<p>-Arizona State University
-University of Colorado, Boulder
-Florida State University
-Depaul University
-Indiana University, Bloomington
-Purdue University
-University of Nevada, Las Vegas
-University of Central Flordia
-Howard University</p>
<p>About me:</p>
<p>A rising African American senior in the state of Indiana. I will graduate with both a high school diploma AND an associates degree because of a program I am in. So far I have around 40 colleges credits. Over the summer I spent two weeks at a local college taking a course. I will be taking several 200 level college courses during my senior year.</p>
<p>My mom is a single mother with a masters degree and she makes around $60,000 a year.</p>
<p>My stats:</p>
<p>GPA: 2.89 unweighted</p>
<p>Sats: 1500-1600 ( I am planning on taking it again in October. Im aiming to get my Sat's in the 1700-1800 range)</p>
<p>ECs:
-International Club - 2 years
- Ucafe (Student run coffee shop) - 1 year
-Volunteering for a Presidential Campaign (Not going to tell which one. I don't want to start a debate lol.)</p>
<p>Your GPA, SAT, and EC’s are on the average/lower side, but I think that you’re looking at schools that are well within your range. I don’t know much about them, so I don’t want to make too many judgements, but I think you have a pretty decent chance.
Good luck!!! :D</p>
<p>-Arizona State University-match
-University of Colorado, Boulder- reach
-Florida State University- large reach (13% acceptance oos)
-Depaul University-reach
-Indiana University, Bloomington-reach
-Purdue University- reach
-University of Nevada, Las Vegas
-University of Central Flordia
-Howard University- match</p>
<p>Maybe if you posted why you are looking at these schools, what your interests are- people can post more about whether you are a good match for them… and they may also come up with suggestions for schools that are a good match for you. Also post which geographic areas you are most interested in. Your choices are all over the country- which opens many possibilities.</p>
<p>It is advisable to consider schools that will meet financial need and possible merit as well for your academic accomplishments to reduce as much as possible the cost to you and your mother. If you post your interests, perhaps some knowledgeable people can make some suggestions for schools as well. Merit aid is different for entering freshmen than transfers, but some colleges have merit aid for transfer students.</p>
<p>Also most schools post their transfer equivalents so looking at the ones that will accept them may make a difference- and also check to see if you have the pre-reqs for the major you want. What year will you be considered as when you enter? I know some schools still consider early college students as freshman and others do not.</p>
<p>I agree with your counselor for several reasons: You are the age of a freshman and want to meet people your age. Many upperclassmen are older than you, living with friends, off campus, and so on… so you may have a harder time socially starting as a transfer. Living in freshman dorms will be a great introduction to college life and friends your age, as all freshmen will be new and wanting to meet new people and you will be part of that from the start.
Also, most merit aid is freshman recruiting aid- only for freshmen, so it is to your advantage here too. Several of our local colleges admit the “early college” ( high school graduates with dual enrollment in CC) as freshmen so it is not uncommon.
If you are willing to relocate, and travel, there are many schools that have study abroad programs and political science/international relations major. Howard U is in Washington DC- a good location for politics and possible internships. It’s a match school but others here have considered your others a reach for you. Maybe some in the DC. Northern VA, Maryland area or schools with good internship programs would open some political doors for you. Randolph Macon in Virginia is a possible one.
Put in your scores and interests on the college search and see what comes up. Also perhaps the “Colleges that Change Lives” might be of interest.
In general, your chances of admission and merit aid are higher at schools your stats are in the higher range of admission criteria- so start at the schools you are at least a match to. Look at the financial aid info at each college for the mix of grants, merit, aid and loans so you don’t get into too much debt. Sometimes private colleges do better with FA than public and there are cost calculators on each website. FA can reduce the sticker prices on some private schools to less than some public ones
Apply to your dream schools- reaches, but also add some that you have higher admission/ merit aid chances at to increase your chances. Keep all your in state choices on your list as you have a better chance as an in state student for both admission and FA.</p>
<p>I think students are limited in how much they can borrow. I am not sure about the specifics, but perhaps others here can reply.
Finances are an issue for most everyone. College is a large expense. The problem is just not the cost of attendance, but all the extras- travel, books, things for your room, computer, and I don’t believe need based aid covers room and board- or at least not all of it.
I mention this because I know some students who were not able to pay the “gap” in their FA at some point ( the gap between cost and what FA gives) and end up having a difficult time. So it is important to know that your family can afford the whole thing for 4 years, even if tuition and other costs go up. You mentioned your mom makes 60 K a year, and that is likely to get you some FA, but you would not want a large debt.
This is why it is important to apply to some “financial safeties” and going in state is one possibility. This is exactly what I say to my own kids- apply to schools you are interested in, but when the acceptances and the FA come in, finances are going to be a factor in the decision. Using the FA calculators on the school websites will give you an idea ahead of time.
Merit aid can sometimes fill the gaps with grants, not loans. So while your dream school might be one that you consider a reach, a match school or a school where your stats are at the higher end could be more affordable, and if it gets you what you need and you could be happy there then that may be the best school to go to. For many students that is their in state public schools or a private school that meets 100% of need, or very generous merit aid.
I don’t know about cappex or parchment as far as their admissions predictions. Another option by cappex is meritaid. com which may help identify schools that would be generous to you.</p>