I have a 3.48 unweighted GPA and a 3.51 weighted GPA. I am junior right now (and only 1 semester is done) and I am taking AP comp sci and 2 honors (English, History) this year. BTW, I could have to gotten into APUSH but due to a scheduling issue I couldn’t. I am planning on taking more AP’s next depending on my grades and I am definitely taking AP psych next year.
My EC’s as of now are:
Have been a member of three clubs (aviation, french and UNICEF)
Social media manager at my local library
I think I am considering nursing as a major (I want to be a CRNA), but I am also looking at Business and Comp sci (and maybeeee biology). What are some good colleges that I should consider based on these? What are some good colleges that I could actually get into.
Additional stuff:
I live In Mass, so even in state public schools are very expensive and it sucks
I actually moved to the US from another country (India) to live with my single mom about 5 years ago (if I count this year too)
It would be better if the net price is less than 26k~
It would also be better if it was a somewhat selective school
One immediate question is whether you want to commit to nursing. Some colleges have direct entry, guaranteed admission to the program if you get into the school, some don’t.
Well, I do really want to go into nursing, but my mom doesn’t really seem to like that idea. Being a CRNA seems to be a lucrative choice and I think its a good option for me (even though I am genuinely passionate about film studies, something that I can only dream of doing though). It’s better if the college has a nursing major in the first place.
The PSAT score for sophomore year was 1100 (610 for writing/reading and 490 for math. I took the PSAT this year and the results have yet to come. My practice test score this year usually stayed around 1190 though.
You have options. $26K is doable with merit or financial aid (and you should find out from your mom what she can afford to pay and what the net price calculator at some colleges says, and what the deal is with your non-custodial parent - will he fill out FA forms? Is his income very high?). That will help narrow things down some as some colleges require both parents’ info, some don’t, and some will give scholarships without any financial info.
1100+ is not a bad score but you can get that score up when you take the SAT and/or ACT with some prep. I’d suggest getting a book and trying both to see which one you do better on.
Beyond price and “somewhat selective”, any other constraints? Close to home, far way OK< small, large, urban, rural - any of that matter to you?
The setting and the size doesn’t really matter to me I guess. I am willing to go anywhere if it has a good price and great academics, but it’s nice if its near mass. And me and my mom have no contact with my dad as far as I know. He most likely is not going to be contributing anything.
I am not sure if we really would qualify for need based aid as my mom’s salary itself is around 110k and I mostly likely would not qualify for merit aid. Also, I am taking a prep class for the SAT on January.
UMass Lowell has a good nursing program, good CS program, and quite a few other good programs. I am not sure whether your GPA is enough to get you into the nursing program there but it should be sufficient for UMass Lowell in general. The average incoming SAT there is a bit over 1200 so your 1190 average test scores is pretty close also. Keep up the SAT preparation and get a good night’s sleep the night before you take it.
I think that it would be a reach to get into anywhere either less expensive or significantly more selective than UMass Lowell, although you could of course give it a try.
An 1100 (or better) and a 3.5 is NOT a bad set of stats. There are a lot of schools that would be glad to have you and would provide merit aid for you to attend. Your mom’s income might qualify for some aid - can’t hurt to do the FAFSA that year anyway, but don’t count on much help there.
Dad not in touch will be a challenge for schools that want financial info from both parents. Shooting for merit aid means targeting colleges where your stats are above average, or near the top of their applicant pool.
In Ohio, if you want to look that far, Capital U in Columbus has a great direct entry nursing program and is very generous with merit aid. FAFSA only so no dad info required.
LACs with good merit include College of Wooster, Ohio Wesleyan, Wittenberg - I don’t think any have nursing.
UMass Amherst has nursing but I don’t know about the requirements for it. $26K would probably cover it though since you are instate. https://www.umass.edu/nursing/academic-programs/nursing-major and UMass Boston has nursing as well. Northeastern and Simmons may be a stretch but worth a look.
Yep, I am. I was actually born here, but moved to India when I was three and came back when I was about 12 I think. I am 15 now (turning 16 in 2 months).
Thanks for the info. I am hoping to get my gap/test scores up but I don’t this this year had a good start. I have a class I was forced to take my parents and have absolutely no interest in it (its Java btw) and I have a C in it right now. It brought my otherwise pretty good grades down.
I am definitely considering UMass Amherst and it’s probably on the top of my list. It might be pretty unrealistic, but I am also aiming for colleges with more prestige than that. Not sure if that’s possible at this point unless a miracle happens
Also, I am a student a public school which could be called family rigorous (not really sure about the accuracy of this statement) (I go to Westborough High School). I am not sure if that really matters?
