How to improve my chances of getting a full tuition/ride scholarship? (Junior Student)

Paying for College
1

Specifically, I have my eye on the University of Houston Tier One Scholar scholarship, but I am willing to go to any decent school that will give me a full ride. Looking at the two most vital requirements for the scholarship, it seems like I’ll be easily eligible for application:

  • Scored a minimum SAT of 1300 on the critical reading and math sections. I scored 1370 and am going to take the SAT again in March/June to improve my score.
  • Ranked in the top 10 percent of their class. While I am not sure of my exact percentage, I am confident that I am in the 10% given my grades.

That being said, I worry that just meeting the requirements will not allow me to get the scholarship, especially with my extracurriculars severely lacking and seeing that only ~50 applicants will more than likely be accepted. Here is an overview of what I’ve done in the past two years + what I’m planning on currently doing the next two years:

Gender: Male
Race: Hispanic, Cuban descent
Orientation: Gay (I am not sure if this will affect my chances at all or if I should include it in the essay. They seem pretty liberal though considering they have a whole LGBTQ subsection of the website. Thoughts?)
SAT Score: 1370, retaking in March
PSAT Score: 1360, retaking in October
Current GPA: Weighted: 4.583. Unweighted: 3.972.
AP Classes/Grade Taken/Scores: CompSci/9th/5, Spanish Lang/10th/5, WHAP/10th/4, APUSH/11th, English/11th, Stats/11th, Physics/11th.
Achievements: AP Scholar, received 1 on a UIL Orchestra Solo in 9th grade and 1 on a UIL Orchestra Ensemble in 10th grade. National Honor Society.
Extracurricular: I was in the Computer Science club… for only the first half of both 9th and 10th grade. And I wasn’t very active; I only attended a few competitions and did not win anything. I’ll be taking Orchestra classes every year during school but I am not very good due to my inability (no $$$) to get a private teacher. I am in the second lowest orchestra (the top two orchestras (there are 4 in total) only have 8 combined spots for my instrument at a highly competitive school). I plan on closing this gap a little by participating in academic UIL and perhaps Quiz Bowl, since none of the clubs currently available at the school interest me (unless Anime Club will allow my resume to shine). Thoughts?
Notes: I am the son of two Cuban immigrants and can apply for free lunch/SAT waivers. I go to a very competitive high school where the average income is much higher than mine. I currently work a part time job at a pizza restaurant, with admittedly barren hours (probably 5 hours a week average, maybe more as the year goes on).

What can I do to increase my chances of getting a full ride scholarship? Do I even stand a chance at getting one?

2

Look here: http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/

3

While that list could work as a backup, I want to have as many options as possible, plus quite a few of the colleges on there do not seem to fit my preferences.

4

Full rides are rare, especially in one hunk of money. How to improve your chances? Be perfect. Perfect grades, perfect scores, perfect backstory. Not easy to do.

Another way is to go to schools that want you. Some Historically Black colleges do give full rides to top ranking students (not perfect). Your preference may cost you a full ride.

5

“Your preference may cost you a full ride.”

This. Beggars cannot be choosers. You will probably not get a full ride at a school that fits your preferences – BECAUSE it fits your preferences (and many other students’). Schools like that need not incentives to enroll top students.

6

Maybe full tuition at Long Island University-CW Post We’re still getting post cards to enroll this fall–and that full tuition scholarships are available–although they don’t say what the criteria are.

7

Get started studying tor the PSAT now! Use https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat, do all 4 practice tests.
Since you are Hispanic, you could qualify for National Hispanic Recognition Program which qualifies you for

several scholarships
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/1805958-need-recent-info-for-national-hispanic-scholars-2016-graduates.html#latest

an even higher score will qualify you for National Merit which will get you your full ride to U Houston.

http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/

8

Other lists:
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/

There are no guarantees, but with your profile, you should be competitive for some of these scholarships.

Many top-tier schools also offer very generous fin aid (and being Hispanic may help at schools located in regions without a lot of Hispanics), so if you can raise your test scores, you could be competitive for some of those schools:
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2015/09/14/colleges-that-report-meeting-full-financial-need

Also look at applying through Questbridge.

And look in to the Gates Millennium scholarship: http://www.gmsp.org/