<p>Dartmouth tends to have superb financial aid (its the richest Ivy per student after HYP) and it has the “traditional college feel” you seem to like. I think you’d do well to apply there - it might be the best bet for amazing financial aid plus a great college experience. If you get in, Dartmouth rolls out the red carpet.</p>
<p>
Low PSAT, nowhere near NMF.
It’s not a goal, but it’s something I’ve considered. It’s not out of the picture, but I’m not gearing myself towards it, and don’t intend to.</p>
<p>
Alabama definitely is only on there for a safety and because of its full-tuition scholarship for my ACT score. It doesn’t even have a neuroscience program, so it seems useless to me, but I won’t complain about having a tuition-paid option under my belt.
Miami does have some merit-based scholarships, I’m not sure how many are awarded, but there is a full-tuition award. [New</a> Freshmen / First Year Students | Enrollment Management | University of Miami](<a href=“http://www.miami.edu/index.php/ug/scholarships/freshmen/]New”>http://www.miami.edu/index.php/ug/scholarships/freshmen/)
Yes, I actually do. And recent developments have put my $0 EFC into question, so I don’t know what to think anymore… <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12970492-post44.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12970492-post44.html</a> (my list of schools in that thread was posted prior to this one, which is revised and more accurate)
I think “traditional college feel” is a good way to put it. I’m definitely going to see what kind of programs they have and will probably end up applying.</p>
<p>This is why I love CC. :)</p>
<p>I agree that you should aim higher. My S had similar stats to yours (also hispanic) and got into Stanford, CalTech, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Berkeley, along with other highly selective schools. To be honest, he applied to 16 schools (because he wanted some safeties) and he got into every school he applied to… if I were you, I’d aim higher. Also, the first three schools I mentioned all gave terrific aid without loans.</p>
<p>By the way… what are you planning on studying?</p>
<p>Thanks 
Neuroscience/neurobiology. Pretty sure that’s what I’m going to be sticking with.</p>
<p>If you like Dartmouth, I’d also look at Williams and Amherst. Excellent need-based aid, excellent sciences and high level of interest in high achieving Hispanics.</p>
<p>Also, you should contact QuestBridge now.</p>
<p>I agree that you are an outstanding candidate for elite colleges - IF you get some leadership!
Ideas: start a science club at a middle school where you do experiments with the kids or prep them for a science fair
Get other kids involved in an advocacy campaign for science education funding. Start a letter writing campaign and then meet with your elected officials on this.
Coordinate a 3 on 3 basketball tournament - get prizes donated, charge teams a fee to participate. Donate the money to a charitable cause.
Coordinate a benefit concert. Get a free venue (like your school or a community center) Get groups to volunteer to play, charge admission, donate to a charitable cause.
Start a group of kids in your school who can tutor or mentor 9th graders or middle schoolers.
Chair a group of kids that wants to improve things in your school; pick projects and do something about them. For example, you can pick healthier school lunches, time for exercise, coordination of tests and homework, whatever kids think is important.
If your school has enough land, start a community garden. If it has no land, think about beautifying it with flower pots, raise money to buy plants and get kids to plant them.
There are lots of other ideas, but I am saying that the elite colleges want to see leadership and you clearly have the capability to do this if your teachers have selected you for the training.
Also, if a school like Georgetown or Yale has SCEA, and you do not choose this, the adcoms will assume that you have applied elsewhere ED or SCEA, and that the school with SCEA is not your first choice, and they may reject you because they fear that you will reject them. So, apply SCEA to one of these choices! You have nothing to lose as it is non-binding.
Keep up the great work!</p>
<p>Thanks for those suggestions. I’d love to do something like that, but as you know, I have very limited time now since I’m only just now becoming aware that I even have a shot at top-notch schools. I need to come up with something that I can do within the next month or two so that I can have it done by the time I apply to colleges.</p>
<p>You mentioned SCEA, but I’m pretty sure that if I’m applying through QuestBridge, I cannot apply EA or ED to ANY schools.</p>
<p>Yes, you are right about Questbridge and SCEA.
If you are involved in an ongoing project that is not yet complete, you can still indicate that on your college application.</p>