Okay, then you are eligible for need based aid. But you need to be aware of which schools will give it – out of state publics almost never do with only a couple of exceptions, and they are very hard to get into for that reason. Some others SAY they meet need, but generally the need isn’t so great in reality.
Why don’t you list your stats and proposed major, and the schools you are considering. You will get some help paring down your list from there. Just scattershot applying to 20 colleges isn’t your best strategy.
I concur. I think the best strategy for you would be to cut down your list. I think the best way to do that is to figure out what you like and especially don’t like. For me, I really really really hate desert environments and want to avoid small towns and rural areas as much as possible. Thus, I know for sure I’m not going to apply for schools in the southwest (with the exception of coastal universities) or to schools in a small town like Dartmouth or Cornell.
There have to be things that you hate that would help cut down your list.
@latinvibes I really don’t hate anything. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest weather, so I’m used to that. But I also love extreme weather like the hot south, or super snowy winters on the east coast. I have to really try and think about something I would dislike. I would rather look for factors that make a college MORE appealing to me. Perhaps a good acapella group, food, student culture, volleyball team that I could try out for, internship opportunities, faculty, programs, etc.
No one NEEDS to have two safeties. Some students really want a choice so it’s frequently recommended. If the student is assured of getting into the school, can definitely afford it and would be happy to attend then that’s all that’s needed. Anything else is gravy.
OP, if your family is low income and you are from Washington State then drop the UCs. You can’t possibly afford them. Right now your SAT score looks like it’s not in league for you list.
@mommdc UW is definitely a safety for me and I could afford it with scholarship and financial aid. Both my brothers went to UW and have graduate with no debt, or more money than they walked in with. Also, they didn’t apply to as many scholarships as I have and really weren’t passionate about anything walking into college. Even if I don’t get direct admit to CSE at UW, I can try to get into it later, or pursue being a math major.
@“Erin’s Dad” UW as a direct-admit to CSE is not a safety, but while applying to CSE, she would be automatically considered for (and seems likely to get with her stats) a pre-engineering offer of admission. She seems to understand this distinction in post #26, where she says she could apply to the department later (i.e. after sophomore year) or switch to math.
I just wanted to let any future applicant know that you CAN afford to apply to a lot of colleges and have it financially doable. Your counselor can waive your application fees if you are low-income. I did not know this until now! I applied to 18 and only spent $150 (on SAT score sends).
By no means am I saying a student needs to apply to 18 schools, but I really wanted to at least have a choice in which college I end up attending, and have good financial aid, so I cast a wider net.