Good Schools in the Southeast?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm a rising senior who goes to a no-name, class AA high school in a tiny Georgia town; right now I am planning to apply for Oxford Scholars at Oxford College of Emory University, but I need some other schools to consider. As of now, it looks like GA Southern is my safetly school, but I'd like some other options as well! They don't have to necessarily be in GA, but I guess that would be ideal. Also, I plan to major in English/ Creative Writing.</p>

<p>Oh, and a little extra background: I'm a Caucasian, Methodist girl from a family of seven kids- all the same parents. I moved in the middle of my high school career because life just sucks in that way.</p>

<p>My Info:</p>

<p>ACT: (N/A) Frankly, I don't want to take it. Is that bad? Should I?</p>

<p>SAT: 1890. HOWEVER! This is from the first time I took it, no preparation whatsoever. While my writing and verbal scores are relatively high (690 and 670), my math was not. I'm dedicating a big chunk of this summer to studying though, and I plan to raise each of my scores at least 100 points, if possible.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 unweighted. Weighted, I'm not sure.</p>

<p>Other standardized tests (that show up on my transcript): I made a perfect score on the GHSWT (GA writing test), all As on my EOCTS, and a 5 on my APUSH exam. I imagine I'll probably make 5s on my other AP exams, too, especially considering they're all my best subjects. </p>

<p>Course load: Podunk High School only offers 5 AP classes, which is terrible because I was planning on taking so many more than that at my old high school. I had to transfer before senior year because my dad got a new job. Will that affect my chances of getting in? Anyway, senior year, I will be taking AP Biology A and B, AP Lang, and AP Lit (I'm just listing AP, not everything). I have already taken APUSH A and B (I haven't gotten my scores yet, but I'm almost positive I made a 5). I have three foreign language credits (I made a 100 in all three of them), all honors classes, and I also took Advanced Composition, a class allowing only upperclassmen, my sophomore year and made the highest grade.</p>

<p>Class Rank - I was number one until I switched schools; it gives me no pleasure to say that I have been demoted to number 3. ):</p>

<p>Extra Curricular:</p>

<p>Marching band, jazz band, concert band, symphonic band (this was at my old school; we had a VERY prestigious band program, prestigious as in Dr. Long- most famous band director in our country as of now- came to our spring concerts. To be in symphonic band- especially as a sophomore- was a real honor), drama (I have been in A LOT of plays, with both major and minor roles), Leadership Team, and my school's very successful literary team (guess my AA school is good for something after all).</p>

<p>Clubs: Inducted into Spanish Honor Society 9th grade, Thespian society (11-12; we didn't have a drama department at my old school), Beta Club (11-12; once again, new school only), National Honor Society (10; only at old school), and Spanish Club (10; I think you're seeing the pattern here by now). I honestly just don't see much point in clubs, and I didn't want to pay the tuition for a whole bunch of them just so I could write them on college applications. I'd rather be honest and rejected than dishonest and accepted.</p>

<p>Leadership: Leadership team, flute section leader, thespian troupe historian</p>

<p>Volunteering: Vacation Bible School- 7th through 11th grade.
Made some shweet brownies for old people with my church!
Helped pack "shoe-boxes" full of supplies for needy children in Mexico
AA literary regionals- time keeper
9th grade advisement mentor 2012-2013</p>

<p>Academic Honors: Number one in sophomore class, highest average in Pre-AP American Lit 10th grade, highest average in biology I 10th grade, Number three in junior class, Highest average in Honors British Literature 11th grade, Highest average in Chemistry I 11th grade.</p>

<p>Other Achievements: University of Georgia Merit Scholar (I think it's something like that, anyways), State interviewee for Georgia's Governor's Honors Program 2012 (Communicative Arts major), 1st place for girl's essay- Class AA literary regionals, 2012, 4th place for girl's essay- Class AA literary state finals, Nominated for HOBY, 10th grade, musicianship award in symphonic band 10th grade, SEUS Honor Band 11th grade, competed at some drama festival whose name I can't remember right now, will compete at GTC (it's a drama thing) this fall (and hopefully place!), will compete at IE (individual events, drama again!) this semester in pantomime skit (probably, anyway), will attend Thescon this winter (heck yes!), also part of community theater's summer production 2012.</p>

<p>Work Experience: More like inexperience...I babysit quite frequently, was once a tutor for a six year old who refused to read (worst. job. ever.), and occasionally worked for the nursery at my old church.</p>

<p>Essay: I imagine I'll probably write about the joys (sarcasm) of having 6 other siblings. Or something. My life has been an unwavering series of weird events, so I'm sure I'll have something to write about.</p>

<p>Rec Letters- My English teacher wrote on one of my papers that she knows I will be a famous writer one day, so I think it might be a good idea to get her to write one. I also plan on getting my drama teacher/ literary dude (is coach the appropriate word there? He didn't coach us, but he did buy us pizza and doughnuts.) to write one. They both love me, if that doesn't sound conceited.</p>

<p>So, uh, there you have it, folks. I've been stressing out about college ever since the summer began, and I just want to know whether or not I can stop stressing. That's probably physically impossible, but you know. A girl can dream.</p>

2

<p>Also, I might need to add that I need schools that REALLY give financial aid or are somewhat generous with scholarships- or at least a school where I’d have a chance at a scholarship. As for Emory, my family’s income is over the limit for Emory Advantage, and even though I have 6 siblings (three of us will be in college at the same time), we wouldn’t get any financial aid from them, according to the net price calculator.</p>

3

<p>Take a look at Sewanee and Rhodes.</p>

4

<p>Do a search on cc for schools known for merit aid, for full scholarships, etc…Lots of threads on this topic, which include many southern schools. U of Alabama seems worth looking into, in particular.</p>

5

<p>Will you qualify for the GA HOPE?</p>

6

<p>Look at [this</a> list](<a href=“http://projectonstudentdebt.org/pc_institution.php][b]this”>http://projectonstudentdebt.org/pc_institution.php) of “no loan” schools that offer good need-based aid and, depending on family income, may meet your need without you having to take out any loans.</p>

<p>Don’t take the ACT if you don’t want to . . . but I would suggest at least trying one practice ACT on your own. You may find you do better on that test than the SAT. You never know - it’s different from one person to the next. So I wouldn’t write it off without at least giving it a try. There’s at least one full practice test available on the ACT website at no charge . . . and there are others available as well, if you know where to look. (Send me a private message if you need help with this.) If you take the practice test and hate it - then stick with the SAT.</p>

<p>To get merit aid at Alabama, you’ll need to do well on the math and reading portions of the SAT - those are the ones that count for their scholarships. Info on the UA scholarships is listed [**here](<a href=“http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out_of_state.html][b]here[/url][/b”>http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out_of_state.html)[/b</a>]. The Huntsville and Birmingham campuses have their own scholarship info, so you might want to check their websites, as well.</p>

<p>[This</a> thread](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html][b]This”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html) will give you links to various guaranteed scholarships - given automatically to any student who meets minimum GPA/SAT/ACT requirements (as long as funds are available each year).</p>

<p>Check out the [Colleges</a> That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/][b]Colleges”>http://www.ctcl.org/) for more college suggestions. And take a look at this list of [women’s</a> colleges](<a href=“http://www.womenscolleges.org/][b]women’s”>http://www.womenscolleges.org/) - you might find some great options that you hadn’t thought of!</p>

<p>I also really enjoyed the book [Cool</a> Colleges](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Cool-Colleges-Hyper-Intelligent-Self-Directed-Different/dp/1580088392/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342920825&sr=8-1&keywords=cool+colleges][b][u]Cool”>http://www.amazon.com/Cool-Colleges-Hyper-Intelligent-Self-Directed-Different/dp/1580088392/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342920825&sr=8-1&keywords=cool+colleges) by Donald Asher. If you can find it at your local library, I’d suggest borrowing it. It’s a quick read and is chock full of great ideas!</p>

<p>Good luck!!!</p>

7

<p>You should take the ACT as well as retest with the SAT. </p>

<p>You’ll have the most options by having higher test scores, and you may score significantly higher with the ACT.</p>

<p>Use the net price calculator at a few other schools to see what aid you’d qualify for.</p>

<p>Do you have a sibling in college NOW? If so, what aid does that child get?</p>

<p>Do you qualify for HOPE?</p>

8

<p>Thanks everyone! I do qualify for HOPE, but my older brother is starting college this fall and HOPE is the only thing he his getting from financial aid. Of course, he goes to a relatively cheap college (Valdosta State U), but it’s still roughly $10,000 a year.</p>

9

<p>Are you a twin? You mention that there will be 3 in college when you go.</p>

<p>Ask your brother what his FAFSA EFC was. That will help give an idea of what yours will be. If there will be 3 in college next year, then divide your brother’s EFC by 3 as an estimate of what yours would be (this assumes that you kids don’t have assets of your own or lots of earnings of your own). </p>

<p>Are your parents affluent?</p>

10

<p>No, I’m not a twin; I have a brother a grade ahead of me and a brother two grades behind me. I do actually have little sisters that are twins, though! As for my parents, I don’t know if I’d call them affluent. My dad makes somewhere a little over $100,000 a year, and my mom doesn’t work. Also, when I said we wouldn’t get any financial aid from Emory, I think I misheard what my dad said. He was explaining it to someone else today, and he said after financial aid we would still have to pay $30,000…which is still a lot, anyway!</p>

11

<p>aleyna, have you considered Georgia College? It looks like you would be eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship…full tution. [Zell</a> Miller Scholarship](<a href=“http://www.gcsu.edu/financialaid/zellmillerscholarship.htm]Zell”>http://www.gcsu.edu/financialaid/zellmillerscholarship.htm)</p>

12

<p>I’ve never heard of it until now, but it looks really nice! And the full tuition thing definitely helps. Thanks!</p>

13

<p>Wake Forest U, Stetson, Flagler (great aid), New World (although this might be too quirky for you, no offense), William & Mary (isn’t exactly southeast but still worth a look).</p>

14

<p>The Zell Miller Scholarship is for all Georgia public schools - full tuition if you have 3.7 GPA and 1200 SAT or 26 ACT. HOPE is for all Georgia publics if you don’t meet Zell Miller requirements, but have a 3.0 GPA. Zell Miller is full tuition, HOPE is 90% tuition.</p>

15

<p>With an interest in Creative Writing, Agnes Scott College might appeal to you. Your stats would definitely qualify you for merit aid there: <a href=“http://www.agnesscott.edu/admission/undergraduate/financialaid/agnessolution.aspx[/url]”>http://www.agnesscott.edu/admission/undergraduate/financialaid/agnessolution.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

16

<p>Ceilidh8- Quirky is good! :smiley: I’ll have to look into it.
BobWallace- Zell Miller really covers all tuition for any GA public school? I’ve also looked into Agnes Scott, but it’s an all-girls school, and I don’t exactly see myself attending one.</p>

17

<p>Look at Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC very generous with scholarship money and great school. It is an HBU(historically black university) but it also is a Methodist school. Your grades were better than mine and I received an $100,000 scholarship from the school. You really should look into it and see if it is for you.</p>