<p>I'm fairly new to this website, but from what I've read so far, the community here appears to be a very engaging and helpful one. I'd greatly appreciate it if a few more experienced with the college application process could offer me advice. I apologize for the wall of text that follows, but I think the unusual situation I'm in warrants some elaboration.</p>
<p>I've lived in an extremely rural and economically depressed area in Texas for the great majority of my life. The manifold flaws of the main high school in my town inspired an early-college high school to be created a few years back; it was an effort to give "at-risk" kids a better chance at success. I was enrolled in the "experimental" school in 9th grade, and my test scores allowed me to take college-level classes beginning in 10th grade. My school's grant was expanded last year, and we students (150 total; the body is very small) are now able to take classes at a community and technical college free of charge. </p>
<p>My "high school" is located in a wing of the technical college, and the entire school faculty consists of only a married couple with very little experience in education. Literally all the teachers (and most of the professors) who have been hired over the years have either quit or been fired for misconduct. There is one woman who shows up each year at registration to give each student a list of classes he or she needs to graduate, but that's the closest thing I have to a counselor. I've tried to explore avenues with the technical and community college in hopes of accumulating knowledge on college admissions, but I've yet to receive any substantial feedback.</p>
<p>So, basically, I'm clueless when it comes to what colleges would suit me. (I don't plan to get a technical degree or major in the few areas the community college offer, so the colleges I'm taking classes at currently aren't the ones for me. I want a four-year degree, and I'm interested in philosophy and biology...) I'm unable to travel and visit campuses because of the expenses. Could anyone offer me his or her opinions?</p>
<p>Here's a bit of information about myself:</p>
<ul>
<li>I'm a rising senior.</li>
<li>GPA: 4.0 </li>
<li>Born in the U.S.; white female.</li>
<li>My income is less than 20,000/yr. My single mother is disabled and unable to work, and we lost our home three years ago. We live with my grandmother.</li>
<li>Class Rank: 1/37</li>
<li>I work full-time a couple weeks during the summer at my local humane society while the Director is out. I'm also a paid weekend worker a handful of times throughout the school year. I've volunteered there once a week since freshman year; by October, I should have over 500 community service hours.</li>
<li>I have a self-owned digital art business which I devote anywhere from five to 35 hours a week to. I create animal art for sim games and occasionally sell tattoo designs. </li>
<li>I won First Place in the 2010 Congressional Art Competition in my district. My art is displayed in the Capitol. (The only award I have, really.)</li>
<li>I took my SAT in June. I scored 740 in Writing, 700 in Reading and...well, I'll be honest, I did poorly in Math. I plan to retake it in October.</li>
<li>Last year, I exhausted all the English, history and humanities courses at my school. I began to use the money I earned from art commissions and summer jobs to pay for a course or two each semester (excluding summers) at a local liberal arts college. </li>
</ul>
<p>With my class rank and income level, I think I may be able to get a free ride at my state school---but I'm unsure if such a large institution in the south is ideal for me. I have a preference for a small liberal arts school environment, and my numerous friends who live on the east coast have made me interested in that area. I know it may sound silly for someone of my circumstances to be thinking about things like this, but I'd really like to know of schools that truly dovetail my personality and interests.</p>
<p>Thanks to anyone who replies! :)</p>