<p>This organization might be just what you are looking for:
<a href=“http://www.possefoundation.org/”>http://www.possefoundation.org/</a></p>
<p>They provide scholarships and send kids to college as a group so you would have a built in support system while transitioning to college.</p>
<p>It may be too late to be nominated to posse? He would need to be nominated I believe. If you are considering it, look into ASAP. I might be wrong on the deadline…</p>
<p>I don’t know if this’ll set your mind at ease much OP, but, I know a lot of really successful people that came from rural beginnings, my grandfather literally grew up on a farm and he ended up going to NYU, and, more recently, a family friend of mine from even more humble beginnings got accepted into Oxford.</p>
<p>, I don’t mean to be overly crass, but, you’re an URM from a bad school with an exceptional GPA and exceptional test scores; Colleges will eat that up. I would not be at all surprised to see you posting about Ivy acceptances in a year from now.</p>
<p>And, it’s natural to feel inadequate when your goals outstrip the goals of the people around you but you can’t let that stop you from overcoming that feeling of inadequacy. It’s summer and you sound like a bright kid, I’m sure if you got your hands on an SAT subject test prep book that you’d be able to do well on your tests.</p>
<p>Looking forward to seeing you post your acceptances next year.</p>
<p>@peteyhernada take a look at this article:</p>
<p><a href=“How Do You Get Poor Kids to Apply to Great Colleges? | Innovation| Smithsonian Magazine”>http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-do-you-get-poor-kids-to-apply-to-great-colleges-180947642/</a></p>
<p>Highly selective colleges are spending $$$ trying to get students EXACTLY LIKE YOU to apply.</p>
<p>Harvard just made subject tests optional. 4.0 uw gpa and an ACT 34, URM, low-income (I’m assuming?) and possibly first-generation college student? If you can write a decent essay at all, I’d have to say you have an excellent chance of getting a full ride at a top school.</p>
<p>Top schools put a lot of effort into making sure that <em>all</em> students graduate on time. If you get in, you belong.</p>
<p>Here’s an idea: postpone worrying about your adjustment to college for a year. Get all your applications in order, submit them, breathe. Wait for your responses; breathe some more. Weigh your offers; breathe. By 11:59 p.m. on April 30th, 2015, decide which great college you’re going to attend; breathe. Enjoy the final weeks of high school; breathe. Have a great summer after you graduate; breathe. Go to college. Keep breathing. </p>
<p>Bro you got this.</p>
<p>Another vote for Questbridge. Please investigate this amazing plan that can link you with amazing colleges. Its app takes work but the rewards are mind-boggling. I’ve had the pleasure to interview 3 guys admitted through this program into my HYP alma mater. All from humble backgrounds, all are going to be superstars.</p>
<p>You are not unprepared. Your just a little raw and from what I’m seeing and you will blossom in a challenging situation don’t be hesitant. You are good at standardized testing period your ethnicity has nothing to with it positively or negatively. The fact that you have achieved at such a high level considering your surroundings is a testament to your acumen and work ethic. Keep in mind that if your family makes less than 60k you will basically go for free to most of the top schools. Go for it! The top schools are looking for people like you. </p>
<p>@T26E4 do you think that Questbridge is actually necessary/helpful in this case? 4.0/35 ACT is highly qualified, period. If OP is actually low income, the QB scholarship doesn’t give much benefit from a finaid perspective.</p>
<p>Not challenging, just wondering what your thoughts are about QB for high stats candidates like the OP.</p>
<p>My opinion only: if OP places himself well with QB, he’ll have colleges beating at his door.</p>
<p>Swinging back in to see if @peteyhernada stopped back in…</p>
<p>FYI- DD was a QuestBridge College Prep Scholar last year and did the conference at Yale, June 2013. What’s hysterical and ironic is that she didn’t even stop by the Yale table to chat it up with the adcom during the college fair that they set up that afternoon. She had an aversion to being so close to home.</p>
<p>She ended up not applying to the College Match in the fall because she felt it too constricting and was on the fence about her top choices…her apps didn’t get submitted until 12/31. Lol Yale’s deadline. </p>
<p>She did not need QB. She did pretty darn good without it. </p>
<p>He should definitely apply to Ron Brown, Jackie Robinson, Coca Cola and a few other scholarships. Oh yes, Gates Millenium. </p>
<p>@woogzmama </p>
<p>Love your post!!! Spot on!!!</p>
<p>Many schools have summer “bridge” programs for admitted students who may come from schools where the preparation may not be as strong, but the students shows significant potential. Part of the goal of these programs is to build confidence and expose students to the resources available to them. Michigan and Cornell are two such programs.</p>
<p>What I’ve seen is that some students need to learn to study before they get to the demanding college because they were able to cruise through a high-needs high school. So, work on concrete study skills. Read up now on “college success” how-to books and recent articles. </p>
<p>Network with students like you who have entered and graduated from competitive colleges (maybe find them online through a group of professionals in the field you aspire to). </p>
<p>You also might want to do that gap year or PG year, if you can find a way to fund it. Washington, D.C., is a great place for a gap year, btw.</p>
<p>Once you’re in college, make sure to meet with your instructors (if small courses) a few times a semester to make sure you’re on the same page and shamelessly use the college’s writing, math and other academic supports like tutoring. </p>
<p>Your ACT score rocks and is an outside objective datapoint that says “yes, you can do this.” Go for it! </p>
<p>@peteyhernada </p>
<p>Is there a college access program at your school? Or maybe in your area? One that can help you with getting a jump start on your essays? Do you have a tentative college list ready? Any ideas on the type of school you’d like to spend four years at? Urban, rural, LAC, Ivy, or the size? Greek like? Big sports teams, etc…</p>
<p>I don’t think there are any free programs like that around. I do have a list of like 8 schools that I need to narrow down. I mentioned in one of my other threads that I really like Pomona. Most of the schools I’m looking at are in, or are reasonably close to a large city. Greek life and sports aren’t that important to me.</p>
<p>Okay, well Pomona has a fly in event. I believe the deadline was August last year. They will fly you out for free for the weekend in the fall & you can see what the school is like while it’s in session. Fly in weekends are a wonderful way to see a school up close and personal.</p>
<p>I should have also added that the deadline for this year is probably the same. Take some time to check their website.</p>
<p><a href=“FALL WEEKEND AT POMONA COLLEGE 2014”>https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yFoXSz5tmbkMsi-Am2IxG3ysp7lTHUt-6jn0nSOxv3Y/viewform</a></p>
<p>Pomona’s fly in weekend info.</p>