<p>Using collegeboard, I calculated the my EFC and it was around $20-25,000 for both the Federal and Institutional methodologies (FM and IM). Although this price is very high after speaking with my father, he told me I would basically have to pay everything on my own because even though my father makes a good 110k a year with paying bills, our house, insurance, debts, etc. etc. etc. we barely ever have any 'extra money' and we don't have enough money saved up to pay for my college.</p>
<p>Finding a cheap college is essential because I will eventually be paying for med school as well and although I have found some great colleges I like most of them are out of state and therefore expensive.
I am kind of lost on financial aid, so any advice or anything over my situation and the topic in general would be appreciated! </p>
<p>I know I can also apply for scholarships but I think those might not even leave a dent because they are usually only worth a few thousand to a max $10,000. And the more money awarded for these scholarships, the more competetive they are and I have kind of a weak student record (3.3 GPA [lots of honors and APs], 2050 SAT [improving] and barely any ECs, however I am the 1st of my family to go to college and I'm hispanic).</p>
<p>I am extremely scared that I won't be able to go to a school I will be happy with because of my financial limitations as well as my weak app...... Please help!</p>
<p>Finally, you can start out with two years at your local community college. You’d be able to live at home and tuition would be relatively inexpensive. You’d have to transfer to another school for your last two years, but a state college or university might not be too terribly expensive, depending on where you live, and if it’s close enough for you still to be able to commute from home, that would help to keep the cost down.</p>
<p>Don’t waste too much time worrying about outside scholarships - they might help a little, but your best bet is finding a school that will give you enough merit aid to cover all your costs!</p>
<p>Good luck!!!</p>
<p>P.S. If your plan is to go to med school, then the college you should be most happy with is the one that will allow you to graduate without going into debt!</p>
<p>3.3 GPA [lots of honors and APs], 2050 SAT [improving]</p>
<p>Did you retake your SAT? Is that what you mean by “improving”?</p>
<p>What is your M+CR? What state are you in?</p>
<p>You’re right that private scholarships aren’t likely going to help. Those are usually only for freshman year and won’t help with all 4 years.</p>
<p>What state are you in?</p>
<p>You can’t borrow much. You can only borrow:
5500 frosh
6500 soph
7500 jr
7500 sr</p>
<p>So, you’re going to have to:</p>
<p>1) find schools that will offer you huge merit scholarships for your stats
2) commute to a local CC or state univ</p>
<p>Schools that would only give you need-based aid will not work because your family contribution will be too high.</p>
<p>If you’re able to do #1, then work over the summer to help pay for books, fees, etc. Ask your dad if he can contribute ANYTHING…even a few hundred a month. During the school year work part-time to pay for day to day expenses.</p>
<p>You and your dad may benefit by reading “Debt-free U” by Zac Bissonnette. There should be a copy at your public library that you can read for free.</p>
<p>I always send kids asking this to Momfromtexas 's old thread on Free Ride scholarships. Though outdated in many ways, her methods and places to search still are good advice. By focusing on lesser known schools, the chances go up to get money. Your test scores are such, that the possibilities are there.</p>
<p>For all students, finding a few sure things is important, because regardless of test scores and grades, it really is all a lottery, especially when money is involved. So look at what communtiy college and other local state colleges are available. Also local private schools that are not that well known often give nice commuter awards to good students and those with high test scores. A number of kids here are commuting to a catholic school in the area that is very generous in merit scholarships for kids with your stats. Look at bunch of catholic colleges, by the way and see what the pickings are there. I know kids that got close to a full ride at Scrantion, Iona, Sienna and the like with numbers not as high as yours.</p>
<p>That your parents will be having you at home is like a $10K award right there. You live rent free, something that you won’t likely be doing most of your adult life, get meals, and maybe rides, use of the car, use of the amenities, some small change, etc. Those cost a lot and are expenses that going to sleep away college are necessities. You can look for some part time work now for school holidays, weekends and the summer and put a nice piece of change away for you to use. You also will be permitted to take out $5500 in Stafford loans if you parent complete the FAFSA and those will be in your name, and that will give you some breathing room. </p>
<p>That your parents are being upfront about this is a good thing. Too many bluff and fool themselves until the time comes to pay the piper and then they have to admit the cupboard is bare. Not as many options available at that late date. You know the realities up front and can start gathering information for low cost affordable options. Let your counselor know and get some ideas as to where other kids have gotten nice awards, local and otherwise, and keep your ears wide open for ideas too.</p>
<p>No, my weighted GPA is 3.75 and by the way, what I mean by “improving” is that I’m going to, in the future, improve my score by retaking it. I’ve only taken the SAT once and I didn’t even study so…</p>
<p>Your upward trend is a help. BUT it will not completely make up for your lesser performance for much of high school. Your current SAT score shows you likely have the potential to do well, but you have underachieved in high school as you know.</p>
<p>You certainly could start off at another small college, do extremely well, and then transfer to finish your degree. OR you could aim for a top school for grad school.</p>
<p>Certainly apply to a reach or two, but make sure your application list casts a broad net.</p>
<p>Since you have an unaffordable EFC, then your strategy needs to be:</p>
<p>Include state schools that you can commute to so that COA is reduced</p>
<p>Include schools that will give you HUGE merit for your stats so that remaining costs are so low that you and your parents can cover the remaining costs with a 5500 student loan, summer earnings, and some money from your parents.</p>
<p>Ask your parents how much they CAN contribute…even if it’s just a few thousand.</p>
<p>I don’t think transferring is a good idea since you wouldn’t get much/any merit, and you couldn’t afford to pay what’s expected.</p>
<p>What is your math + CR score? You need the highest possible for merit.</p>