Help

College Search & Selection
1

<p>My kid is like a deer caught in the headlights with his college search. He's a senior and hasn't started. The only thing that matters to him is that the college has a good computer science program. He's VERY smart, but he didn't get good grades during his freshman and sophomore years, kind of an A, B, C mix (mostly B's and C's). His ACT composite was 32. His ACT writing score was HORRIBLE. Last year he got almost all straight A's. This semester he's taking all honors/ AP classes and getting A's so far. I know he'll get awesome teacher recommendations. He also is involved in Business Professionals of America and has placed very highly in several of their computer programming, web development and IT competitions. He went to the national level and placed 8th in the nation for web development. He taught himself programming and is even teaching a class after school to other interested students. He only ranks in the top 50%of his class because we have MANY honor students at our high school. He's lettered in Knowledge Bowl (an academic extra curricular activity) and is very involved in helping with technology at our church. He's kind of your typical computer.math,science nerdy kid. Oh and he has Aspergers,although he's quite high functioning. He wants a Bachelor's Degree in CS and wants to be a programmer or do software engineering. He also may want to pursue graduate school as well. He's open to any type of college setting ,not into partying or anything,willing to stay close to home or relocate across the country. Size and type of institution, public or private doesn't matter to him. We are a very large, low income family (My kids get free lunch.), so he will either have to get loans or A LOT of financial aid. Can anybody just throw out some suggestions about what colleges might be a good fit? I'm looking for 4 categories of schools: dream schools that are a big reach but not impossible, some maybe schools (kind of a 50/50 shot), some schools he'll most likely get into,and a couple of safety schools.We live in Minnesota, but he's neither tied to staying in the area nor opposed to it. I want to get a list of possibilities before the end of the weekend. Also, how many schools in each of the 4 categories I mentioned would you recommend applying to? Do schools ever waive or reduce application fees for low income students? Help! I'm feeling SO stressed. He's my oldest kid. Thanks! btw---High school guidance counselor has been NO help.</p>

<p>Annette</p>

2

<p>I’m breaking up your post to make it easier to read…</p>

<p>"My kid is like a deer caught in the headlights with his college search. He’s a senior and hasn’t started. The only thing that matters to him is that the college has a good computer science program. </p>

<p>He’s VERY smart, but he didn’t get good grades during his freshman and sophomore years, kind of an A, B, C mix (mostly B’s and C’s). </p>

<p>**
His ACT composite was 32.** His ACT writing score was HORRIBLE. </p>

<p>Last year he got almost all straight A’s. This semester he’s taking all honors/ AP classes and getting A’s so far. </p>

<p>I know he’ll get awesome teacher recommendations. </p>

<p>He also is involved in Business Professionals of America and has placed very highly in several of their computer programming, web development and IT competitions. </p>

<p>He went to the national level and placed 8th in the nation for web development. He taught himself programming and is even teaching a class after school to other interested students.
**
He only ranks in the top 50% **of his class because we have MANY honor students at our high school. </p>

<p>He’s lettered in Knowledge Bowl (an academic extra curricular activity) and is very involved in helping with technology at our church. He’s kind of your typical computer.math,science nerdy kid. </p>

<p>Oh and he has Aspergers, although he’s quite high functioning. </p>

<p>He **wants a Bachelor’s Degree in CS **and wants to be a programmer or do software engineering. He also may want to pursue graduate school as well. </p>

<p>He’s open to any type of college setting ,not into partying or anything,willing to stay close to home or relocate across the country. </p>

<p>Size and type of institution, public or private doesn’t matter to him.
**
We are a very large, low income family (My kids get free lunch.), so he will either have to get loans or A LOT of financial aid. ** Can anybody just throw out some suggestions about what colleges might be a good fit? </p>

<p>I’m looking for 4 categories of schools: dream schools that are a big reach but not impossible, some maybe schools (kind of a 50/50 shot), some schools he’ll most likely get into,and a couple of safety schools.</p>

<p>We live in Minnesota, but he’s neither tied to staying in the area nor opposed to it. I want to get a list of possibilities before the end of the weekend. Also, how many schools in each of the 4 categories I mentioned would you recommend applying to? </p>

<p>Do** schools ever waive or reduce application fees** for low income students? Help! I’m feeling SO stressed. He’s my oldest kid. Thanks! btw—High school guidance counselor has been NO help."</p>

<p>What is his weighted GPA for grades 9-11?</p>

<p>Yes, low income kids can apply for application waivers. Someone here can tell you what you need to do.</p>

<p>Most schools do not meet need and student loans are limited to small amounts.</p>

<p>If you have an EFC of 0, then your son will get full Pell…about $5550 per year. Not enough to pay for college.</p>

<p>If his GPA is high enough, then with his ACT 32, he could get some good merit scholarships.</p>