<p>Hello all. I am in desperate search for safety schools. I'm not the best student and here's why: I started off my freshman year ranked 125. Through studying and hard work I now stand as 38, but my UW GPA is a 3.4, due to the bad freshman year. I would like to know if anyone has suggestions for me.
I have a 3.4 / 4.0 GPA. Weighted is 4.227.
I am senior class president, member of Key Club, member of student council, a published poet, top 19% of class, hold all A's in 4 AP classes and a dual enrollment course, and I have a job.
My first ACT composite was a 23. My calculator died halfway through my math section, but I managed a 25. I'm hoping that can be boosted to a 30 (what I was averaging on practice tests).
My SAT score is 1500. Math = 520, Reading = 480, and Writing = 500.
That score is from March.
My recent practice test from the online SAT website is this:
Math = 570, Reading = 530, and Writing = 620. I will take the real SAT on October 11.
I think the analysis of AP Language and AP Literature is helping me A LOT. I want to be a writer, so I'm actually glad my writing score is becoming decent.
I live in South Carolina and will be the first in my family to go to college. Income is 20K - 25K. Looking for schools with very good / decent financial aid. Please help or give suggestions! I am willing to travel anywhere along the East coast, so long as it is near water and is Liberal Arts oriented. I would prefer a school up north, but right now I'm worried about just getting in. I have applied to Lenoir Rhyne University and Coastal Carolina University and will hear back by the end of the month. I have 8 college fee waivers to use as well. Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>Go to the Financial Aid forum and read the pinned threads at the top. There are some schools listed there that might offer merit aid if your scores come up.</p>
<p>Have you used the Supermatch tool here on CC (look on the left)? Is your family income $20,000? If so, I would think you would be eligible for need based aid. Use the Net Price Calculators on the colleges of interest to see how much you would have to pay.</p>
<p>I strongly recommend looking into test-optional colleges. Your grades are competitive for many good schools, but your test scores are not. </p>
<p>Since SC has pretty good state aid, look at your state schools. Do you qualify for the Palmetto Promise? </p>
<p>I qualify for Life Scholarship. I checked the mail and got accepted to LRU today!</p>
<p>Maybe you read CC too much? Your grades are fine, and a 30 ACT (if you achieve it) is that of a great student. You have a lot of choices. I recommend you look to where you would really like to go, then use the NPCs and the selection tools other posters are suggesting. Aim high- you can explain the freshman grades in an essay.</p>
<p>Since you are low income, be sure to have your parent run the NPC on each schools’ website. You need to see if these schools are affordable. </p>
<p>Congrats on your acceptance, but do you know if that school gives enough aid?</p>
<p>Check out Guilford - a match for your stats -low match if you get 30 on the ACT- it’s quite good for writing. Eckerd also has an excellent writing program.</p>
<p>What do you mean by “near some water”. Lenoir-Rhyne isn’t near the beach.</p>
<p>If money is big issue and if in SC the cheapest thing is to use the USC system schools - there’s probably one in commuting distance depending on where you live. Some are two year but will save you money and all work will transfer to main campus. Some are full four year. Even cheaper, bridge from tech schools. Life scholarship should make tech schools free and can easily do one or two years of fully transferrable work.</p>
<p>A 30 on ACT would open lots more options, including possible merit aid at some schools. Just don’t get caught with schools you can’t afford.</p>