Help Choosing a College for Now or Later

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am a junior concurrently enrolled in college. I could graduate from high school with my Associate of Science from the community college I'm going to at the end of this year. However, I've just realized this so I'm too late for a lot of admissions to a lot of top-tier colleges that I've been eying like CalTech and MIT (which I hope I could get into with my scores and extra curricular activities). </p>

<p>So, I have a two-fold question. Should I graduate now and try to get in somewhere? If so, where should I apply? I would really like to go some place that has a very strong academic foundation and many research opportunities. For other factors (like size, location, etc.), I don't really care.</p>

<p>Pros for waiting:
I could apply to cool places like MIT and CalTech (I guess, I could apply to MIT or CalTech for graduate, so I'm not missing out on them completely)
More scholarship opportunities
Could continue with high school activities</p>

<p>Cons for waiting:
Some credits don't transfer, so I might have to re-take more classes
Missed opportunities of research, diversity, and "real life"</p>

<p>If it helps as far as to what colleges I should consider,</p>

<p>Female, 16, 4.0 GPA
Chemistry intended major
Completed college courses up to Math 1220 (Calc 2.), Biology 1010, Physics 1010, and Chemistry 1220 + More that I can delineate if need be.
Some Extra Curricular Activities: run cross country & track, participate in Academic Decathlon (I got region top scholar, state is next month) & Science Olympiads, elected as the Junior Senator for my school, volunteer with an animal rescue group, acted in a school play, and went to the Intel International Science and Engineering fair.
SAT Scores:
Reading 800
Math 770
Writing 750 (multiple choice 78, essay 8)</p>

<p>Any advice is appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks for your time,</p>

<p>Hatsya</p>

2

<p>I don’t understand why you think you’re too late for applying to MIT or Caltech as an undergrad. Your scores are certainly there, and the AS degree is not going to disqualify you from applying to a baccalaureate program. They may ask you to apply as a transfer, but they may ask you to apply as a first-time student since you’re coming straight out of HS. Just call the admissions offices at MIT and Caltech and ask. If anything, I’d think the AS would be a big plus on the application.</p>

3

<p>If you are going to major in Chem, you might want to take the Chem, Math, and Physics college courses over again at your final college. There is a big difference between these courses at a community college and an elite school. The CC courses are good practice. You might even want to take the bio over. Just transfer elective courses, not science and math, if you can.</p>

<p>I would finish your last year in high school, or maybe apply for Spring 2011 admission, if possible.</p>

<p>In which state do you live?</p>

<p>You should consider an Ivy League college.</p>

<p>If you apply as a transfer student, it might have an effect of financial aid offers. Be sure to look into this before applying as a transfer.</p>

4

<p>Hatsya-Instead of taking classes at CC why don’t you do some research? Research may be regarded more highly than graduating from CC with an Assoc. Of Science.</p>

5

<p>I think you should wait and apply to all your schools next fall as a senior in high school, so that you’ll have the best chances for acceptance, scholarships, choices, etc.</p>

<p>How much can your parents pay each year for your education. If money is a concern, then you’ll have the best opportunities for big scholarships if you apply next fall during your senior year of high school.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for all the advice.</p>

<p>I looked up on MIT’s and CalTech’s websites and because I’m still in high school, I would have had to apply as a freshman, and the freshman application date has long since past. Ergo, I am too late to apply to either university. :(</p>

<p>I live in Utah and my dad’s an anesthesiologist, so he could probably pay a considerable sum to my education but my older siblings all had full-ride scholarships, which he is expecting of me. </p>

<p>As far as to research, that sounds like a very good idea that I should have thought of before. I’ll have to look into that.</p>

7

<p>^ That makes it more complicated.</p>

<p>You should sit down with your dad and ask him, at most, what he is willing to contribute to your education. Then find out your EFC (Estimated Family Contribution). There are calculators on CollegeBoard and finaid.org (select institutional methodology). If your EFC is more than what your parents can afford, or are willing to pay for, I’m sorry but you have to get MIT or Caltech out of your head. They only give NEED-based scholarships. </p>

<p>So then you need to start looking for merit scholarships. For a full-ride, you probably need to look a couple of tiers down where you’re at the top 10% at least of each entering class. Full-tuition scholarship might be much easier because of your SAT scores. But still, top top schools normally don’t give out merit aid.</p>

<p>If your EFC is affordable to your father, then awesome. We will be able to suggest schools. </p>

<p>Btw, I recommend waiting a year as well.</p>

<p>You really should make finances one of your most important concerns when choosing colleges. Theres no use getting into your dream school if you end up not being able to attend.</p>

8

<p>Where did your siblings go to college with full-ride scholarships? Generally, the bigger the scholarship, the less selective the school. Consider attending an Ivy and paying part of your way.</p>

9

<p>My siblings just went to a local university, SUU.</p>

<p>From all your comments, I’m thinking perhaps it would be better to wait a year and attend a nice university than to try and get in somewhere now. </p>

<p>I think the biggest problem I have with waiting a year is that all the classes I’m taking, I might have to retake. I think I’ll have a bit more than 70 credits at the end of this summer, if I don’t go to another college. Thus, by the end my senior year, I could be working with 100+ credits!</p>

<p>I know I want to take in the next year Physics 2010/2020, Biology 1610/1620, and probably O Chem and P Chem. I’m considering Calc 3 as well, and I don’t think I want to retake all those classes if I transfer to a new college. </p>

<p>I guess some time today I can talk to my dad and see how much he’s willing to pay for my undergraduate so I can better understand what my options are.</p>