<p>Hey all,
I need to get a consensus on my chances at an LAC. I'm not a very good "student" because of my rebellious attitude toward the American institutionalized school system and various mental health problems through the years. But I believe I am intelligent and will thrive in an interdisciplinary setting.
- I'm a white girl from Northern California, about a month into my senior year of high school.
- My current GPA (unweighted) is a 2.89.
- For my first SAT (last year) I didn't study at all which resulted in a 1640. I just took my second one and am receiving scores in about ten days.
- Last year I took the AP Language test and got a 4.
- My classes this year are AP Studio Art, AP Environmental Science, Humanities/World Literature, Economics/US Government, Chemistry, and Advanced Algebra. Last year I took AP Studio Art, US History, AP Language, Environmental Science, Geometry, and Art History/ a semester of French 5-6, which I dropped due to a verbally abusive teacher. </p>
<p>My EC's:
- Part-time job as an aftercare teacher at a local preschool
- Volunteer teacher at an aftercare program
- Volunteer at the local food bank
- Volunteer at the local soup kitchen
- Global Student Embassy club
- Partners at Lunch club
- Green Routes to School club
- Student Senate member
- Classical/jazz piano for 11 years
- Student at Stanford Splash program for the past 3 years
- Volunteer at the local Film Festival</p>
<p>Earlier this week, I finished my Common App essay and I personally think it's the best thing that I've ever written. I've had it looked over by teachers/students and they all said it was perfect. (Not trying to toot my own horn but I'm proud of something for once!!)
I'm going to be receiving 3 letters of rec from teachers that I am very close to, so hopefully they will be ok.</p>
<p>SO BASICALLY, what I want to know is this: does a student with sub-par stats, good EC's, and a stellar essay have a chance at schools like University of Puget Sound, University of Vermont, Evergreen State, etc.?</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post, I just really need someone to help me out!
Much love</p>
<p>Evergreen = you’re in. Also apply to Marlboro, College of the Atlantic, and Guilford, plus Sonoma State.
UPuget sound is a good match.
UVermont would be a high match but it’s 45k for out of state students so would your parents be willing to send you there when you have excellent public universities in-state?</p>
<p>College of the Atlantic only has 1 major if I’m not mistaken. I think it’s human ecology, right? Or something like that. So unless you’re into that, I wouldn’t apply.</p>
<p>^correct, but the college may have a vibe that’s appealing to OP. I should have worded it as “look into Marlboro, College of the Atlantic, Guilford”… rather than “apply”.</p>
<p>Thanks guys!! I’ve looked into the Atlantic but it had no appeal to me. also MYOS- I’m not originally from California so although I will be applying to the in state uni’s I’d love to get back to the east coast (vermont) where I have family and friends :)</p>
<p>^COA has the same vibe as Evergreen, except on the East Coast.</p>
<p>However, you haven’t answered the question: will your parents pay for UVermont OOS at 45k per year when you have the excellent UCs in your state? You can look for private schools in New England (it’s not like they’re few and far between) where you won’t incur OOS costs but “going back” at the tune of 45k when you can get a similar education in CA, then move there for a job, would be a very hard sell I think. (And remember you can only borrow 5.5k for your first year.)</p>
<p>a while back I worked out a deal with my parents where we would split tuition ~halfway, so from working jobs for a few years I have about 70k in the bank. they’d be paying 20k of that 45k for UVM </p>
<p>They’ll pay half of whatever costs, even if the costs are 65k? Will they pay full costs for room and board?
Is that in sync with your EFC or is it less than your EFC?</p>
<p>They will pay half but full room and board except I pay for my own meal plan. those were the TOC’s for screwing up in high school!! and it’s in sync with my EFC. and I mean this in the most charming way possible, but I don’t feel comfortable having an all out discussion about my family’s financial standings with my college affairs even if it does affect how you can chance me :)</p>
<p>room and board = housing + meal plan - did they mean housing + books?
You need to know exactly ahead of time. (You don’t need to post it here.)
I know it’s uncomfortable and beside listing your budget for accurate chancing, it doesn’t matter to us, but it’s important to you. Too many kids get into colleges they can’t afford, which is why a real “chance” needs to take financial factors into account.</p>
<p>thank you for being patient with me! I understand the logistics and the risks of applying to the kind of college that I’m looking for, especially when I can’t get an academics/merit based scholarship. I am looking into art history essay-based scholarships or art portfolio-based scholarships though, so maybe I can cut costs. we’ll see</p>