don’t expect them to pay anything for college we barely have money for rent sometimes.They seem kind of blind about the whole college process and just assumes that any college I apply to will “pay for me completely” and I know that it doesn’t work like that, which makes it more stressful
MAJOR: economics or business
PREFERENCES: I want my college in any northeast state EXCEPT for Connecticut ( I hate it), I don’t want a really big college

There are about 30 colleges & universities which meet full financial need. I will try to get that list for you.

No need to be depressed, you should get 100% tuition & fees as a financial aid grant, and most of your room & board as well. Additionally, you should receive a Pell Grant.

A 3.9 GPA & a 33 ACT is outstanding. As a low income, first generation college student, AA female, you are competitive for almost every college & university in the country.

Be sure to apply to:

Brown University, Bowdoin College, Yale & Northwestern.

Questbridge will get all application fees waived & if you participate, you should receive full tuition & fees as well as room, board, books & maybe transportation. Google “Questbridge”.

Colleges & universities which meet 100% of financial need:

  1. Northwestern University
  2. Amherst College
  3. Brown University
  4. Bowdoin College
  5. Colby College
  6. Colgate University
  7. Holy Cross
  8. Columbia University
  9. Cornell University
  10. Davidson College
  11. Duke University
  12. Dartmouth College
  13. Emory University (Atlanta)
  14. Franklin & Marshall
  15. Hamilton College
  16. Haverford College
  17. Kenyon College
  18. Middlebury College
  19. MIT
  20. Oberlin
  21. Pomona College (California)
  22. Princeton University
  23. Notre Dame
  24. University of Chicago
  25. Swarthmore
  26. USC
  27. University of Virginia
  28. Vanderbilt University
  29. Washington University of St. Louis
  30. Wesleyan University
  31. University of Pennsylvania
  32. Wake Forest University
  33. Vassar College
  34. University of Richmond

Consider applying through the Questbridge program.

Otherwise, consider:

  1. Amherst College
  2. Barnard (NYC)
  3. Brown University
  4. Bowdoin College
  5. Columbia University
  6. Cornell University
  7. Dartmouth College
  8. Haverford College
  9. Kenyon College
  10. Middlebury College
  11. Northwestern University
  12. Yale University
  13. Harvard
  14. Princeton University
  15. Stanford University
  16. Pomona College
    17)Tufts University
  17. University of Pennsylvania
  18. University of Richmond
  19. Washington University in St. Louis
  20. Vanderbilt University
  21. Notre Dame
  22. Williams College

Is Connecticut where you are in-state?

The schools that fully fund low income students are very selective, so you need to find a low cost in-state safety school as well. Community college is your last option, which can be paid for with a Pell grant and student loans.

Are you first generation? Check out Colgate University. Once admitted, they have an absolutely incredible program for 1st generation students. Full tuition, pay for your clothing and food, pay for your textbooks, etc. Before classes start, they have an orientation period to help students adjust to coursework and such.

Also, our economics department is incredible. Most popular major by far, with high placement rates in top firms. It’s a small school, like you mentioned you might want.

QuestBridge has 40 partner schools :

  1. Amherst College

  2. Bowdoin College

  3. Brown University

  4. Caltech

  5. Carleton College

  6. Claremont McKenna College

  7. Colby College

  8. Colorado College

  9. Columbia University

  10. Dartmouth College

  11. Davidson College

  12. Duke University

  13. Emory University

  14. Grinnell College

  15. Hamilton College

  16. Haverford College

  17. Macalester College

  18. MIT

  19. Northwestern University

  20. Oberlin College

  21. Pomona College

  22. Princeton University

  23. Rice University

  24. Scripps College

  25. Stanford University

  26. Swarthmore College

  27. Tufts University

  28. University of Chicago

  29. Notre Dame

  30. University of Pennsylvania

  31. USC ( University of Southern California)

  32. University of Virginia

  33. Vanderbilt University

  34. Vassar College

  35. Washington & Lee

  36. Washington University in St. Louis

  37. Wellesley College

  38. Wesleyan University

  39. Williams College

  40. Yale University