<p>Building off of post #18, and assuming the OP is continuing to use libraries, he can post in the library, wth their permission, that he will be available with "open office hours" during certain times, to tutor/assist kids with homework needs. I do this as a teacher for some of my very underserved public school kids. He can do this for any age student, & it's efficient for him to make himself available at the site he uses.</p>
<p>Re Post 16: Great idea about Rose Hulman!</p>
<p>I agree with the Rose Hulman and Michigan Tech suggestions. I'd also suggest the U of Toledo.Here is the link for the undergraduate engineering program there:</p>
<p>Wayne State amd Youngstown are also good ideas.I'm not underestimating you--just trying to make sure there are some safeties in the mix. A former poster from a background somewhat similar to yours went to Cornell for engineering and found himself in over his head. He transferred to Youngstown and said that he found the teaching more geared to kids like himself who don't have as strong a background in math and science as some.</p>
<p>UToledo has a good co-op program. That good be very helpful financially.</p>
<p>It seems to me that a black male with a 3.8 unweighted GPA and a 28 on the ACT would be a VERY attractive candidate at almost any school in the country and, given his financial situation, would get full scholarships at many schools."</p>
<p>Yes, due to his race, gender, scores, grades and work ethic, he'd be a very attractive candidate to many schools and could get good need-based aid from schools that offer such aid. </p>
<p>"But I have another concern. Engineering programs are notoriously difficult, even for very well-prepared students. "</p>
<p>I agree, which is why I suggested the schools that I did. While he may be able to get accepted to more difficult schools, he likely wouldn't survive in an engineering or science-related major at such schools (where many even better prepared students switch to easier majors) because of the very weak h.s. that he attended. I've seen students who did well in good AP science courses have to switch to nonscience majors when they were at top colleges. Most students who are successful in majoring in fields like engineering took AP physics and other science and math APs in high school. No matter how highly motivated a student is and how much they're using their local library to catch up, I think it would be close to impossible for a student without AP science and math classes to survive in a major like engineering at a very competitive college. I think such a strongly motivated student could graduate ifrom a highly competitive school in an easier major, but if they could have enjoyed and exceled in a science major in a less competitive college, they may be better off going to the less competitive college.</p>
<p>I also think that he'd benefit by going to a liberal arts school, not a tech school, because due to his weak high school, he hasn't yet been exposed to a wide range of courses. Yes, he liked robotics, but there may be subjects he'd like even better if he gets more chance to explore, something that liberal arts colleges would allow him to do.</p>
<p>I also think he'd be better off going to a liberal arts college because classes are small and professors are very nurturing: Those are the hallmarks of LACs. The places like Michigan State have large classes and professors are prized for their ability to do research, not their ability to mentor and teach.</p>
<p>My younger S is a freshman at a LAC, and I've been very impressed by the personal attention he's getting, very different from my experience at an Ivy.</p>
<p>Also check out the Venture Scholar site, which is for URMs and first gen college students interested in careers in math and science. <a href="http://www.venturescholar.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.venturescholar.org/</a></p>
<p>While you would be late enrolling in the program, I think it's worth it to call or e-mail them, telling them about your background and finding out if they have advice for you and will accept you into their program, which has excellent opportunities inculding scholarships.</p>
<p>You do not need to do volunteer work to be competitive during your gap year. Since money is a problem, my advice is to work a second job or use your spare time to continue to catch up with your academics. Perhaps you can, for instance, take a distance learning course during the spring and fall or can enroll in one course at a local CC during spring and fall semester.</p>
<p>I like the library idea a lot.</p>
<p>You're all probably right about top engineering programs. I don't have the math background necessary to do particularly well in a competitive program. I can pursue engineering in graduate school without having a degree in engineering, right? </p>
<p>After looking at some LACs, I've decided that a small nurturing environment is just what the doctor ordered. </p>
<p>Can anyone suggest some LACs?</p>
<p>I'm looking at:
Calvin College
Rhodes
Amherst (I read an article...)
Williams
Furman
College of Wooster
Grinnell</p>
<p>I need more matches and safeties.</p>
<p>Also, I think I can get at least a 30 the next time I take the ACT.</p>
<p>I'll work a second job (I know of one that I can do at home) and attend a CC. I just called one of the schools I was interested in, and a counselor told me that I can take as many CC courses as I'd like and still enter as a freshman. However, my credits wouldn't be transferable. Luckily, I'm eligible for a few programs that make CC free.</p>
<p>Some schools do restrict the # of CC credits you can take and still be regarded as a freshman. For the intellectual stimulation and to strengthen your skills, it could be wise to take one CC class a semester. However, I don't recommend taking more than 2 because of the time that would be involved.</p>
<p>Since you're considering engineering, it will be very important to keep up with your math. Consequently, consider taking a CC course in math and possibly physics. Ask for advice at the colleges you're considering.</p>
<p>I've heard good things about College of Wooster from the relatives of a black, first gen college student who went there and recently graduated. She got good financial aid, too.</p>
<p>And check out the colleges on the Ventures Scholars site that I posted a link to. All are interested in URMs interested in the sciences, and those colleges also seem to be ready to provide the academic and other support to help such students succeed in the sciences.</p>
<p>Oh-- I forgot to mention: University of Maryland-Baltimore County. It has one of the country's best programs for getting URMs into graduate and professional schools in the sciences. Its president is an African American man who got his doctorate around age 24 and has specialized in helping African American males succeed academically in the sciences. It is a mainstream school and has some excellent financial aid for students who qualify. I visited it with S and was very impressed. S didn't apply because he wasn't sure he wanted to major in the sciences.</p>
<p>Is there anyway that I could just take CC, get the credits and just...not claim them?</p>
<p>I talked to an Amherst counselor and she told me it wouldn't matter how many I took as long as I didn't care to transfer them. But to be safe, I'll probably only take one or two courses.</p>
<p>As for College of Wooster, there's a scholarship valued up to 23,500 for African-American students, and another for students with a high GPA and 29+ on their ACT. I think I get one of the two after I take my ACT again.</p>
<p>Now that's great aid.</p>
<p>It's relatively close to home too. Perfect</p>
<p>Any suggestions for ACT optional schools?</p>
<p>If you like what you see about College of Wooster, check out Denison, and Ohio Wesleyan. Although not a favorite on this board, I'd look at Depauw also. Knox , Grinnell, Macalester (99% need only), Lake Forest. Maybe look into Valparaiso although it may be more religious than you want , And Drake in Iowa. Ripon, Lawrence, Beloit, Kalamazoo, maybe Hope (it's pretty religious , too) in Michigan and Wisconsin. </p>
<p>Yes . I am aware that many of those are neither suburban nor urban. Hey, he had Grinnell on his list. ;)</p>
<p>See if you like any of those.</p>
<p>Lawrence and Macalester and Denison look good.</p>
<p>What about Furman? </p>
<p>Can anyone suggest a few private universities?</p>
<p>You've gotten a list of private universities, more than enough for you to figure out where to apply to.</p>
<p>If you meant "public" universities, your in-state ones are your best options as they are most likely to give you the financial aid that you need (though very few if any publics can afford to meet -- even with loans -- 100% of the documented financial need of a student with a 0 EFC). You are unlikely to get enough money from out of state publics to make them affordable. Also, most public universities have large classes, which doesn't seem like the kind of environment in which you'd flourish particularly considering your weak h.s. background.</p>
<p>My advice is to spend the $15 to get the on-line edition of the U.S. News best college guide, which provides detailed info about admissions and financial aid at most of the nation's colleges.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Then make application to Vassar, Wesleyan, pretty much any place that has 13 black males on campus and gives 100% of need, and/or at which you will be especially in demand.
[/quote]
This is an excellent advice with regards to getting admitted. But would you like to be at a school where you are a part of 2% minority? Where your being a black male makes you a "representative of your race" rather just a student on campus?</p>
<p>I am not saying that it's not a good strategy, but you have to think it through before adapting it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is there anyway that I could just take CC, get the credits and just...not claim them?</p>
<p>I talked to an Amherst counselor and she told me it wouldn't matter how many I took as long as I didn't care to transfer them. But to be safe, I'll probably only take one or two courses.
[/quote]
Yes. Do be very careful about this. I wouldn't presume to answer for every school, BUT:</p>
<p>In general, there are limits to the # of credits you can take and still be considered a freshman applicant (whether you want to transfer them or not). Over a certain threshhold # of credits, you are considered a transfer applicant. You still might get admitted; sometimes it's easier, sometimes harder. KEY POINT: FINANCIAL AID IS ALMOST ALWAYS STINGIER FOR TRANSFER THAN FRESHMAN ADMITS.</p>
<p>An African-American male with a 28 ACT (the equivalent of a 1240-1270 old SAT) puts you in the top 8% or so of Black male students. You rank in the top 5% at school, and you have 3.8 unweighted GPA. </p>
<p>You will find African-American male students with similar ranges at HYP and virtually everywhere else. I think the list you have already is highly realistic (in fact, close to being safeties) and fits your description of what you are looking for. Your main challenge is finding the school that will pay your way.</p>
<p>Have you considered Penn?</p>
<p>My son attends Lawrence U and their financial aid is fantastic. They may also take you as a transfer along with the credits. You have to contact them on that. They are also a Venture Scholar University.</p>
<p>What about HBCUs?</p>
<p>I'm looking at Brown University. It seems like a great school. But what I like best about it, the open curriculum, might be a strike against it. I won't be forced to explore a wide variety of classes. </p>
<p>Then again, I might be more apt to take a wider variety of classes because of it.</p>
<p>I'm considering a few other schools similar to Brown: Hampshire, Evergreen State, and Bennington. Can anyonhe think of some other alternative schools (excluding Sarah Lawrence and Bard)?</p>
<p>Oberlin.</p>
<p>It's in Oberlin, Ohio, outside of Cleveland but in its own town. In the l9th centure, Oberlin was the first college in the US to admit African Americans --four runaway slaves--and the first coed college as well. Has a long history of concern for social justice, will respect community participation, gives need-based and merit based aid.</p>
<p>Excellent in traditional sciences, including some you might not have considered, with a cutting-edge program in environmental science.</p>
<p>2800 students, only undergraduates. Taught by professors, not grad students. Tight social fabric, strongly identified ethnic houses. </p>
<p>Music conservatory also on the campus has the country's first conservatory-based jazz program. They've just brought in some great elder statesmen in the Black jazz world to teach there. You can hear their concerts, and meet other future musicians in the classical and jazz world.</p>
<p>There's an Experimental College, a Winter Term for special projects, and cooperative work houses to prepare meals together as an optional alternative (not a requirement) to the regular dorms.</p>
<p>Disallows fraternities and sororities.</p>
<p>You are right to have identified LAC's because these might help you make a bridge between your life to date and your future. This also applies to some of the other LAC's mentioned above, such as Amherst and Swarthmore. For racial and socioeconomic diversity, I think you'll find plenty of strength at Amherst and Oberlin. Check the stats, but I think we're talking around 30 percent minority populations, although some of the minority kids come from upperclass homes and international situations as well, naturally. You might not want to be in a place with less than l0 percent minority population. I say that as someone who identifies strongly as a Jew, and we tried to find places with at least 25 percent Jewish kids. Not that our kids wanted to hang with only Jewish kids; they did not. They had half of their friends from outside their "comfort zone" ethnically. Still, this gave them a real choice among friends. You have to like someone, not just be of the same race, to make a real friend.
Friends are important and part of the learning, along with the coursework. They'll help you process all you are learning.</p>
<p>Good luck wherever you land.</p>
<p>My impression of how kids respond to Open Curriculum is that they challenge themselves to take different classes, and appreciate not having distribution requirements if they're afraid they might fail a course. Your academic advisor should nudge and bother you to take the wide range of courses, so that happens informally. Sounds like you are a self-challenger anyway, so no need to rule out Open Curriculum. Brown and Amherst still use it, and hardly any other place does.</p>
<p>Always look for the option "Credit/No Entry" or "Pass/Fail" instead of a letter grade, in areas you would like to try a course but are concerned how well you'll do in it. Then you can take it without mucking up your transcript. Sometimes my kids took a course "Credit/No Entry" and then were sorry because they did better than they thought! Most times, it saved them from getting a C in their worst area (Math).</p>
<p>EDIT: an advantage of Open Curriculum is that everyone in the class is there because they choose to be there, which helps in discussion-based classes, as most LAC classes are.</p>
<p>I think a school with an open curriculum would be the natural progression from my last school, Library Academy. It didn't have distribution requirements either. :-)</p>
<p>Is Hampshire as good as Amherst and Brown? I know it doesn't have the prestige of other open curriculum schools, but I think I would prefer written evaluations to grades. I wouldn't want the culmination of my coursework to be little more than a letter.</p>