<p>I've been spending a lot of time recently putting together a college list, but I don't feel like I have many colleges that really 'fit' me. I'm applying to Northeastern, BU, Pitt, IU Bloomington, and OSU, and while I do believe I'd be happy at all of them, I still haven't found my 'ideal' college. Here's some quick stats:</p>
<p>Female Senior
GPA: 3.3 W
ACT: 33 (32 math, 33 sci, 33 reading, 35 eng, 8 writing)
SAT: taking tomorrow, fingers crossed! 193 PSAT
4 APs, one of which was self studied; honors for almost everything else
1 community college course this semester, two more next semester
Violin 8 years
Not many ECs, but tons of hours in the ones I have, several high leadership positions
Major: either Neuroscience or Astronomy/Physics</p>
<p>My ideal college is an LAC with a wide range of majors and that is strong in the sciences. I'd like to stay on the eastern half of the country (I live in the Midwest now). Urban or suburban campus, Greek life, no affiliation, high diversity. (None of these are really dealbreakers, but they all help.)</p>
<p>I know there are colleges that fit me, but which ones can I get into with my stats? I've looked into Wheaton MA, but I'm not completely sold on it yet. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank you so much. :)</p>
<p>Are you instate for any of these school? Will your parents pay the high OOS costs? If not, then you might want to remove those. They won’t give an OOS student good aid, and your GPA is too low for good merit.</p>
<p>What is your budget?</p>
<p>Why is your weighted GPA a 3.3? Schools may think that you’re an underachiever and that you don’t do assignments.</p>
<p>I’m instate for OSU, which is the main reason it’s on my list. My EFC is 0, so… I’m hoping for some kind of financial aid. I meant to mention that in my original post. And as far as my GPA, I don’t really have an excuse, just a lack of motivation, especially during freshman year. There is an upward trend, though.</p>
<p>Try the net price calculators at each school’s web site to get financial aid estimates instead of just applying and hoping.</p>
<p>Your stats look like possibly a full ride to Louisiana Tech (3.0 GPA, 32 ACT or 1400 SAT CR+M) and are one ACT point short of a full ride to Alabama - Huntsville (3.0 GPA, 34 ACT or 1490 SAT CR+M). (But if your unweighted GPA is below 3.0, find out what GPA these schools use.)</p>
<p>Since your EFC is 0, you will not likely even get close enough aid to Pitt or IU.</p>
<p>those are publics…they charge high OOS rates for a reason. Why would they bother to charge high OOS rates if they were just going to cover the costs with aid? They may as well not have an OOS rate. </p>
<p>both of those schools have an OOS cost of about $40k. Even if you got $10k in aid (fed aid), you wouldn’t be able to pay the other $30k.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if OSU meets need for 0 EFC instate students? if not, then this student still needs a financial safety.</p>
<p>For UPitt as an OOS student with a 0 EFC, this is the result (which seems to use a best case scenario)</p>
<p>Estimated total price of attendance: $36,698
a. Estimated tuition and fees $23,852
b. Estimated room and board $8,900
c. Estimated books and supplies $1,050
d. Estimated other expenses
****(Personal expenses, transportation, etc.) $2,896
Estimated total grant aid:… $12,700 (Pell, student loans, Work study)</p>
<p>Estimated net price: (Price of attendance minus grant aid)… $23,998</p>
<p>Your family would have to pay at least $24,000 per year. Not likely doable for a 0 EFC family.</p>
<p>What options do I have, then? It seems like most of the schools that meet 100% of need are top tier, and I can’t get into any those. (Also – if anyone can suggest LACs with my stats that could give aid, like in my original post, that would be great :))</p>
<p>Look into Rhodes College. I can’t remember what GPA they require for their merit, but try their NPC. Also try DePauw and Loyola Maryland. Also try UAB and UAH and Miss St. Also, U South Carolina.</p>
<p>Try the NPCs on OSU and University of Ohio and Miami Ohio.</p>
<p>Look over that link in the above post for at least full tuition scholarships. You would need at least a full tuition scholarship so that a Pell Grant, a student loan and maybe some summer earnings can cover the rest.</p>
<p>I know it’s frustrating, but your GPA does stand in the way.</p>
<p>Maybe look into schools that give lots of aid that don’t use frosh year grades for computing GPA.</p>
<p>Check Chatham in Pittsburgh. The undergraduate program is small, but there are graduate programs and cross-registration options for other colleges in Pittsburgh. It historically was a women’s college, and the undergrad is still for women, so there is a strong tradition of leadership for women.</p>
<p>It’s expensive and gives merit aid, but I can’t find the criteria on the website. It also is a test-optional school, by the way, so submitting strong test scores may help.</p>
<p>It may be too late for you to see this, but here’s my 2 cents for what it’s worth.</p>
<p>My daughter got accepted to OSU last year with a 3.5 weighted gpa and 31 ACT. I believe it makes some difference what program you’re applying to. Engineering has slightly higher stats than the school as a whole. If you got those grades taking a hard core college prep track with mostly honors and AP classes, that helps with them. A friend was just telling me about someone who was rejected with a 3.5 and the admissions office told them it was because he didn’t take enough challenging classes.</p>
<p>Also, while OSU is certainly the premier state school in Ohio these days, OU is the best for finaid for students in your position. If you have at least a 3.0 (and I think that weighted is okay) and a 32 ACT, you qualify for a full tuition scholarship. It’s past the deadline but they may still take your application. (My son’s was last minute, a couple weeks past the deadline, and he was accepted though he ended up going elsewhere.)</p>