Disadvantaged without exceptional grades wishes to go to exceptional college

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Thanks for reading.
My family has been below the poverty line for as long as I’ve known what a poverty line was. Nevertheless, I have always managed to keep my grades up. However, I have had to change high schools twice and became homeless and it has affected me. My GPA is 3.6 (28 ACT) and I have had less time to do extracurriculars because I have had to help out more with my younger siblings (single-parent). However, I have been involved in a few clubs consistently and I have a leadership role in one as well as winning national and state awards for art. I also volunteer within my community when I have the time.

Financial aid is obviously very important, and I have noticed the colleges with the best financial aid policies and overall appeal tend to be more selective.
Do you think I should bother applying to the more selective colleges (acceptance rates around 30% or maybe even less)?
I could really use some advice.

2

I would start by googling “colleges that meet 100% of financial need” and then look at acceptance rates. It’s not always about numbers; colleges will take into account what you’ve been through and how well you’ve done in spite of your circumstances. Is 3.6 your weighted or unweighted GPA?

3

It’s unweighted

4

Many colleges will look favorably on the fact that you took care of younger siblings, therefore not being able to participate in more traditional EC’s.