Hi, I am currently a high school junior with a 4.2 GPA and 1400/1600 on the SAT, extra activities include a little bit of self learning java, was in junior varsity in swim team during 9th grade; did the Toshiba Exploration Project and did not get any result since there are only 50 honorable mentions for 10th grade throughout the nation, and is going to Science Olypiad soon but I do not expect any results. Plus I have 150 hours of volunteering hours. My family earns total of 25,000$ per year(considered to be pretty poor) and I want to go for either a computer science or a software engineering degree. But my parents are not paying for my college at all and I am really worried. My current dream schools are UC merced, Purude University, UT Austin, and Georgia Tech. What is my chance of getting in and then get a full ride (or just getting in)? (I am also a Chinese immirgant who came here just 4 years, so I was wondering if the colleges are going to raise up the rank) And is there any other colleges that I could have a pretty good chance of getting in and get a full-ride? (or just getting in).
If you are out of state for UCs, you will get no aid whatsoever, so take any UC schools off of your list. For full rides, look up schools that offer merit for high scores (if you bump your SAT score above a 1500 that will help).
Look at your in-state public schools and you could get money from there.
Go to Alabama, Baylor, Fordham, or OU
You will get significant aid
A full ride at any state flagship is really unrealalistic. Try targeting private schools with fantastic aid as well as your in state publics.
Which state are you in? Did you take your PSAT?
Here is a list of colleges that would make it affordable to attend.
UT tends to not give a lot of aid…
UT and the UCs basically don’t give OOS aid. I think it’s pretty hard to get aid at tech also.
Do you not qualify for federal loans or do you just not want to have them?
You are instate for cali, but are you a permanent resident or citizen? Try the ACT, you will want to up your SAT or have a higher ACT to access good scholarships. If you are not a PR or citizen, that changes it all.
UT has made some strides in giving need based, but still competitive merit scholarships to IN-state residents with incomes <$60,000 per year. The program is called the Texas Advance fund.
https://admissions.utexas.edu/afford/scholarships/texas-advance
If the OP is IN-state for Texas, it could be part of a package (along with a grant, student loan, etc.) that could make UT affordable.
If OP improves scores a bit more and considers taking a need based approach, that could be a good approach as long as the list is balanced with some safeties.
Op hadn’t stated where they live? If your income is that low you should have solid need based aide. UC’s should be affordable with financial aide, get a few waiver and apply to all 9. Cal states will be affordable with FA in state. Here’s a link to the automatic full ride schools, some you already qualify for, others you need a slightly higher sat so retake and try to up it a bit: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html
I’d suggest looking at USC. They’re (In state?) for you, although that doesn’t determine their aid process, but they’re very very generous. They’ve also got some really great Comp Sci and engineering, so I’d advise taking a look. Make sure it’s realistic, though… study for the SAT or Act, if you want the SAT then khanacademy.org has some really helpful prep for it, free. Good luck.
Schools dont give out full rides unless you are the best of the best. That being said, since your family makes less thann 25k, if you are accepted to a school that MEETS 100% of the Demonstrated Need, you will most likely get close to a full ride in grants and loans.
I would do a lot of research on each individual schools. Good luck dude
Apply through questbridge and select LACs like Amherst and Pomona. For 25k income they offer better than a full ride (which covers tuition, fees, room, and board) _ their offer would also likely cover transportation, books, and personal expenses.
^^^ I second that. Do QuestBridge. Even if you don’t get “matched” (extremely competitive ) you have a great shot regular decisions to those schools on the QB list if you become finalist.
thanks guys, but I think those top competitive schools are way too hard to get in like Pomona and Amherst because my SAtT is not good enough
OH plus I live in California
can you get a 1420 on SAT? if so you might get Regents + Amigo at New Mexico (virtually full ride):
http://scholarship.unm.edu/scholarships/non-resident.html
also look thru schools on this list:
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
Since you live in California, apply to a wide range of UCs and CSUs, since they have good need-based aid for California residents (they do vary, so check their net price calculators). You will likely have to take federal direct loans and/or work about 1/4 time to earn some money.
Other than UCs and CSUs, consider also the full rides (not just full tuition) on the following lists (but verify that the school still offers them and what the current thresholds are):
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/
Don’t be so sure. Questbridge really can help for people in a very low income bracket like you. Your SATs are a little below average for Amherst and Pomona, but not crazy low. Every year those schools reach out to take a handful of students just like you (assuming your grades are high enough).