Helping first-gen hispanic student...need advice

Student Lounge Hispanic Students
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<p>I began helping a junior girl with her college search process last summer. Her "big sister" (a social worker who has mentored her for almost 9 years) asked for my help and I've been on a personal mission since then to help "E" in any way I can. She will be the first in her family to attend college, qualifies as low-income (EFC "0"), and is hispanic. She has a 3.2 UW GPA (likely to be around a 3.4 W) and has taken 4 AP courses as of now (1 in 10th and now 3 junior year). Next year she plans to take 3 more AP's. She attends a top public school in northern Virginia (an excellent IB program school that also offers the AP's). She's involved in chorus through her church (Catholic), and has lettered in track and field hockey, but not much else with EC's. Her PSAT's were in the high 400's in 10th, so the "big sister" and I have been paying a tutor to prep E (since Nov.) for the March SAT and E's already up to a 650 in critical reading! (half way through the sessions). We are guessing that her SAT's would be around 1750-1800. E will also be taking a couple subject tests in the spring after AP exams.</p>

<p>I've gone through the college process with my older son (now a first-year at UVA) and am now deep in the process with my junior daughter, just to give you a bit of background. I've been reading CC since 2007, but would really appreciate some feedback on the current college list I have for E. I don't want to miss anything and so am posting to get more advice. </p>

<p>We are looking at Virginia State Schools mainly (JMU Centenniel scholarship is of major interest),and meet full-need schools. E thinks she wants to major in Psych. Her counselor seems to really be pushing the Pathways program (2 yrs. cc then transfer to a 4 yr). E has her heart set on a traditional 4 year institution --she's highly capable of making this dream happen. </p>

<p>Her mom would not like her to go very far from Virginia and cannot afford any kind of major traveling expenses, so we have kept that in mind and are looking in VA, PA, NY at the furthest. E doesn't want to head south of VA. She really has no preference on size of school, she just wants a 4-year. She's very mainstream and would fit into just about anywhere. She's just a total sweetheart :).</p>

<p>here's the list of schools we've been looking at (includes reaches, targets, and safeties):</p>

<p>U. of Mary Washington
Christopher Newport University
George Mason University
James Madison University
Virginia Tech
Old Dominion University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Radford University
Longwood University
Loyola University of Maryland
Bucknell University
Lafayette College
St. Lawrence
Roanoke College
Susquehanna University
Saint Josephs University<br>
Randolph College
Mount Saint Mary’s University </p>

<p>"E" loves U of Delaware and being OOS, not sure she's likely to get enough FA. If anyone has any info. on U of Delaware (Hispanic scholarships..etc.). Open to any other suggestions as well (or reasons to nix certain schools from the list).</p>

<p>Thanks!!!</p>

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<p>I’m afraid I’m not very familiar with the schools you’ve listed. </p>

<p>One question, are there any financial safeties on the list? I ask because, while you say the family has a zero EFC and that all of the colleges meet full need, I’m guessing that all include loans as part of the FA package.</p>

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<p>Jkwinmom-</p>

<p>Here are some points I thought of in looking at your post.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>check out this website:[Center</a> for Student Opportunity](<a href=“http://www.csopportunity.org/]Center”>http://www.csopportunity.org/) The Center for Student Opportunity is directed at a person exactly like E. See if any of the colleges on your list are a college partner listed on this website. Look at the programs for minority outreach for the partner colleges. They may give you some good ideas as to what is available for her in terms of financial aid and opportunities. For example here is Bucknell’s listing. [College</a> Center - College Info](<a href=“http://www.csocollegecenter.org/collegeinfo.aspx?id=409&page=programs]College”>http://www.csocollegecenter.org/collegeinfo.aspx?id=409&page=programs)</p></li>
<li><p>I would also check out the “colleges that change lives”. I attended their college fair in August and many of the colleges were advocating minority outreach and told me about programs that were not listed on any website.</p></li>
<li><p>This website might also give you some ideas of colleges. [Get</a> Me To College - Your College Preparation Information Portal](<a href=“http://getmetocollege.org/]Get”>http://getmetocollege.org/) Look at available scholarships and colleges listed.</p></li>
<li><p>For the colleges you have listed I would contact the office of minority affairs or office of diversity (if it exists at the college) and tell them about E and inquire about opportunity for her. I bet you would get information that would help you make a more informative decision. Plus some schools do not advertise minority fly-ins so when I called the schools on my son’s list I learned about fly-ins that were not listed.</p></li>
<li><p>The University of Pittsburgh has some great minority recruitment and outreach. I would check out that school too. </p></li>
<li><p>Since E is just a junior now I would try to get her accepted to a summer scholarship program. Now is the time to apply. Look under summer programs on CC as well as other internet websites. Look for first generation summer programs. If accepted it would be a good way for E to do a “test run” about college and help her decide how far she wants to go. </p></li>
<li><p>Colleges back in October were federally mandated to include “net price calculators” on their websites. These net price calculators help parents and students determine the true cost of college for a student. This post may explain it better. [College</a> Cost Calculators: Getting Wildly Different Answers | The College Solution](<a href=“http://www.thecollegesolution.com/college-cost-calculators-getting-wildly-different-answers]College”>College Cost Calculators: Getting Wildly Different Answers) By looking at a particular college’s net price calculator you can see how much their financial aid would contain loans versus grants. You would also get an idea as to the percentage students who receive finanical aid versus apply and at what levels of income such awards are given. It would be great for E to attend a college that does not pack her aid package with a bunch of loans.
Finally I want to commend you for doing this for E. It is wonderful that you care and I know you are having a positive impact on her. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Good luck and I hope this info helps.</p>

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<p>@Entomom, I should have included more info. on the schools (I seem to forget that regional schools won’t be known to most people outside of Virginia, sorry!). Here’s more info. on all of them, in no particular order. I’ve separated out the State Schools from the full-need privates just to make it easier to follow how I’ve come up with this list. We do have instate “safeties”, but that’s the thing, does that mean it’s a financial “safety”? I think that’s where I’m a bit stuck. </p>

<p>We plan to have E apply for the JMU Centenniel scholarship (if she’s accepted next year), but it would be fantastic to find a similar type of program, at one of our instate’s, closer to “safety” range of her stats. I’m looking at Old Dominion, Longwood, Radford, Christopher Newport, in particular for more programs. So you’ve basically hit the nail on the head --I’m not sure if I’ve found her real financial safety yet. </p>

<p>Virginiai State Schools:</p>

<p>U. of Mary Washington
3.58 accepted student GPA average. “high target".</p>

<p>Christopher Newport University “high target to target”
3.6 accepted student GPA average. </p>

<p>George Mason University
3.48 accepted student GPA average–“target” school.</p>

<p>James Madison University (member of Venture Scholar Program)
3.9 accepted student GPA average. "reach” school. They offer the“Centenniel Scholars Scholarship” for minority students that is “full ride” (tutition, housing, books, computer!) </p>

<p>Virginia Tech (member of Venture Scholar Program)
3.8 accepted student GPA average -“reach” school, but worth a shot.</p>

<p>all instate “Safeties” (E’s SAT scores are well above their avgs and GPA on target or above):</p>

<p>Old Dominion University
3.3 accepted student GPA average. “safety”</p>

<p>Virginia Commonwealth University
3.4 accepted student GPA average</p>

<p>Radford University
3.1 accepted student GPA average“safety”.</p>

<p>Longwood University 3.3 accepted student GPA average. “safety".</p>

<p>Meet full-demonstated-need (I think Lafayette and Roanoke may be the only two that do not fill gap with any loans):</p>

<p>Loyola University of Maryland (3,807 students)
3.48 GPA avg. and median SAT scores of 545-650 </p>

<p>Bucknell University, PA (3,487 students)
3.5 GPA avg. of accepted students and median SAT scores of 590-710</p>

<p>Lafayette College, PA (2,375 students)
3.41 GPA avg. and median SAT scores of 590-700</p>

<p>St. Lawrence, NY (2,327 students)
3.55 accepted student GPA average and median SAT scores of 550-660.</p>

<p>Roanoke College, VA (2,039 students)
3.4 accepted student GPA average. Median SAT scores of 490-570</p>

<p>Others:</p>

<p>Susquehanna University ¶
3.2 accepted student GPA average. </p>

<p>Saint Josephs University ¶
.
Randolph College (VA)
3.3 accepted student GPA avg.</p>

<p>Mount Saint Mary’s University (MD)</p>

<p>thanks!</p>

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<p>I am so glad I posted, bc I will now spend the rest of the day digging through all the various free summer programs. I am in the midst of the summer planning with my D (and my two younger kids who are 5 & 7 yrs. :)), but you are making me realize that there are free options for E to apply for. I found a great program at James Madison U. and emailed the diversity office this morning asking for more information for E. So thank you for pointing that out to me --I will go through your other post on summer programs…right after this response.</p>

<p>to respond to all that you said (thank you!)</p>

<p>1.) great link and I will tell E to set up an account/profile. </p>

<p>2.) I am actually focusing heavily on the CTCL with my own D, but had no idea that there were programs some of them may offer for E. I will make sure to go through the entire list and see if McDaniel, Lynchburg, Allegheny, Juniata, Ursinus may have something to offer that is unlisted! OMG, this bit of information could open up all kinds of possibilities I didn’t know about! </p>

<p>3.) Will talk to E this weekend about the JMU program, and what ever else I find from your thread today.</p>

<p>4.) Very good point about contacting the minority affairs offices. More advice I didn’t know about asking!</p>

<p>I really appreciate the time you took to respond–this is exactly what I needed from both of your posts. I had a feeling I was missing something…I was :). </p>

<p>thank you!</p>

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<p>@ Itzv,</p>

<p>I found a great summer program for E at U of Delaware, and although they say they offer scholarships and financial aid…not sure we’d be able to come up with enough money for her to attend (expect there would be a “gap” being from OOS).</p>

<p>Are there any scholarships available for her to apply for that could be able to be used for summer programs (for credit courses at UD)?? Or that would assist her with an instate college campus based program? </p>

<p>I may talk to Big Brothers/Big Sisters org. and see if they will cover the gap since she’s been in their program since 8 years old, but are there others that you’d recommend?</p>

<p>She’s not going to be competitive enough to apply for some of the free programs :(.</p>

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<p>Jkiwmom:</p>

<p>I am in transit because unfortunately my father-in-law passed away so I can only give you quick info. </p>

<p>Even if you think she isn’t competitive for some program still apply. In my experience she still may have a running chance and more importantly it will put her in the colleges’ radar which is always good. </p>

<p>It has also been my experience that programs will truly try to help a student with financial aid. Any program that you think is good for E just call and persuasively explain E’s situation and inquire whether they have any aid. I wouldn’t worry about OOS since many schools have summer programs to attract out of state students. </p>

<p>I do not know of separate scholarships other than offered by the individual schools themselves for students attending the school’s own programs. Also don’t forget local summer programs that may be available. </p>

<p>Also check Hispanic Congressional Caucus website. They may have something. Here is relevant link: [For</a> Students - Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute](<a href=“http://www.chci.org/education_center/page/for-students]For”>http://www.chci.org/education_center/page/for-students) If you live near DC then maybe she could attend a Latino Leadership program offered by HCC. Look through their website since I believe I have seen many offered. Also for college be sure to check their directory of scholarships. Here is CA we have a good latino leadership project at Sacramento for high school students that is completely free so see if there is anything similar in your area. </p>

<p>Don’t be afraid to ask- all that they can say is no and you are no worse off. </p>

<p>Glad I could help.
itsv.</p>

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<p>I am terribly sorry about your family’s loss. I appreciate the info. greatly.</p>

<p>I see what you are saying, might as well apply and make contact with the program FA offices that she’s planning to apply. And yes, good thoughts about looking at opportunities that will be unique to living in DC (we are right over the Potomac river in VA, so yes technically “DC metro area” as we call it). I will look at the link today, and also GWU, American, and Catholic to see if they have programs that might work. Would certainly cut down on costs too since she can metro there and be a non-residential summer student. </p>

<p>Okay! Thank you once again. I don’t know what took me so long to find this forum, but I have been digging through all the archives and there’s so much here to learn…very enlightening!</p>

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<p>You could look into the Posse Scholars program.
[Nomination</a> Process — The Posse Foundation](<a href=“http://www.possefoundation.org/about-posse/program-components/recruitment/nomination-process]Nomination”>The Nomination Process | The Posse Foundation)

</p>

<p>Posse colleges for DC area students include Bucknell and Lafayette.</p>

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<p>^^THANKS! I will talk to the minority achievement specialist at “E”'s school today and see if they will nominate her for Posse program. I just read through it quickly (and will do a more thorough read through today) but it looks like someone at her school will need to nominate her. Bucknell and Lafayette are two schools on her list --great suggestion. thx!</p>

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<p>I cannot believe it, E is finally at the application point! E visited many of the schools on the list with her “big sister”, and I focused on getting her prepared to take the SAT (last Nov. through Feb.). I hired a private tutor for my D (who is the same year as E), and the big sister and I both paid for E to be tutored along with my D. E did really well! (brought up her scores by over 160 pts. from PSAT’s). She took the SAT in March, but decided to retake it in June (and did well enough for mid-ranges of most of the schools). We are so excited for her, because she really does have a shot at any one of the schools on her list now. Her weighted GPA is now a 3.38. Her EC’s are church youth group involvement, chorus, and two sports. Just to refresh memories, she’s a first gen., Hispanic and raised by a single mom (low-income). </p>

<p>Her favorite instate schools after visits are --Christopher Newport and U Mary Washington. She just sent her EA apps. recently and we are awaiting decisions! I have a bunch of Hispanic and need-based scholarships I’m urging her to apply to in the early part of the year, but it’s now in the “reality phase” of E making this dream of college happen for herself. I just wanted to share the update and thank you all once again. I will keep you posted on her acceptances and FA. She is such an amazing young woman and I cannot even express my joy in being a part of her college application process.</p>

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<p>Glad to hear about all the progress, sounds like she’s on her way!</p>

<p>Kudos to you for taking the time and energy to help her with testing and guidance through the admissions process. There are so many things to understand and figure out about college admission, it’s very difficult to tackle on your own, particularly for first gen students.</p>

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<p>Has her application list stayed the same since last year?</p>

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<p>^No, that was just our starting point. We mainly focused on instate VA schools, privates known for merit (with her stats taken into account), and 100% full need schools that were still within range (i.e. Bucknell, Lafayette --I wanted to add Holy Cross, but her mom said too far away). So after some visits, her favorites were Christopher Newport and U of Mary Washington (both instate VA schools). Her mom does not want her traveling further away then NJ, PA, heading north and E didn’t want to go south of VA. I know, the criteria did limit her options. Her mom just does not want her leaving too far from home. E also ended up telling me that she wasn’t interested in all-girls schools or Catholic schools, so that nixed some really great options as well. </p>

<p>She’s been admitted to 3 safeties now and one offered her $17,000 merit! Two are VA schools and the other is a less selective private in VA. The acceptances are so exciting for her, but she also realizes that it’s the financial aid packages that will really be the deciding factor. I am praying she gets her CNU EA decision before Christmas…</p>

<p>Here’s her list:</p>

<p>U. of Mary Washington
3.58 accepted student GPA average. “high target".</p>

<p>Christopher Newport University “high target to target”
3.6 accepted student GPA average. </p>

<p>George Mason University
3.48 accepted student GPA average–“target” school.</p>

<p>Virginia Tech (member of Venture Scholar Program)
3.8 accepted student GPA average -“reach” school, but worth a shot.</p>

<p>Longwood University 3.3 accepted student GPA average. “safety". -Accepted.</p>

<p>Virginia Wesleyan U. -Accepted, with scholarship.</p>

<p>Averett University -Accepted</p>

<p>Loyola University of Maryland (3,807 students)
3.48 GPA avg. and median SAT scores of 545-650 </p>

<p>Bucknell University, PA (3,487 students)
3.5 GPA avg. of accepted students and median SAT scores of 590-710</p>

<p>Lafayette College, PA (2,375 students)
3.41 GPA avg. and median SAT scores of 590-700</p>

<p>Susquehanna University ¶
3.2 accepted student GPA average.</p>

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<p>E was accepted at Christopher Newport U.! This was one of my favorites for her and she loved it when she visited last spring. We’re still waiting on U Mary Washington’s decision and then it’s all going to come down the FA packages. Averett U has awarded her a $12,000 merit scholarship and Virginia Wesleyan awarded her $17,000 merit.</p>

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<p>Nice, kudos & congrats to her from all of us!</p>

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<p>Wonderful news, jkiwmom!! Way to go!!</p>

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<p>I am sorry I saw this post so late…any chance this student is a resident of Arlington county, VA? LOTS of need based aid offered through the county school website. She must get that application in soon…sometime this month. Have her check it and her counselor. </p>

<p>A lot of the county’s consolidate their scholarship website to make it easier for students. Many of the scholarship are need based and frequently for students who choose to stay in state. I believe Fairfax does this but not sure about Falls Church. PM me if you want the link.</p>

<p>Best of luck to E! Brave girl! You and her familyl must be very proud.</p>

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<p>^Yes, she’s in Arlington county! (probably “blowing my cover”, lol). But no worries, she did get in the Arlington community foundation scholarship app. on time. Her “big sister” and I have been working as a team on the scholarship applications --she’s been helping E with the Big Brother Big Sister scholarship app. and I’ve helped her with the ACFS, Hispanic Foundation, and the school particular scholarships instate (Longwood has one, and so does UMW). We are all on a mission! :)</p>

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<p>E has now been accepted at U of Delaware with merit (but probably not be enough to attend), a full ride offer to Longwood U. (!), and now she’s waiting on FA packages from CNU and U Mary Washington. I am so amazed by her!!! She’s going to college!</p>

<p>Haven’t heard anything from Arlington Foundation yet…so hopeful…</p>