<p>So I just finished my junior year and I'm loooking a different colleges but it seems that everytime I think I find one that I really like, I find a different one or I don't like it a week later. I feel like I'm just looking around aimlessly and I need help to find the school that I will be the most comfortable in.</p>
<p>sats: 1910
math and reading only: 1320
..haven't taken sat II or act yet</p>
<p>4 Aps and the rest are mostly honors</p>
<p>What I'm looking for in a school:
~somewhere on the upper east coast, no farther than virginia, or can be a little to the west like chicago or michigan
~perferablely NOT urban, im looking for more of a natural, quiet school thats not really in the center of a city
~don't really care about size
~im not really sure about my major yet so idk if im looking for any special programs, Im considering going into some kind of science though
~money might be a problem, my family is probably not able to pay too much for college, Im mostly hoping for need-based financial aid and scholralships
~cant be a crazy party school but i dont want it to be strictly academic
~expecially looking for a good school that I'll get my moneys worth and will be able to find a job after graduating and such</p>
<p>Please give me some suggestions and thanks :]</p>
<p>Look at Denison in Granville Ohio, in a small quaint town but less than an hour from Columbus. They give good merit scholarships and you would qualify. Also look at Hiram in northeast Ohio, beautiful campus, great price and you would qualify for a lot of merit aide. Hiram is a little gem that is overlooked. It is on the colleges that change lives list.</p>
<p>You’re GPA is excellent as is your class rank, but your SATs don’t reflect that level of academic accomplishment. Why not spend some time practicing for the SAT and retaking it in October? If you can get above a 2100, you will be an attractive candidate at a lot of schools that offer generous aid. Alternatively try the ACT and see if you do better on that.</p>
<p>“~money might be a problem, my family is probably not able to pay too much for college, Im mostly hoping for need-based financial aid and scholralships”</p>
<p>Have one of your parents use the EFC Calculator on the collegeboard website with their 2010 Tax Returns. Choose both FM and IM for the FA formulas. Keep hitting “save” so you can refer back to it. It is best to get an EFC so your family knows what you are up against. You will have to pay more than your EFC (expected family contribution) as many schools do not meet all of your need.</p>
<p>Since you need financial aid you should apply to at least one in-state university, as others have suggested. As far as private universities, FA packages can differ – so try a range. You started out by saying you change your mind as to whether you like a school or not. You might think about what attracts you and what doesn’t. (University marketing can make places seem really appealing, but do a reality check.) You should visit one or two and consider your experience during the visit(s). Also, check out the University of Maryland, College Park.</p>
<p>“~money might be a problem, my family is probably not able to pay too much for college, Im mostly hoping for need-based financial aid and scholralships”</p>
<p>You need to sit down with your parents, and find out just exactly how much they can afford to pay. That way you will know how far you will have to dig in order to come up with financial safeties. Be sure to identify at least one place that you can pay for without any aid other than federally determined (FAFSA) aid, that will admit you based on your GPA and test scores, that offers your major(s), and that you are happy to attend if all else goes wrong in the application process.</p>
Based on that and towards the east coast, I thought of Oberlin, which is in a really tiny town, middle of nowhere if you like that. Not a big city thing at all- have to go into Cleveland I think to get “big city”.</p>