<p>that will not give them a full scholarship. Both her parents are pretty much working minimum-wage jobs and she lives in a very inner-city ghetto place where the education is horrible. She is the valedictorian of her school, but her school sux so much that her SAT scores about in 1200's M+V+W. Her parents can't even afford to let her go to community college. Since her stats are not good, there are basically no merit scholarships that she can get and only top schools like Ivies are need-blind and give full financial aid. What should she do?</p>
<p>get her SAT up...</p>
<p>Trust me, she's tried, but the school is so bad that they don't learn any math or english or writing skills and there's no way she can afford a tutor.</p>
<p>She needs to invest in her own education by talking to her GC and combing Internet sites including this one, as well as college sites, particularly those of public 4-year colleges in her state, and the local community college. She needs to look at the financial aid and merit scholarship info on the college sites, and also look at admissions info.</p>
<p>She also should look at Internet sites and college/financial aid guide books (The local library as well as school and GC's office probably have some) to get info about how best to apply for admission, financial aid and loans. </p>
<p>The GC can help her with college apps, and applications for scholarships, including local ones. </p>
<p>There's lots of info in books as well as Internet sites like CC about how to submit scholarship applications that stand out. I've been on local scholarship committees that preferred to give money to high achieving students with high financial need. However, we had a hard time attracting applications from such students. Such students also would submit applications that were weak -- late, filled with typing errors, essays that didn't answer the question, interviews in which the student said next to nothing or was overly modest (such as not talking about their achievements, but saying things like "luck" or "God's grace" was why their grades were strong.) As a result, our scholarships often went to students who came from affluent homes, and knew how to sell themselves.</p>
<p>She also should go to the college board website and do the SAT practice tests. In addition, she could use one of those SAT prep books that you buy. Those can be as effective as tutors -- if a student is motivated enough to use the book. She should retake the SAT after practicing. More than likely her low SAT scores are partially due to her not knowing how to take the test, including not knowing how to time herself so she doesn't waste lots of time on hard questions, and leave the easier ones undone.</p>
<p>There's a good chance that she could qualify for need-based and merit (based on her grades and class rank) scholarships particularly at some in- state public 4-year and community colleges.</p>
<p>There certainly should be ways that she can live at home and commute to a local community college. Even without financial aid or loans, many students can do that by working full time during the summer, parttime during the school year.</p>
<p>Encourage her to use this website, and post for advice on Parents Forum. There definitely are ways for her to go to college, but she needs to be assertive about looking for information, and following through with the advice she gets.</p>
<p>In many states, students who graduate from the states' community colleges can automatically transfer to 4-year public universities in the state. Often the public universities have financial and merit aid reserved for in-state transfers from community colleges who have gotten good grades in college.</p>
<p>While her SAT scores are low, she still can go to college -- particularly community college -- with those scores. Once she graduates from community college with good grades, she can transfer to a 4-year college, particularly an in-state public. The colleges will evaluate her then on her college record, not her h.s. scores.</p>
<p>P.S. Pat on the back to you for being such a good, supportive friend to her.</p>
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Her parents can't even afford to let her go to community college.
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<p>Our local cc is $20 per unit and offers financial aid. Most students can find a way to work part time, live at home, and afford this route.</p>
<p>If her parents are really poor she should qualify for some financial aid.</p>
<p>Northstarmom has given lots of good advice. The only thing I can think to add is that your friend should also look very carefully at ways she can pay for her education through military service. These options would include seeking an ROTC scholarship for college, and/or direct enlistment in the military after completing high school. Military service is not for everyone, and may not suit your friend. However, if money really, truly, is a barrier to continuing her education, (and she can't study part-time while working) it is something that she should consider.</p>
<p>The friend also could consider spending a year or two living at home and volunteering fulltime with Americorps. She'd get a living stipend, excellent job experience, and at the end of her service, she would also get $4,725 per year that she could use specifically for her future college costs.</p>
<p>My younger S spent a year living at home and being an Americorps volunteer, and learned a great deal (including getting about 3 days of Americorps-paid training in grant writing among other things), and made a difference in our community. His experience also helped him get merit aid at the college he decided to go to.</p>
<p>The friend also could consider spending a year or two living at home and volunteering fulltime with Americorps. She'd get a living stipend, excellent job experience, and at the end of her service, she would also get $4,725 per year that she could use specifically for her future college costs.</p>
<p>My younger S spent a year living at home and being an Americorps volunteer, and learned a great deal (including getting about 3 days of Americorps-paid training in grant writing among other things), and made a difference in our community. His experience also helped him get merit aid at the college he decided to go to.</p>
<p>wow she is valedictorian but only has 1200ish sat score??? i want to go to a ghetto school...</p>