<p>I am an African-American senior girl at a public high school. I'm freaking out because the whole college process is extremely overwhelming. So far I have been accepted to University of Toledo, Bowling Green University, and Eastern Michigan University. All four years I have taken honors classes. On the ACT I scored a 20. I have a 3.18 GPA that is about to go up because of the following grades this quarter:
PSO English (I take the course through Lourdes College)-B
Honors Botany-A
Pre-Calculus-A
French 4 AP-A
My mother died this year after a long struggle with Lupus along with other familial issues all throughout high school and I'm just now being able to pull myself fully together. I am not stupid I just haven't applied myself the way I normally would. I was only involved in one club which was newspaper for two years (sophomore and junior year). After a levy failed at my school we lost our paper unfortunately.
Next semester I plan on taking some extra courses at Lourdes College.
My interests include foreign language (I have taken French, Spanish, and Latin), life sciences, and any form of history.
I was hoping someone could kind of help me figure out what would be the best college for me based off of my grades and such. I would also like to know personal experiences at the aforementioned universities (along with others that would suit me!). I have already tried Cappex which helps somewhat but I think insider information is the best!</p>
<p>I’m from the west coast and dont really know much about colleges in Ohio, but I think the university of Toledo is the most prestigious one. That’s the one I would pick.
Why don’t you visit them try to figure out where you would be happiest?</p>
<p>DominiqueB–My condolences to you on the loss of your mom. It sounds like you have done quite well, given the many factors working against you. If you are willing to "think outside the box, I strongly urge you to consider Spelman College in Atlanta. I say “think outside the box” because Spelman is an all-women’s college and also Historically Black. So the demographics on campus will certainly be very different than those that you’d find at Toledo or the other colleges you’ve named. Spelman has good need-based financial aid and an excellent reputation. It is next door to Morehouse College, which is also well known, Historically Black, but all male. 
Clark Atlanta, a coeducational Historically Black university, is right there, too. (Morehouse and Clark Atlanta are literally a stone’s throw from the Spelman campus and there is a lot of interaction among the schools.) Spelman offers majors in French and Spanish (and you can also take Japanese, Chinese and Latin–maybe others). There are lots of options in the life sciences and history, too. </p>
<p>It seems to me to be the perfect choice for someone with your potential, who hasn’t had a chance to fully realize it due to family problems. You deserve a school that will help you to excel, and Spelman might be that place. If you want more info, send me a Private Message. If you are open to the idea of an Historically Black College or University, I can suggest some others, too.</p>
<p>I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your mom.</p>
<p>much is going to depend on financial aspects. If you have the funds for college, then you’ll have more choices. If you’re low income, then you’ll have find affordable schools - either ones that you can commute to and use Pell grants to pay for or to a school that gives good financial aid.</p>
<p>I don’t agree that Spelman gives that good of financial aid if you need a LOT of financial aid. This school has many students from middle class to affluent incomes.</p>
<p>If your family can contribute a good bit, then it might be do-able.</p>
<pre><code>* Full-time freshman enrollment: 540
- Number who applied for need-based aid: 510
- Number who were judged to have need: 431
- Number who were offered aid: 429
- Number who had full need met: 155
</code></pre>
<p>**
* Average percent of need met: 42%
* Average financial aid package: $16,893**
* Average need-based loan: $3,545
* Average need-based scholarship or grant award: $12,107
* Average non-need based aid: $200
* Average indebtedness at graduation: Not reported</p>
<p>Out-of-state tuition and fees:… $22,010<br>
Room and board: … $10,464<br>
Books and supplies: … $1,150<br>
Estimated personal expenses: … $2,100 </p>
<h2>Transportation expense: … $1,044</h2>
<p>Cost of attendance…about…$36,000 per year</p>
<p>But, the avg financial package is only $17k and they only meet an avg of 42% of need. So, expect to be gapped big-time - especially since your ACT is low for the school (mid range 20 -24).</p>
<p>Do you live with your dad? Is he going to contribute to your college costs? Do you know what your likely EFC will be based on his income?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Note, however, that full-need was met for 155 of 431 students. The ACT is not low for the school–it’s just at the lower end of the mid-point range but still within it. The current courses and grades, coupled with the obstacles that this applicant has overcome, make Spelman a reasonable choice. Yes, it’s possible that it will end up being unaffordable, but I think it’s definitely worth an application. There are also some good merit awards. I don’t think she’ll be in the running for the top one, but she might be a contender for the next one down.</p>
<p>Bowling Green has a good selection of foreign languages. I would suggest trying to take the ACT again. First time is just for the experience. When you take it a second time you have better idea of time and approach to the test. Have you looked at Kent State? You are a good fit there and they have foreign languages. Any idea where the foriegn inteerest is going? There is so much happening with the globalization of business, marketing to cultures, and international education that there are a lot of possibilities.</p>
<p>Are you instate for Ohio?</p>
<p>*Note, however, that full-need was met for 155 of 431 students. *</p>
<p>Right, but I’m guessing that since only 1 out of 3 students got their full need met, those are students who didn’t have much need (so a small grant, student loan, and work study filled their need). A student could have an EFC of $20k and get all need met with a small grant, work-study, and student loans. </p>
<p>Another possibility…students who have high need might have been given preferential packaging because of higher stats or athletic abilities. </p>
<p>However, the stats do not support the idea that a student with a LOT of need (which this student may or may not have), and lowish scores would get close to having need met.</p>
<p>*The ACT is not low for the school–it’s just at the lower end of the mid-point range but still within it. *</p>
<p>A matter of opinion. I would say that a score that is at about the lower 26-28% of the school is low. But, I can see that you think differently. :)</p>
<p>Toledo’s in-state tuition is $6430.00, R & B is $8,213.00. (Princeton Review)
If FA is a concern, perhaps the OP’s best bet is an in-state public school.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>I agree. If the student is low income (don’t know), then Pell, a student loan, work-study, and maybe a summer job should cover nearly all costs.</p>
<p>We need more info from the student…</p>
<p>What is your financial situation?</p>
<p>Are you now living with your dad or are you now independent?</p>
<p>Do you have younger siblings and therefore it’s not a good idea for you to go far away to school?</p>
<p>I have visited University of Toledo and Eastern Michigan University. So far Eastern has impressed me the most.</p>
<p>Sally: Thank you for the suggestion. My oldest sister who graduated from University of Toledo has a friend that is a Spelman graduate and thinks it would be the perfect opportunity for me. However, money is an issue like Mom2collegekids said. My family is low-income and yes I do live with my dad now who is on disability so that is the only income I have. The only thing I hate about this whole process I must say is that there are a lot of quality schools but the majority of them are ridiculously expensive such as Sarah Lawrence and Hartwick College. Bowling Green is definately my back up to my back up plan.
P.S. I am the youngest child.</p>
<p>Oh and I forgot to respond to the in-state question. I have been an Ohio resident my whole life mainly living in Toledo. At Eastern they offer me in-state tuition even though it is in Michigan. Since I go to a Toledo Public School they have a Blue and Gold Scholarship for tuition and I think books for TPS graduates. At Bowling Green I would also get in-state tuition.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that sometimes you will actually pay less to attend a private college that meets full need rather than a public one that costs less but won’t meet your need. The Catch-22 is that many of the private colleges that do meet full need are extremely selective and are usually looking for A students with high SAT and ACT scores.</p>
<p>However, there are some full-need schools that aren’t quite as competitive as the more typical full-need institutions. For instance, you might want to look into Gettysburg College in PA (eager to attract a more diverse student body) and Salem College, which is not Historically Black but, like Spelman, is also a small Southern women’s college (it’s in NC). Adrian College in Michigan is another full-need school. It is small (about 1500 students) and not very racially diverse. The latter could be a drawback for you if you enroll, but a plus as an applicant because it could make you an attractive candidate.</p>
<p>“On the ACT I scored a 20. I have a 3.18 GPA that is about to go up because of the following grades this quarter”. </p>
<p>Freshman Academic Profile: Gettysburg College:</p>
<p>Admissions Selectivity Rating: 95 </p>
<p>SAT:</p>
<p>Critical Reading Middle 50%: 610 - 690
Math Middle 50%: 620 - 680
Students in Top Tenth of HS Class: 68%
Students in Top Quarter of HS Class: 86% </p>
<p>Gettysburg is highly selective, may be a reach for Dominique.</p>
<p>Yes, Gettysburg is definitely a Reach, but–as I noted above–they are trying to diversify and to shed their white, preppy image. The beauty of need-based aid and of colleges that meet full need is that the needs assessment is formula-based so that those who are at the top of the applicant pool are treated comparably to those who barely squeaked in.</p>
<p>On another note, Peace College in Raleigh, NC, is yet another small women’s college that deserves a close look. Although Peace does NOT promise to meet full need, the aid awards are pretty good, and Dominique’s ACT would actually put her on the HIGH end there. I visited Peace a couple years ago and was very impressed. Students get a ton of individual attention, and the pretty little campus is right in the heart of Raleigh, just a stone’s throw from downtown (where many students do internships) and a short walk to the NC State campus (a plus for those seeking coed social life). So this might be another place to add to the list.</p>