<p>Hi, I know it's a little late to be doing this but..I am hopelessly lost with my college search. I'm a senior with a 3.5 gpa, 29 ACT, pretty bad SAT but i'm retaking it in November, pretty much all honor classes and 4 APs (out of the five my school offers). My extracurriculars are..sketchy at best. I've volunteered a bit (CCD every week and I also helped campaign at my mayors office), been in two clubs for two years each, and I'm actually looking into starting a club at my school (not sure if I can even name that on my app if I'm doing it this year?). I was also a National Merit Semi-Finalist.</p>
<p>In the beginning of all this I was pretty confident about myself but now I'm doubting everything. I live in NY and I'd like a college thats pretty close (within 3 hours away) and on the bigger side because I really have no clue what I want to do. I also will need a pretty substantial amount of financial aid.</p>
<p>So far my list consists of:
BU (I think this is a stretch, and expensive, but I love everything about it)
American University
Binghamton
Stonybrook
Hofstra
and finally.. NYU (I know I wont get in but I have parental pressure to apply so I might as well).</p>
<p>The real problem is I'm not really passionate or in love with any of these schools besides BU. NYU is also amazing but not realistic for me. Thanks for reading & for the help!</p>
<p>Depending on rank and rigor, you have a chance at all of these schools. You’re right though, BU and NYU are expensive and you probably don’t have the stats for aid at either. So if $50K plus is not comfortable for you’re family, they probably are not good choices.</p>
<p>What are you calling a bad SAT? Is it below 2000? If so, you need to bring that up to improve your chances to become NMF.</p>
<p>You say that you need F/A. What is your parents’ income? Do your parents understand that F/A is unlikely if their income is too high? Do they realize that F/A is rarely “free money”??? It is usually student loans.</p>
<p>BTW…if your family’s EFC is too high and they can’t pay it, your parents need to “back down” from insisting that you apply to a school (NYU) that they can’t afford to pay for (why waste the app fee??? and the time to do the app!!!). </p>
<p>Even if you got “some” F/A to NYU (or BU), it would mostly be student loans, and unless your parents are going to repay those loans, they need to “back off.” Seriously. Parents cannot dictate schools when they aren’t paying.</p>
<p>Since you’re a NMFSF, you need to apply to some “financial safety” schools that will give you lots of money for being a NM student. Some schools will give you a tuition, room, laptop, etc, for being a NMF. Some will give you tuition, if you stay at NMSF and don’t qualify for NMF. However, many of these schools require you to apply by Dec 1…so keep that in mind.</p>
<p>Thank you two for your help. My SAT was below 2000, but I really think I can bring it up- I didn’t have a good SAT testing day the last time around. My family’s EFC is most likely pretty low, my mom is currently unemployed and besides some child support from my dad she supports me. Do you guys have any other suggestions about where to apply? That is really what I’m looking for, as I know that expensive schools like BU and NYU are pretty unrealistic for me. Do you think I have good chances at Binghamton and Stonybrook (SUNY tuition so I can most likely swing it with little FA)</p>
<p>Why don’t u tell us your SAT scores? mine is also bad but I still put it on internet ;)</p>
<p>I also apply for SUNY stony brook. I think it’s quite easy to get in but have to look at your SAT to make sure of your chances</p>
<p>btw, why not CUNY? I think it’s quite reputable, isn’t? The price is low but you still get into a good education. I mean for Hunter, baruch. Probrably try macaulay, you will get full scholarship!</p>
<p>Also look at Manhattan C, Manhattanville C, Iona C… I think these colleges are in higher rank than hofstra (correct me if i’m wrong). And the price is not that terrible</p>
<p>I just take these name from my list coz I also want to apply to NY colleges.</p>
<p>“My family’s EFC is most likely pretty low”</p>
<p>Sit down with your parents’ financial information and run some of the FAFSA and CSS Profile calculators. There are good ones at the College Board website. You absolutely need to know your FAFSA EFC (this is based on the financials of the parent that you live with). If the private colleges/universities that you are applying to require the Profile, your other parent’s financials will also be taken into consideration.</p>
<p>You should take a look at some of the information in the Financial Aid forum. Click on the link on the left-hand side of this screen.</p>
<p>Add Buffalo to your list. You are a match (I think) and it is a very good SUNY. Most kids are very happy up there and the cost is low compared to the other schools on your list. Bing and SB seem to be a reach for you. Have a SUNY back up for at least financial reasons.</p>
<p>Hofstra may give you money. Try to find some private schools that you fall in the top 20% or so of those applying (GPA and SAT/ACT) and you may get some merit aid.</p>
<p>I believe you have 2 more chances to improve your scores for your SAT for NM. </p>
<p>Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think NM will take November and December scores. Sign up for both just in case you don’t do well on the Nov test.</p>
<p>BTW…don’t forget to have your SAT scores sent to National Merit Corporation. Put their special code in one of the “college choices” to receive your scores.</p>
<p>If you apply to private schools (such as NYU) your dad’s income will also be considered since private schools use PROFILE and FAFSA. So, your income (EFC) may be higher than you think. And, I think if your mom is unemployed for less than 6 months, FAFSA doesn’t make any specail allowances for that. (someone, correct me if I’m wrong).</p>
<p>Either way, does your family realize that unless you get a merit scholarship or they pay, you would have to take out student loans??? F/A is mostly loans. You might get a little free money, but also loans. </p>
<p>I don’t like to see undergrads take out student loans. I’d rather you try to get a good merit scholarship somewhere. Jelly has given you some good ideas of where you might get some good merit scholarships as an In-state student in NY.</p>
<p>And, again, don’t waste your TIME and app money on NYU. If you’d unlikely get accepted, then don’t waste your resources. BTW…who is paying for your applications??</p>
<p>Hopefully, some others might be able to suggest some other schools for you to apply to where you’d get a BIG merit scholarship that would pay for most/all of your college expenses. </p>
<p>Good luck with your SAT…Use a practice book!!! :)</p>
<p>My grandfather left me some money for college with, I’ll most likely use that to pay for applications since I’ve been using it for fees for my highschool, SATs, etc. My mom has not been unemployed for over 6 months but even before that she worked part time and my dad does not make much money. My parents do not really understand the college process… my dad suggests schools like Dartmouth or Georgetown, schools that I would never even be considered at. He just wants a big name school. Like most parents I guess they don’t really understand how competitive schools really are. They have a “just apply and it’ll all work out” sort of attitude to the whole thing.
Anyway, I understand everyone’s points and thank you for your help. The only thing I was suprised at was Stonybrook being a reach (my guidance counselor told me I had very good chances and many of the kids in the non-honors track of myschool go there) but you never know! Hopefully everything works out :)</p>
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