<p>I'm a senior and have absolutely no immediate family members that have gone to college. My family expects me to be the first to go, but it is difficult as I have no one to turn to for advice when it comes to preparation or applications. My family expects me to "figure it out." My school counselor just started counseling this year so she isn't able to help me out much. My GPA is currently a 3.489 and my ACT composite score is a 33, with my highest sub-scores being a 36 in English, a 35 in Reading, a 27 in Math, and a 33 in Science. My family's financial situation is a bit grim, so it's unlikely I'll be able to go to college unless I am awarded a full-ride or something similar. I would like to know from some other people where that would be possible for me in terms of schools. I would very much prefer to go to a school in Arkansas, though I am open to go pretty much anywhere. Thanks to any and all of you who provide some advice. I've never actually created a discussion board account before, so I apologize if I've posted this in the wrong forum.</p>
<p>See <a href=“VERY LOW COST OOS COA universities......less than $25k COA for everything! - #46 by BunHeadMom - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1651944-very-low-cost-oos-coa-universities-less-than-25k-coa-for-everything-p4.html</a>. Post55 for Arkansas.
Your parents need to fill out FAFSA- regarding income and household. There is FAFSA forecaster website to give estimate of how much they are expected to contribute.</p>
<p>With your GPA and ACT you qualify for a full tuition + room scholarship at UArkansas-Monticello. If that GPA puts you you in top 10% of class, you would also get your board(food) paid for. If not, a part-time job summer and in school, should earn enough to pay for board/books/supplies.The application is very easy, no essay. You can do it in a few minutes. It’s online at the university website There seems to be no fee required to apply according to collegedata website. You’ll need to have your ACT score sent to college. That costs $12. And your HS needs to send a transcript to the college also.</p>
<p>This is just one easy example of a possible college you could afford to attend in Arkansas. </p>
<p>If your family doesn’t have much money then you can apply for financial aid based on income, not just merit. Your parents will need to give you their financial information so you can fill out the FAFSA and possibly CSS profile forms that schools use to determine how much financial aid money to give you. Will they do this? Is your income low enough that you might qualify for a federal Pell grant? Say, do you get free/reduced lunch at school? Pell grants are up to about $5,500/yr but are for very low income families.</p>
<p>There are a variety of options, but many of them will require much time and effort on your part to educate yourself about the process and fill out applications and such. If your income is low you can get waivers to application fees that colleges charge. Some scholarship applications are due on or before 11/1, so if you want to look widely you need to start now.</p>
<p>Edited to add: The UArkansas-Monticello scholarship seems to be of the type that you are automatically considered for when you fill out the university application, but if you do apply you should call them to verify this as it’s a little unclear. Some universities have scholarships that applicants are automatically considered for and then others have special applications that one needs to submit separately from the regular application for admission. And some schools have both types. You need to check at each school. And funds are often limited so the earlier you apply, the more likely you are to receive money.</p>
<p>Look here: <a href=“http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/”>http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/</a></p>
<p>Your stats will give you nice scholarships at:</p>
<p>Arkansas - Monticello ($4,400 residual)
Louisiana Tech ($5,229 residual)
Louisiana - Monroe ($2,889 residual)</p>
<p>Note that the residual costs listed above can be covered with a federal direct loan (no private loans needed) or some student work earnings.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s in the catalog. No separate scholarship app, just apply to the university. pg24
<a href=“404 Page Not Found”>http://www.uamont.edu/catalog/UAM%20Catalog%2013-15.pdf</a></p>
<p>You didn’t happen to take the PSAT junior year did you? If you did and your score was 206 or better, you are NMSF and your GC should be helping you fill out the NMF paperwork right now. Lots of scholarships for that.</p>
<p>Might I suggest Questbridge? I believe if you have a grim financial situation, you would qualify regardless of whether you are URM or not, especially if you are the first in your family to go to college.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/”>http://www.questbridge.org/</a></p>
<p><a href=“QuestBridge | National College Match: Who Should Apply”>http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/ncm-who-should-apply</a></p>
<p>***I misread it. There IS a scholarship application necessary, though it isn’t easy to find. Sorry. Darn these college websites.
<a href=“404 Page Not Found”>http://www.uamont.edu/admissions/pdf/ApplicationPacket.pdf</a>
^It’s in here. </p>
<p>Did I miss what state you live in now? </p>
<p>^^^
I think he lives in Ark.</p>
<p>Is that your weighted GPA? If not, what is that?</p>
<p>It’s unweighted. Weighted, it’s 3.57.</p>
<p>rhandco, Questbridge would have been great for this student, but the deadline is tomorrow night at midnight.The application is very long. I don’t see it being possible for him/her to get the app completed so quickly. You’re right, though. Questbridge is great for students like OP. </p>
<p>OP, your state uni’s are usually your best bet in a situation like this. However, if your above GPA is unweighted, your weighted is probably higher; and if your weighted is at least 3.5, you would also qualify for a full scholarship at the University of Alabama. Depending on your financial situation, your room, board and travel would probably be covered with grants and federal direct loans or work study. In addition, the different departments have discretionary scholarships that they award to students on top of the University scholarships. <a href=“http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out-of-state.html”>http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out-of-state.html</a></p>
<p>If you would like some help and guidance with any of your applications, I am happy to help. Just PM me. </p>
<p>Also, I just realized that you are First Generation. There are many programs besides Questbridge out there for First Generation low-income students. Many colleges, including U of Alabama, have the Coca Cola First Scholarship. At Alabama, this $5000 scholarship would be stacked on top of any other scholarships you receive and would go toward paying your room and board. <a href=“http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/first_scholars.html”>http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/first_scholars.html</a></p>
<p>It is very possible that you could get most/all of your expenses covered at Alabama without loans, especially if you get some outside scholarships. There are many out there. Also check out Daniels Scholars. Four-year full-ride scholarships. <a href=“http://www.danielsfund.org/Scholarships/Index.asp”>http://www.danielsfund.org/Scholarships/Index.asp</a></p>
<p>Lots of others out there, too. Your counselor should have a list, but you can also probably just search first generation scholarship here on CC and find them. Good luck! Let me know if you have questions that you don’t want to put out on the board. I’m happy to help. :)</p>
<p>Ah, we cross-posted. So, Alabama would use your weighted GPA to determine your scholarship eligibility. You just have to fill out the separate scholarship app by December. The main application requires no essays, letters of rec., etc. You just provide basic information–very short 5-10 minute app. The application fee is $40, but you may be able to get that waived. Not sure. @mom2collegekids , do you know?</p>
<p>If the student qualifies for free or reduced lunch then he can get fee waivers for his college apps. </p>
<p>So, if this student is low income (are you???), then from Alabama, he would get:</p>
<p>free tuition (worth $100k+ over four years)
$5000 for the First Gen scholarship…renewable
Pell Grant (depending on what your EFC is) could be up to about 5700
What is your major? If it is engineering or Comp Sci, then an additional 2500 per year.</p>
<p>with a 5500 loan, most/all costs could be covered.</p>
<p>If you want to stay in-state, there are some Arkansas private schools that offer merit-based free rides to students similar to you. For example, look at Ouachita’s website: <a href=“Student Financial Services”>www.obu.edu/finaid</a>. You would qualify for a $60,000 merit scholarship ($15K per year) and also be eligible to compete for a full ride. I picked OBU, because that is where I went to undergrad, but you could also look at Hendrix and other Arkansas colleges if you are interested in any in-state private schools.</p>
<p>@stressedark11 The newest US News Best Colleges is out (I just called Barnes and Noble to reserve my copy) - in the back is an index of colleges in each state with some stats and information that can help you. For example, I see Harding in Ark - I know a Church of Christ family in my state that all their kids went there (and the parents did too). </p>
<p>Sounds like you want to see what is in your geographical area - which will make it easy to get home on school breaks. Ark has a fair amount of small Christian schools - some you would be able to eliminate based on what you are looking for.</p>
<p>Your ACT shows you have ability, and with your weighted GPA would qualify you for merit - more than most students - you just need to start getting a list going and making sure you hit application and scholarship deadlines. Do you know what you want to study? </p>
<p>At a big school, you could qualify for honors program, and then be with a smaller circle of students. Not sure if you feel better at a small school, medium sized, would like the opportunities at a large school. If college town, or in a major city.</p>
<p>If you don’t know what you want to study and you are at a smaller school, they may not have your curriculum of study if you decide a different major later.</p>
<p>You have time to narrow things down, go on some college visits - deciding by the general deadline May 1.</p>
<p>Your financial picture may determine how you approach the entire process. However, remember that the award schools give is usually a one shot deal - so if you start one place and then change your mind to go another place a semester or a year later, whatever the second school would have given you in scholarship is off the table. Usually very little scholarship money for transfer students.</p>
<p>Do you have any classmates with older siblings at college, and with any college educated parents? What about your family banker, insurance agent, etc - people like talking about their alma mater, and also if they are parents, will give you some helpful information.</p>
<p>You can subscribe to the US News Best Colleges on line if it is not feasible to get a print copy local. Can also get it mailed to you, but time is of essence!</p>
<p>Start digging in. Also look on scholarship search engine for first generation scholarship - your stats have you as a good candidate. Check with the colleges you are interested in about scholarships.Some schools (like UA) have the automatic scholarships based on your stats.</p>
<p>The main thing is to not miss deadlines. UA’s application is easy, but if the distance from home makes it not desirable - however at least look at the UA admissions web site and the video tour. You can see a lot of information from your computer, and get a feel for each campus - however you should visit the campus before you make a final decision (not many students choose w/o setting foot on campus).</p>
<p>Put stress behind you. You have opportunities to explore. I predict after a semester at college, you will have a successful transition and have your fears behind you - so be sure that you do not underestimate yourself and select too ‘small’ of a college environment.</p>
<p>I would make sure to apply to several academically strong in state public and the close private schools that seem to match what you are looking for and with potential merit/need scholarship.</p>