Many colleges have frosh admission requirements for math that are higher than many high schools’ graduation requirements. What math have you completed so far?
However, if you apply as a frosh to various colleges (including UMN TC and Morris and many other LACs), some high school foreign language (or equivalent college foreign language) is typically required or expected. How much foreign language course work have you completed?
If you are a native or heritage speaker of a foreign language, some colleges may accept that instead (perhaps considering English as your foreign language), but you need to check or contact each college specifically to see if it allows that.
I know this is overwhelming. You came here to ask for a list of colleges that meet your criteria and are likely to award you full-ride merit scholarship, based on your 4.0 uw GPA and projected near-perfect ACT. Instead, we’ve presented concerns about your approach to planning your junior and senior year coursework.
Unfortunately, full-ride merit-based awards are extremely competitive and very few are given out. A 4.0 GPA and 35 ACT alone likely aren’t enough. I’m sorry. I’m sure you will find great merit-money with your superior stats, but it’s unlikely you’ll find a FULL-ride that meets your criteria for a mid-high tier LAC.
What does your GC have to say about your planned schedule? Although it’s hard to hear, you’ve gotten great advice from some of the senior members on this forum.
So, if you go to Gustavus you could- in theory- graduate from college in just 2 years (it might take a little longer, b/c they will accept up to the equivalent of 2 years of credits, but they get to evaluate which of your credits they will accept. In most cases, colleges want you to do the upper level classes for your major with them, and you may have to do some Gustavus-specific classes). Picking up on @myrna97’s point about accelerating through college, is that your goal?
If so, consider that one of the biggest elements for grad school applications is the research you have done. No matter how advanced your standing is when you start college, or how small a college you choose, you will be a freshman from the point of view of research positions. You won’t be surprised to hear that 1st years are at the bottom of the heap, and Seniors are at the top. A common path is to do research at your home college summer after 1st year (like the Fyre program), then do REU’s the next 2 summers. That experience- and the LoRs from your PIs- are key to getting into grad school from an LAC. Rushing through undergrad might not help you with grad school admissions.
Your parents probably don’t realize that any such PhD, if it has value, would be fully funded.
And really, your chances of a full ride are low. More likely, a full or near full tuition award.
Don’t fear large universities. That’s where the research is.
If you get an ACT 35, then you can get near-free tuition, accelerated masters at University of Alabama. You could get even more $$ if you get into their Randalls Research Scholars Program.
Another option is their Emerging Scholars program for research.
I want to let you know that you have done well. You have excellent stats, and you’ll put forth an outstanding application. If you look around the forum, you’ll se a lot of posts from kids looking for big merit money from schools. It’s very difficult to get full ride, full tuition. That you have about $10-20k to work with, gives you some more options than those who need just about full everything.
Also, since I’m looking to get into a genetics-based graduate program, and am interested in working in the biotech industry, would the University of Washington be a good place to make connections? Is their research known to be good in the biology department? I know that Seattle, California, and South Carolina are big technology hubs where lots of companies start up and work from.
Another thing to mention is that I have checked in 10+ college financial aid websites, and I will not be getting any financial aid. If there are some that offer me aid, it will be miniscule. That is a big reason why I am hoping to get a full ride scholarship to whatever college I choose to go to.
@mom2collegekids
I really don’t want to go to Alabama with their full ride scholarship. From what I’ve looked at, the school campus and atmosphere just doesn’t interest me. I feel like it is the stereotypical state school that everyone who wants merit money goes to, and, personally, I want to be unique, to take the less obvious and more adventurous path. Also it is BIG.
@collegemom3717
The reason that I am doing dual enrollment is, yes, to try and start my PhD as soon as I can. On the other hand, I also realize that the longer I stay in undergrad, the better application I will have for graduate school. I also like that if I get a full ride, it will cover me for 4 years so I have room to dabble in other areas, maybe get a minor (I know it won’t effect my success), or get further research done to possibly get published. I also got kind of bored of high school and wanted the extra challenge that dual enrollment brings.
@curiousme2
Is there opportunity for me to find a full ride at a state university? I know my chances are unlikely at an LAC, but would I have a better chance at state universities like the U of MN-TC, the U of Washington, and the U of Tulsa?
Unfortunately, I’ve never heard of a full-ride scholarship to the UMN-TC; their top scholarship appears to be $12K/year. But because the sticker price for in-state students is lower than many schools, it could still end up being one of your most affordable options.
Getting a full ride scholarship is very difficult. Not many out there and those that are offered at selective schools are there to attract students that are often accepted to the very top schools as well. The ivies and some other top schools offer no merit money, so schools that do can have that as an extra incentive to attend.
And so it goes with colleges. Those with full ride awards do so to attract students outside their usual circle. Like Alabama. No reason for UMN-TC to offer you a full ride.
If you NEED the money, that is what you need to follow. Otherwise it doesn’t matter where you are accepted. You won’t be able to afford to attend
If you’re open to relocating, what about University of New Mexico. You’d be competitive for the Regents Scholarship–which is a full ride. If you make NMF, you’d a get full tuition. (Room & board at UNM is under $11k/year.) The NMF award is automatic; the Regents is competitive. https://scholarship.unm.edu/scholarships/non-resident.html
You cannot be that picky if you need a full ride. However, Alabama’s largest automatic scholarship for stats (if you get a 36 on the ACT) is value of tuition plus one year of on-campus housing plus $1,000 per year plus $500 per year for books, not really a full ride: https://scholarships.ua.edu/freshman/out-of-state/ . National Merit Finalists get more, with four years of on-campus housing plus $3,500 per year: https://scholarships.ua.edu/nationalscholars/
Even as NMF, full rides are not easy to find. Take a look at the list of school that offer NMFs full ride. You’ll notice that UMN-TC does not. I believe Morris is the only UMN that does.
But you are not NMF, so your list is going to be notably shorter But a perk at that list shows you what schools are even players in big merit money. If you don’t like them, then. You either have to pay for the cost or find schools with a sticker price you can afford. You have your state schools and those in the coalition that can give you instate rates for tuition
You are very unlikely to get a full ride, or even a full tuition, award at a state school, especially OOS. Alabama offers them but you aren’t interested. Florida offers them to NMF.
You are more likely to find one at a smaller, less prestigious school, one that it trying to attract high stats. You say you want smaller towns and schools and then list U of Washington. It’s good to have an open mind about schools, but I think in your case you need to focus on what you want - the money or the prestige or size or location or research opportunities outside the school. You have all the Minn schools, plus all of Wisconsin publics, plus the other ‘cold’ states (N Dakota, S Dakota, etc) that offer scholarships or discounts to Minn residents.
Methinks you need to have a frank discussion with your parents after doing some Net Price Calculator costs as to their Expected Family Contribution. It seems out of line with reality (that they can pay more than 10k), and you seem to be bearing the brunt of them not wanting to contribute based on their middle/high income. Your EC are not impressive enough to land a music scholarship, and 1 yr of Boy Scouts and Football that ended in middle school does not rise to the level where you should even mention it. Talk with them…