I can't find the right fit...help a desperate, lost senior?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Straight to the point: </p>

<p>I have pretty strong (well, "ok" on CC) academics (all IB courses, 3.64 unweighted, 29ACT, plenty of extracirriculars/clubs) and am looking for colleges that will challenge me and place me in a good job/grad school. I'm looking for something in Michigan or in the Midwest. </p>

<p>Right now I'm interested in the biological field, environmental science, and biomedical engineering. </p>

<p>Obviously Michigan and Michigan State are up there on my list. But I can't find any others, and I really need at least 4 to apply to. </p>

<p>Others I am considering - all not seriously at all - are SUNY - ESF, Michigan Tech, Grand Valley State University and Kalamazoo College.
But again, I'm not considering these seriously. They're more on my list cause I need a bigger list. These other schools just...don't seem as prestigious. </p>

<p>Now as for tuition+other expenses, we're looking for under 20K with some good scholarship opportunities. Out of state doesn't seem to be a great option for this reason. Then again I feel like there aren't any other options in state either. :(</p>

<p>ANY HELP would be GREATLY appreciated!!!! I'm sort of running out of time so if anyone could point me in the right direction that would be great.</p>

2

<p>Well I think really any of the Big 10 schools would do. All are pretty strong in the sciences and I think you would be competitive for admission at all of them (with Northwestern likely being a reach). That’s what came to mind for me</p>

3

<p>Would you be happy to end up at Michigan State and would it be affordable for you if you are admitted? If you are certain or very, very likely to get in there (I think you probably are, given your stats), AND the answers to the above questions are both “yes,” then you don’t need four schools. Apply to MSU and to UMich. If you think that you would qualify for substantial need-based aid, then maybe apply to Northwestern and maybe UChicago and see whether they admit you and what they offer you. But there’s no law that says you have to apply to a ton of different places if one or two will suffice.</p>

4

<p>Thank you for the recommendations, I will surely look into them :)</p>

<p>@jingle
I’m pretty satisfied with MSU - especially if I get scholarships and perhaps into the honors college. But I still want other good options if by some chance I don’t get admitted, or I end up not liking it.</p>

5

<p>You won’t find better options than the Michigan schools for under $20K, everyone doesn’t need a long list.</p>

6

<p>If you’re able to look out of state, I definitely second Northwestern and UChicago. </p>

<p>Other possibilities that come to mind are:</p>

<p>Carleton College
Macalester College
Grinnell College
Oberlin College
Kenyon College
Washington University in St. Louis
University of Notre Dame</p>

<p>Good luck with your search!</p>

7

<p>Now as for tuition+other expenses, we’re looking for under 20K with some good scholarship opportunities. Out of state doesn’t seem to be a great option for this reason. Then again I feel like there aren’t any other options in state either.</p>

<p>Your financial limitations will prevent some of the above choices if those schools would expect a larger contribution from your family. </p>

<p>Are you looking for merit because you won’t likely qualify for FA?</p>

<p>Will you be testing again? Will you also take the SAT?</p>

<p>If you could raise your ACT by another point, there would be more schools that would give you merit money. Also take the SAT, you may do better on that.</p>

8

<p>

</p>

<p>Does MSU have rolling admissions? Apply as soon as you can (now?) so that you’ll know early whether or not you are admitted. Then you can reevaluate your situation-feel satisfied with MSU and be done or try for some other chancier schools.</p>

9

<p>You could get a 1/2 tuition scholarship at Ohio Northern U.</p>

10

<p>MSU should be your math/safety. That said, Get that application out fast!! If you get in, you are done!!!
As an MSU grad, both undergrad and graduate school, it was a great place to be. Excellent education and environment.</p>

<p>Northwestern and Chicago seem like unrealistic reaches to me and both a financial and academic waste of your time to apply. </p>

<p>What about Central Michigan? My friend’s daughter loves it there. </p>

<p>Michigan has great schools. (That said as a NYer who went there OOS.)
Apply: Michigan, MSU, 2 easier MI U’s</p>

11

<p>Add SUNY ESF to your list. Very popular school in NY right now.</p>

12

<p>wow, thanks for the replies and recs. </p>

<p>SUNY - ESF seems nice but I’m worried about what would happen if I want to switch majors into something out of environ. science, and also if I’ll get a decent job coming out of that school. </p>

<p>Yeah I know we’re sort of on a tight budget and I don’t have an amazing resume assembled. Freshman year was baaaad. Coming from a school and family of “HARVARD OR BUST” it’s a bit dissapointing. </p>

<p>ANYWAYS. Personally, I’m ok with it. I just want a decent job in something I love. That’s all I want. And minimal debt lol. </p>

<p>So I think I’ll be doing: UofM, MSU, SUNY-ESF, and Michigan Tech w/ a strong preference for the first two.
And I will probably get FA (from FAFSA right? Being a first-gen applying is very confusing sorry), but my parents are depending on merit too is all.</p>

13

<p>Fordham has a new environmental science degree, the Chief Academic Officer is an Environmentalist, and they own their own scientific and biological research facility in Armonk, New York.</p>

<p>You fit their profile nicely.</p>

14

<p>Kalamazoo is a pretty well-reputed college.</p>

<p>Chicago doesn’t seem like an “unrealistic reach” to me. Their ACT middle 50% score range is 28-32, which is where your score falls. Your GPA is a little low, but not too low. It’s a reach, but not unrealistic.</p>

<p>Northwestern, more so - your ACT score puts you in the bottom 25% of average applicants.</p>

<p>What about:</p>

<p>-Colorado College - a match/reach
-Colorado School of Mines - great given your interests
-Earlham College (IN) - you’d be near the top 25% of their applicant pool
-Beloit College (WI) - you’d be smack in the middle of their applicant pool
-College of Wooster (OH) - you’d be near the top of their applicant pool
-Denison University (OH) - in the middle/top of their applicant pool
-University of Minnesota - it’s out of state, but their tuition is pretty low even for OOS students with no funding. The COA would probably be closer to $30K, but you’d be near the top of their applicant pool so perhaps you would be eligible for some scholarships.</p>

15

<p>The Colarado school of mines seems soooo interesting but unfortunately the tuition seems too high. But that’s pretty much exactly what I was looking for. Something great for applied science, especially biology. </p>

<p>Still have to look through the others. Thanks :)</p>

<p>Also, in your opinion, how reliable are the US News school rankings? Are the ok to go by? ESF and Mich. Tech both have pretty bad scores on there but I feel like they’re both still good schools.</p>

16

<p>

</p>

<p>No, Chicago’s middle ACT range is 29-34. (<a href=“https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/admissions/classprofile.shtml[/url]”>https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/admissions/classprofile.shtml&lt;/a&gt;) The 28-32 figure is an extremely outdated statistic from College Board. Moreover, the 29-34 figure is from a year ago when the University had a 27% admissions rate. Since the admit rate fell to 18% last year, I expect that the ACT range is probably in the 30-34 range, if not higher, putting said applicant in the bottom 25% of current students, much less admits.</p>

<p>Also, Chicago is a more selective college than Northwestern anyway.</p>

17

<p>***
Now as for tuition+other expenses, we’re looking for under 20K with some good scholarship opportunities</p>

<p>And I will probably get FA (from FAFSA right? Being a first-gen applying is very confusing sorry), but my parents are depending on merit too is all. ***</p>

<p>FAFSA does NOT give Financial Aid. FAFSA doesn’t give you ANYTHING!!! </p>

<p>You are greatly misunderstanding financial aid.</p>

<p>FAFSA is just an application that gives you an EFC number to determine whether you qualify for federal aid. </p>

<p>If your EFC is above the threshold to get free federal aid then you won’t get that aid.</p>

<p>Free federal aid is for LOW INCOME families. Is your family low income with little assets/savings?</p>

<p>If you don’t qualify for gov’t grants, then at most schools you’ll get no free money at all. At most schools you’ll only be offered a small loan ($5500) and work study (about $2000). </p>

<p>If you can’t afford the OOS publics on your list, take them off…unless you’ll likely get a big merit scholarship from them. </p>

<p>Colorado School of Mines wouldn’t work for you. You won’t get scholarship money from them and you won’t get the aid that you would need.</p>

<p>***we’re looking for under 20K with some good scholarship opportunities</p>

<p>but my parents are depending on merit too is all.***</p>

<p>??? That sentence is unclear. What do you mean by “is all”?</p>

<p>Do you mean that your parents will pay $20k per year or do you mean that you think you can afford a $20k per year school if you also get scholarships?</p>

<p>How much will your family pay each year? From that amount, we can better advise you. </p>

<p>If your parents can’t pay much and you need most of the $20k to come from scholarships, then most of the suggested schools will NOT work.</p>

<p>For you to get merit money, you have to apply to low ranking schools where your stats are high for the school (stats should be in the upper 5-10% for the school). For schools like UMich and Mich State, an ACT 29 is not high enough for merit money.</p>

<p>how reliable are the US News school rankings? Are the ok to go by? ESF and Mich. Tech both have pretty bad scores on there but I feel like they’re both still good schools.</p>

<p>Many colleges have lowish rankings because they don’t have strength in many majors. However, if such a school is strong in your chosen major, then it can be fine for you.</p>

18

<p>USNWR is a broad brush and very cliquish rankings system. Its a starting point, not an ending point. People who pick colleges based solely on rankings deserve what they get. Thus, examine all your college choices carefully for fit for YOU: academics, social scene, financial, geographic, etc. If you find a school which fits you wonderfully and will give you the money you need, then go for it. Lots of good second and third tier schools out there, particularly the small private schools who like strong students like you. In state publics are a good value to be certain and not to be overlooked. They should be on your final list, but not the only schools on that list.</p>

<p>Also, be open to the concept that some kids are determined to major in a topic and then get to college and change their minds. Core requirements are meant to give you a panoply of experiences and open doors and ideas to you. Its okay to be focused, but just not with a ball and chain around your neck.</p>

19

<p>For life sciences, Kalamazoo is way up there:</p>

<p>[COLLEGE</a> PHD PRODUCTIVITY](<a href=“http://web.reed.edu/ir/phd.html]COLLEGE”>Doctoral Degree Productivity - Institutional Research - Reed College)</p>

<p>“Also, in your opinion, how reliable are the US News school rankings?”</p>

<p>Have a look a this post by a college professor:</p>

<p><a href=“Has US News Rankings Improved Higher Education Through Competition? - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>Has US News Rankings Improved Higher Education Through Competition? - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums;

20

<p>Alright, thanks mom2collegekids. Yes I did misunderstand FAFSA, in that case. </p>

<p>I will get back to you guys on how much they can contribute - I’m meeting with my parents to talk about that tonight. My mom says maybe 10K a year is what they can contribute, with the first year fully covered due to savings plans. But she has to consult my father. If my mom gets a job that number will go up. I’ve tried to confront them on finances several times but they keep avoiding it and I get no clear number. The number seems grim as it stands now. </p>

<p>I don’t think I’m low income but our income only comes from my father. He makes about 80-90K a year.</p>