Ideas for this low income California student?

Parents Forum
1

<p>So, inquiring for a friend in San Diego County.</p>

<p>I had been told this young lady was just going to apply to community college. They have lived at the poverty level (divorced, single mom) for many years and have struggled to get information. Mom's been going to school and just finished her online masters degree, but meanwhile, daughter is a senior.</p>

<p>Now daughter says she wants to apply to some schools, though she is also fine with community college.</p>

<p>Daughter hasn't taken the SAT yet, so she'll have to sign up late for the December test.</p>

<p>I see it's too late for her to apply to SDSU.</p>

<p>She had some struggles along the way but is very articulate and bright; she's just had a hard life.</p>

<p>GPA is apx. 3.1/3.3 I think PSAT was around 1600, but I would guess she can pull SAT to 1700-1800. Interest is in art history. She is part Hispanic. She's taking a couple of APs this year. She had an art internship two summers ago.</p>

<p>The one promising thing is that hopefully by the end of the year, the mom will have her California special ed credential (her online school was in another state) and she can get a good paying (maybe 60K??) teaching position since special ed teachers are needed.</p>

<p>But for now, there is zero money for college or anything else. Mom's been doing part time work, but income is very low. Ex-dh has a very low income, as well.</p>

<p>Any ideas for any schools anywhere? Do the other Cal State schools have Nov. as the deadline for the last SAT? I see the UCs have a Dec. deadline.</p>

<p>What do you think about UCR or UCM? UCSC? Any privates in other parts of the country that might want a student like this that have good art/art history programs? She has an art portfolio, as well.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>She needs to get on the case if she wants to apply to UCs. Deadline is Nov. 30.</p>

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<p>Community college would not be a bad choice for this student, if she is hardworking and motivated. She could do a UC transfer after two years, and meanwhile community college is very cheap and she might be able to live at home and save money that way.</p>

<p>Community college is not the only choice, but it’s a workable choice.</p>

4

<p>Absolutely. She is definitely fine with community college and probably will end up there. However, when I picked her up yesterday (their car isn’t working) from school, she did mention the idea of applying to some out of state schools, too. I just don’t know what’s out there for someone with moderate stats. She does have some mild “hooks” though-art, very compelling story and low, low income, URM-but not sure that’s enough to get her decent enough money.</p>

<p>I did a search on College Board Big Future, plugging in “art history” as a major, looking at less selective schools, but still came up with a lot of schools around the country. Not sure how to narrow that list.</p>

<p>Yes, she will apply to UCs during Thanksgiving week if it’s worth a shot. She’s a good strong writer. I think I will run a f. aid calculator on UCR.</p>

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<p>Low income kids will get full coverage if they can get into a UC. If she can get accepted, the weighted UC calculated gpa has to be 3.0. She will get a loan of up to 5k and some work study The rest will be cal grant or university grant. </p>

<p>I suggest she get it together ASAP with her application, she will get a waiver for 4 schools by reporting her income amount on the application. I suggest UCR, Merced, UCSC and one more Davis or Irvine whatever she prefers. Here is a sample package from a low income student I helped last year:</p>

<p>COSTS</p>

<p>Books and Supplies $1,230.00
Tuition and Fees $12,872.00
Health Insurance* $2,190.00
Living Expenses $17,966.00
Total Costs $34,258.00</p>

<p>AID</p>

<p>My Gift Aid
$7,986.00 UC Gift Aid
$12,192.00 Cal Grant A
$5,730.00 Pell Grant
$400.00 SEOG</p>

<p>Student Share ( total $7,950)
$2,950.00 Work Study
$1,500.00 Perkins Loan
$3,500.00 Federal Direct Loan</p>

<p>Total Resources to Meet My Costs
$34,258.00</p>

<p>I thought CSU was open until Nov 30 as well. If so apply, 4 waivers should also be available. But you usually don’t get room and board included, just commute from home covered. Try though. Otherwise go to CC and transfer to UC or CSU. </p>

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<p>Yes, the CSU Mentor application is open until Nov 30 also. CSU application is much quicker to fill in, since no essays required, so I would consider doing this application ASAP. That will give her time for the UC application and the two required essays.
UC/CSU GPA calculator if needed: <a href=“GPA Calculator for the University of California – RogerHub”>http://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thanks! I wasn’t sure about any other school besides UCR and UCSC. Merced doesn’t have Art History. Should I still encourage her to apply? I’ll check UCD and UCI.</p>

<p>Yes, I’m planning to work with her next week to get the UC app filled out.</p>

<p>Cal States-unfortunately, SDSU, the local school is out, because of the deadline for taking the SAT. CSUSM also doesn’t have an art history major. Should she apply to these schools anyways knowing that a major can change? Or just apply to ones that have art history?</p>

<p>I’m waiting to confirm that weighted GPA is 3.3.</p>

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<p>Double check that SDSU deadline. All CSUs and UC deadlines are 11/30/14. My nephew just submitted his first CSU app yesterday. Your friend can use dec 2014 sat scores. She needs to get a copy of her transcript ASAP so that she can complete the CSU app, but it only takes a few hrs to complete the app.</p>

<p>What about Scripps? It meets 100% of need (I’ve learned recently). Don’t know if her gpa is too low though.</p>

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<p>Meh, I called SDSU today after seeing the Nov. deadline on their website and they admissions woman confirmed that it was too late.</p>

<p>She said her counselor gave her a copy of her transcript yesterday, but I’ve not seen it yet.</p>

<p>Scripps is probably way too reachy, but yes, maybe another women’s college somewhere else that meets full need?? I know nothing about them. I’ll check it out.</p>

<p>And confirmed income last year was 15k. This year was less because the mom was in school. And dad is delinquent on support and may not have any recognizable income. (He’s in another state) Let us hope he hasn’t been lying, but I do know him and he has a very hard time keeping jobs.</p>

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<p>Call me skeptical, but I don’t believe the phone receptionist at SDSU. I was under the impression that you file an app and the computer basically sorts it by gpa and sat scores and zip code and figures out the acceptances based on some cutoffs. And the computer would do this for all apps filed by 11/30. The app to SDSU will be free with a fee waiver. So I would just file the app anyway.</p>

<p>She still can register for dec sat with a late fee. But if she doesn’t want to take a standardized test, then there is always test optional colleges</p>

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<p>It does look like the various CSU campuses have different deadlines for SAT or ACT scores, so check each campus’ web site. 11/30 is the application deadline for all CSU and UC campuses, though.</p>

<p>Also, note that if the CSU campus and major are not impacted, and the California resident applicant has a 3.0 or higher HS GPA (calculated by CSU method), SAT or ACT is not required (such students are automatically admitted, assuming all other requirements like a-g course work are met).</p>

<p>From <a href=“http://www.assist.org”>http://www.assist.org</a> , these CSU and UC campuses have art history or similar majors:</p>

<p>Art (History of) B.A. (UCB)
Art (History) B.A. (CSUSTAN)
Art - Plan III (Art History) B.A. (CSUSB)
Art B.A. (CSULA, CSUN, CSUS)
Art B.A. (Art History Emphasis) (CSUCI)
Art B.A. - Art History Option (CSUEB)
Art B.A. Concentration in Art History (SSU)
Art B.A. with Art History Concentration (CSUFULL)
Art B.A. with Art History Option (CSUDH, CSULB)
Art B.A. with Concentration in Art History (HSU)
Art B.A. with Emphasis in Art History (CSUB, CSUFRES, SDSU)
Art B.A. with Option in Art History (CSUC, CSULA)
Art B.A., (Concentration in Art History and Visual Culture) (SJSU)
Art B.A., Concentration in Art History (CSUS)
Art History A.B. (UCD)
Art History B.A. (CPP, UCI, UCLA, UCR)
Art History B.A. History of Art and Architecture B.A. (UCSB)
Art History/Administrative Studies B.A. (UCR)
Art History/Religious Studies B.A. (UCR)
History of Art and Architecture - Architecture and Environment Emphasis B.A. (UCSB)
History of Art and ArchitectureASSIST - Museum Studies Emphasis B.A. (UCSB)
History of Art and Visual Culture B.A (Religion and Visual Culture Concentration (UCSC)
History of Art and Visual Culture B.A. (UCSC)
Visual and Public Art B.A. (CSUMB)
Visual and Public Art B.A. Concentration in Arts Education and Museum Studies (CSUMB)
Visual Arts (Art History/Criticism) B.A. (UCSD)</p>

<p>Note that CSUSTAN, CSUCI, CSUEB, and CSUMB are non-impacted campuses where the art history major is not impacted (i.e. test optional if she has a 3.0 or higher HS GPA).</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.assist.org”>http://www.assist.org</a> will also be helpful if she attends a community college and needs to look up courses for her target major and CSU and UC campuses.</p>

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<p>Regarding the deadbeat father, note that the CSUs and UCs won’t need his information, since they use FAFSA only. But many private schools will want his information to determine financial aid.</p>

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<p>Wonderful, @ucbalumnus‌ ! Thanks for the good info.</p>

<p>I still want to check out a few out of state schools, as well.</p>

<p>Whew, wasn’t sure I was going to jump into this, but they are like family to me, and I do want to see them both, mom and daughter, succeed.</p>

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<p>Unfortunately, <a href=“Office of Admissions | SDSU”>http://arweb.sdsu.edu/es/admissions/apply.html&lt;/a&gt; says that SDSU requires SAT or ACT by the November test date, unlike several other CSUs which accept later dates. Some specify a date that the scores must be received by – note that the College Board says it takes about 3 weeks after the test date.</p>

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<p>The receptionist is probably correct. In an interview with a rep of another Cal State, the Dean stated that the earlier the better, bcos they do process in order, and as the campus fills, late applicants have much less of a chance. He said he told his own son to apply Nov 1.</p>

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<p>They are really lucky to have you lending support. I think your instincts are correct with UCR. She would be among many students from similar socioeconomic backgrounds and close enough to home to visit frequently. Is she an exceptionally talented artist with a portfolio? If so, the grades and test scores are less important. Not sure why she would want to look out of state? The California system is structured for just this type of student with respect to both financial aid and academic/social support.</p>

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<p>I haven’t seen her art portfolio, but she’s taking AP Art this year. I didn’t talk at length to her yesterday, as I was bringing her home from school because she’s been sick, so I’m not sure of why she would consider out of state. This is a conversation I plan to have with her. </p>

<p>She went through a big “dip”-pulled out of her high school near the end of sophomore year, had some bad grades, homeschooled through a charter last year and caught up on the bad grades-and is now back at the high school much more motivated. I would love to have helped her before this, but I don’t think she was ready to talk college before this year. I hope something works out.</p>

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<p>My DS is applying to colleges with an art portfolio to many schools. However, CSUs don’t accept a portfolio with app. UCs: some majors require an art portfolio and direct you on how to submit it. For the rest of the UCs, she might want to try to put a URL link in the “additional info” section of the UC app. I’m not sure it they will look at it though. We used flickr for DS online portfolio.</p>

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<p>If she has overcome obstacles and has a portfolio, the UCs are the way to go - I second applying to UCSC, UCR, UCI or UCD or UCSB, plus Scripps and Occidental, perhaps Mills (very political), perhaps URedlands (not sure about financial aid packages).
Run the NPCs on Lewis&Clark, Pacific Lutheran, Whitman, Willamette, UPortland, and, “just to see”, Mount Holyoke, and Connecticut College.</p>

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<p>Wow, thank you so much for all those suggestions, @MYOS1634‌ . Just waiting for the school week to be over for this young woman before we dive into apps.</p>

<p>Does anyone know if there’s just a box to check for a fee waiver when a student applies to schools? Is this something a student needs to coordinate with their GC? I want to text her this morning to make sure she registers for the SAT and understands about fee waivers for both College Board and college apps.</p>

<p>She has overcome major obstacles-mostly of just living at the poverty level, moving many times before and after the divorce (I’ve known them for over 20 years and have seen it all), and then getting back on her feet after the sophomore year “crash” and really being excited about going back to her old high school and challenging herself.</p>