Hi, I’m currently a senior in high school with an overall GPA of 3.86 and a SAT score of 1370. I would love to find some schools to apply to around the Boston Area/Massachusettes area! I have family members to take care of and I feel as if I’m abandoning them if I go to college in another state.
Here’s my current school list (I’m applying for Computer Science and Civil Engineering) REACH
Boston University
Northeastern University
WPI
Tufts
50/50
Umass Amherst
Safety
Wentworth
Umass Boston
I have 12 college fee waivers from Collegeboard and was given an application fee waiver from Wentworth, so I would love to find 6 more schools to apply that’s in the 50/50 and safety range.
Also I don’t know if this helps, but I’m a half-generation Asian-American female (was born in the US, but sent to China immediately after I was born for 7 years since my parents couldn’t afford to take care of me).
Have you run net price calculators on all these schools? They are on each school’s website.
How about Brandeis or Simmons? No engineering, but both have CS. Brandeis meets need, too, which sounds important to you. Mount Holyoke or Smith – again, have CS and should have pretty good financial aid. But not super close to Boston, although in MA.
@intparent I thought about Simmons and Brandeis, but I’m not sure if I can get into Brandeis? I feel like my SAT score and grades are too low for their college.
I’m not sure about how good the computer science program at Simmons since I always considered it as a liberal arts college, but I’m planning to visit them soon.
And I haven’t done that yet! It sounds like a great idea. Thanks for telling me!
You really need to run them ASAP. You may find that some of the schools are not affordable. Also, the calculators may make an assumption about whether you will be living on campus. If you plan to live at home and the calculator doesn’t ask, then it may be inaccurate. I think you’d have a shot at Brandeis.
If it were me I would probably prefer UMass Lowell over UMass Boston. At least you might want to consider it.
Depending upon your finances Northeastern and BU might be financial reaches in addition to “getting accepted” reaches. I agree with running the NPC.
Taking care of relatives while going to university might be quite difficult. University usually requires a pretty strong dedication to classes and studying.
Simmons seems like a great option for you. They have a full scholarship open, deadline is December 1. The scholarship includes additional $3K for travel abroad (I think). Simmons has cross registration with several other schools.
Simmons’ consortium (the Colleges of the Fenway) includes Wentworth. You can take classes at either school if you’re enrolled in one, it seems. There are probably some restrictions, but stil . . . .
It may be helpful to ask yourself what your second and third choices of majors MIGHT be so you may make a more informed choice among these colleges. I agree with @DadTwoGirls and suggest that you take a closer look at U Mass Lowell.
All you stats and your family story will play well to the admissions office readers, but this may not solve the financial aid need. Your motivation is compelling. College of Holy Cross in Worcester is committed to meeting 100% of the financial needs of all admitted students, but look closely at alternative majors to cover likely possibilities.
Check out the functionality of consortium agreements if they become an important part of your decision. Follow up on @Dustyfeather’s advice. The Worcester consortium does not work out too smoothly with WPI because they have a very different term system (WPI is on quarters, not semesters). But Holy Cross, Clark University and WPI do participate. If appropriate you may pick up on some courses.
The Holy Cross rules for participation in the consortium follow:
Admission to Holy Cross means access to the colleges and universities participating in the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts. Normally, a Holy Cross student may enroll in one course per semester at a participating institution provided the course has been approved by the appropriate Department Chair, the Associate Dean of the College, and the Registrar. In special circumstances, a student may be permitted to enroll in two courses in one semester provided that approval has been granted by the Dean of the College. Application for this approval is through the Office of the Class Dean. Evening and summer courses at participating institutions are not part of the concurrent registration program and will be accepted in transfer only if they satisfy degree or college-sponsored program requirements (see Transfer Courses). A course taken at a participating institution must grant a minimum of three semester credits in order to be counted as one of the 32 semester courses required for graduation. Grades from courses taken through participating institutions are calculated into a student’s GPA. The College reserves the right to withhold permission to attend a participating institution if the calendar of the institution differs substantially from the calendar of Holy Cross, thus making it impossible for a student to complete graduation and/or course requirements by the date stipulated by the College.
Virtually all the seven week courses at WPI grant three semester hours of credit.
@Dustyfeathers The Colleges of the Fenway is in flux now. The Boston Conservatory merged into Berklee College, a non-member. Wheelock College is being absorbed into Boston University.
@intparent@DadTwoGirls Sorry about the late reply! I been able to get on collegeconfidential the past two weeks, but haven’t really had the time to sit down and thank everyone yet.
Thank you guys so much for your advice! I actually talked to my parents and they told me that they have the funds available to pay for a quarter of my tuition. I also have taken another job to help me pay for college, but now that I’m examining the financial aid statistic and the cost of tuition, I understand that some of the colleges I am applying to are just too expensive-- especially Boston University and Northeastern. It’s upsetting information to learn, but it’s also necessary information.
Also while I realize that it will be extremely hard to simultaneously take care of my family and my coursework, I want to be there for them when they need me. I wish to stay in-state, so that at the very least, if a situation does arise, then I will be able to drive home.
@Dustyfeathers@retiredfarmer Thank you guys for the college suggestions! I’m planning on applying to both Simmons and Holy Cross. I’m not sure if I will receive Simmons’ Kortzen scholarship due to the large pool of applicants and the small number of available scholarships, but I’m definitely keeping my fingers crossed!
Holy Cross sounds really interesting! My art teacher is actually an alumnus from there and she knows some people on the admissions board. She suggested that I submit my art portfolio even if I’m applying for Computer Science. Do you think this will help boost my application?
Okay, did you actually run the net price calculator on each college website with your parents? Because paying a portion of the list price tuition on the website, or looking at overall financial aid statistics isn’t a very useful way to look at it. Just want to make sure you took that extra step.
Education is more than selecting a major. Admissions reviewers like to see the highlights and breadth of a student’s interests. Evidently your art teacher thinks your portfolio is very good. Some computer scientists even do artwork! One of WPI’s trustees is Erica Mason '96, who holds a PhD in Biology and is a serious artist. Above the entrance to the university library there is a continuous art light show. Interdisciplinary thinking is a good thing, let them know your breadth. :bz
I have family members to take care of and I feel as if I’m abandoning them if I go to college in another state.