<p>So i'm having trouble finding any match or safety schools that I would like to apply to. Due to illness my GPA is awful and has a downward trend, but my ACT scores are pretty good. I'm not sure how good my extra circulars are because they are all connected to JROTC. I'm a senior so i'm kinda running out of time to get a list I like. I live in North Carolina but i'd like to go out of state.
GPA: 2.9167 uw, 3.01w
ACT(plus writing): 28
ECs: -Worked concessions at the local colleges home football games to earn money for jrotc
-Volunteered at my schools semester blood drive with jrotc
-participated in the veterans day parade all four years
-part of jrotc's drill team
-did adopt a highway
-helped run my school's drill meet
-i'm also the officer of plans and programs for the corp
my one non school related ec is that i volunteer are my mom's museum for the festivals they throw.
I really like Boston University and Northeastern but they are both huge reaches. My wants in a college are mid-sized or large, urban, and a good science department, I also need a large amount of financial aid.</p>
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Few schools meet financial need and those are extremely competitive to get in to. You also have some great in-state options. If finances are really tight I would start at a CC and move to NC State or UNC after two years, both great schools. You can move OOS for a graduate degree or a job.</p>
<p>I agree with Erin’s dad. Your best financial option is to stay in state. The UNC campuses all accept transfer credits from community colleges. CC would give you a chance to improve your GPA and there are many good choices of state colleges. Most have good science departments. Out of state colleges won’t be as good for you financially, and there will be the added costs of transportation. You are fortunate to have many excellent schools in state, as good as many private schools and OOS ones, and they are your best bet financially.
If you still wish to consider 4 year schools, your ACT is good enough for several of them. If your GPA is due to illness , perhaps an explanation from your GC may help. Consider UNC-G, UNC- Asheville, UNC- Charlotte. These would meet your criteria.</p>
<p>My S had almost the same GPA and ACT and he had many good options, and a lot of financial aid too. His main EC was music and he chose to major in it, but he was accepted to and given good FA packages by several LACs where he’d not be a music major.</p>
<p>If you really want to leave NC, look at some CTCL schools and also check out Adrian College in Michigan. However, that will mean giving up large and urban. I mention them only as options that worked well for my S with his stats.</p>
<p>Explaining the GPA due to illness - or better yet **having your GC explain it for you in his/her rec letter **- will help too.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help, the only problem with going to a cc is that the closest cc in my area is too far to commute everyday and I don’t know if I can afford housing.</p>