help a paranoid friend out

College Search & Selection
1

<p>okay. so i'm in an awkward spot with grades/test scores and everything, and financial aid too. i'm really really worried that i don't have enough safety schools, academic and financial. any suggestions would be MUCH appreciated.</p>

<p>gpa: 3.6 uw, 4.1 w
act: 34
ap scores: euro 5, apush 5, lang 5, calc ab 4
ec's:
class council, leadership positions 10-12
SADD leadership 12
NHS 11-12
LINK crew 10-12
cheerleading 9-11
coaching elementary age cheerleaders 9-12
altar serving at church 3-12
went to illini girls state summer '10
summer job lifeguarding</p>

<p>my current list</p>

<p>reaches: northwestern (dream school), wash u, notre dame, rice, usc, georgetown?
matches: u of illinois, gw, marquette
safeties: u of minnesota, marymount</p>

<p>thanks for your time!</p>

2

<p>You look like a strong candidate, but I am worried that you are not investigating the financial aspects enough. If you need aid and live in Illinois, add another state campus, apply to UIUC and maybe two other campuses. Do not apply to Minnesota. Fingure out whether you are eligible for need-based aid or not. Compile a list of schools that give good aid, both need-based and merit. You could do pretty well, if you qualify for both. It is fairly easy to get merit aid of about 10K dollars. It is harder to get more than that. You may be in a situation in which state schools are the only practical choice, or you may be able to get enough aid to make a private school feasible.</p>

3

<p>I would definitely look at this site for some assured merit aid: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html?highlight=guaranteed[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html?highlight=guaranteed&lt;/a&gt;
Maybe look at some LACs like Knox?</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the advice! I’m going over the scholarship info now :)</p>