<p>Sybbie: How would I find that out? Call the school? My mom wasn’t aware of any.</p>
<p>*Should I see if I can get my ACT score up to a 30? </p>
<p>I don’t think I would do well on the SAT. I thought the PSAT was hard, personally.*</p>
<p>Yes, you should try to get your score as high as possible. </p>
<p>How did you do on the PSAT? </p>
<p>Your mom WANTS you to live on campus but she’s only giving you $2500 per year? That doesn’t make sense.</p>
<p>The advice to take the SAT was covered in other threads. Didn’t you previously say the issue was the test centers were not close and/or the schedule wasn’t convenient? </p>
<p>There is a time for pondering, asking lots of questions-- and a time for action. Go to the HR site for Mom’s college and do the research on tuition exchanges or similar benefits. (I’m going to roll my eyes and mutter, if another poster beats you to this!) If it’s not there or not clear, then call. But, that still leaves you with room and board costs, as others here note. </p>
<p>Find colleges where your ACT and gpa are closer to the top quartile. Do that research. Understand that even test-optional schools have ways of assessing whether an applicant is of the same quality as those scorers in the ranges they seek. The trade off for not sending scores is the quality of the “rest of the story” has to be on mark. Pull the Common App and college supplements to see the sorts of questions asked that give adcoms insight into your fit.</p>
<p>See who offers merit money and if you qualify. Mom may have an epiphany between now and next May 1 or so, when acceptance decisions are due. She may turn proud an come up with a few extra dollars. Or, she may throw up her hands and remind you she’s been warning for two years now, that she and Dad can’t afford all the extra costs. That the money isn’t there. That the loan amounts will cripple you after college. </p>
<p>Put it all together, now.</p>
<p>Lookingforward: I found Washington College in MD. The average ACT score is a 24. I qualify for a $13,000 scholarship just for being in National Honor Society.</p>
<p>My problem with the SAT is the point deduction… I don’t feel like I would do well. I like knowing I can guess.</p>
<p>My mom’s school isn’t a member of the Tuition Exchange Program. 
It really, really stinks because American University is offering a $31,000 scholarship! I don’t know how it could become a member. There were other public Missouri colleges on the list.</p>
<p>Cost of attendance minus 31k is still over 20 your parents have to pay.</p>
<p>Just for grins, look at Sweet Briar College. As I understand it, tons of aid and a push for internships. A few Arabic classes.</p>
<p>Lookingforward: Thanks!</p>