<p>I know some selective colleges with big endowments will give generous aid. But what are some safety/match colleges to look at? You're supposed to look at colleges you can afford, but what if you can't afford any. I know you can take up debt, but what if you don't want to take up a lot knowing there's a high chance of being unemployed after college (and since you're already poor...). I'm asking a general question and I know everybody situation is different. For me personally, I'm currently a junior, URM female, first gen, single parent, 3.7 UW GPA. I live in NC. I'm interested in either the social sciences or mathematics (Not interested in STEM). My ECs are weak and I have no leadership positions with my social anxiety. My course load is rigorous at least. I taking the ACT for free on Tuesday ( my B-Day). I want to go to a college with a liberal environment, laid back student body, medium sized ( I don't wanna be around a select few or around a lot of people with my SA), services for minority/underprivileged/lgbt kids, and be either on the east coast or the midwest. Brown is my far reach school obviously. I am doing Questbridge, but what colleges should I be looking at if i dont get matched? I'm asking for myself and for others in general who have a low EFC but probably isn't good enough for selective colleges but still good enough to go to a good college (just can't afford it). </p>
<p>This is a smart question that many lowish income students don’t consider.</p>
<p>Yes, the top schools that meet full need are great, but as noted, those are reaches. Finding matches and safeties that will cover all costs for a low income student can be a difficult task.</p>
<p>First:</p>
<p>what state are you in? If you’re in a state that takes care of its low income students, then your state flagship or similar may be your match/safety.</p>
<p>If you have high test scores, then a school that gives HUGE merit (full tuition PLUS), then that school may be your safety. </p>
<p>Once you have test scores, it will be easier to answer.</p>
<p>I am applying to UNC, but it have a large student body and I get overwhelmed by a lot of people. But I’m not going to let that bother me if I can get good aid. NC State is a good engineering school, but A LOT of my fellow classmates are applying there. They’re good people but I don’t want it to be High School 2.0. I want to be a different person in college and it’ll be hard to do that around the same classmates. I live about 5-10 minutes away from NC State, so I can visit anytime. Duke is a reach, but I’m thinking about applying there too. </p>
<p>As a low-income applicant this year, I made sure every school on my list met full need and was need-blind to at least a certain point in the admissions process. For my two safeties, I looked into schools, mostly public, that would grant me at least automatic full tuition if I got in. I was fortunate enough that my academic profile allowed me to apply to such schools, and I’m sure the same can be said about you, OP. However, if a student is low income and doesn’t have the grades/test scores for top schools, the most reasonable choice is often a two-year stint at a community college before transferring into a four-year school.</p>
<p>In between your in-state public universities, and tippy-top private schools that claim to meet full need, there are many other options that fall in your lower reach, match, and safety zones.</p>
<p>@parapp2025 yeah, that’s might what I’m gonna end up doing if I don’t get good financial aid. I’m hoping for good test scores (My mood/environment really affect my performance more than it should) , but that still might not get me any merit. I don’t like complaining, but I wish I didn’t have social anxiety and fear judgement as much. I probably could get lots of scholarships if it didnt ask for leadership, but scholarships are selective so I understand why they want it. </p>
<p>@tk21769 thanks a lot! I will look into it. I want to go to a co-ed though. Apparently you have to find a husband in college?. I’m being sarcastic. </p>
<p>Note how your AFC (actual family contribution) compares to your EFC (expected family contribution). Note also that each college may have a different notion of EFC.</p>
<p>Basically, you are looking for colleges that give good financial aid (check their net price calculators) and/or large merit scholarships. Note that the net price may differ significantly between different schools that “meet 100% of need” because they define “need” differently, and have different values for ESC (expected student contribution – federal direct loans and expected work earnings).</p>
<p>Good financial aid colleges are often the most selective ones, although some states’ public universities are good with financial aid for in-state students, or have good financial aid that is both need and merit based. Check net price calculators for all colleges you are considering.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus Yeah, I know that. I checked Brown/Duke/UNC and the AFC was 10-12k. American University was about 23k. This was why I ask the question. American is easier to get into, but it’s more expensive. 40k in debt is ok,I suppose, especially compared to 90k. I wouldn’t mind doing their PPL program, but I don’t wanna be more than 50k in debt. </p>
<p>Y’all are so helpful. I love my mom but she’s no help for obvious reasons. Guidance counselors are always busy especially right now with class registration for next year and senior assemblies. You really have to visit them at the beginning of the school year, but that’s kinda late. I’m really trying to look for colleges that are affordable, so I can break out my shell and be sucessful.</p>
<p>Realistically, the most your college should cost should be whatever your parents can actually contribute (AFC) plus what you can contribute (ASC). ASC is realistically no more than about $10,000 per year if you take the full federal direct loan amount ($5,500 for frosh year) and contribute summer and school year work earnings ($4,500 is probably at the high end of a realistic estimate, unless you are at least a sophomore or junior in an in-demand major where high-paid summer internships are findable). If you are more conservative in finances, you might want to favor or require a lower net price, perhaps by using ASC of around $5,000 instead of $10,000 to set the price limit that you are looking for.</p>
<p>Your post-graduation goals can also matter. For example, if you are considering expensive medical or law school, you may be even more debt-averse than most students. Or if your goals include working in lines of work where well paid entry level jobs are scarce, you may also want to be more debt-averse.</p>
<p>It’s true that even among the full need colleges, net prices may vary significantly.
Nevertheless, for a low income high-achieving student, a full-need (or close-to-full-need) college often will come through with the lowest net cost, or at least a cost competitive with the lowest net cost. However, you’ll have to look far past super selective schools like Brown and Duke if you don’t have strong ECs and test scores. You may need a 3-pronged strategy (one that includes low-cost in-state public schools, schools with big merit scholarships, and schools with very generous - but not necessarily 100% full coverage - need-based aid.)</p>
<p>Bestill, Barnard is essentially a co-ed environment because of the close integration with Columbia and the urban environment. It’s women-focused, but there are guys all over the place: in classes, in common areas, sometimes even in the bathrooms in your dorm. Physically, the Barnard campus is directly across the street from Columbia and there is a lot of crossover of classes. A Barnard student studying math would certainly end up taking a most of their coursework at Columbia simply because that’s where most of the math courses are taught. The enrollment process is similar to most universities – you simply sign up for the course you want, there is nothing special that needs to be done because a course happens to be at Columbia vs. Barnard. </p>
<p>That being said, Barnard is still in reach territory for you – but it’s not nearly as much of a reach as Brown. Your URM status helps, but the top colleges get apps from many URM students with very impressive academic accomplishments and EC’s, so competition is still stiff. </p>
<p>I’m a parent of a Barnard grad, but I also would not particularly recommend the school to someone who is looking for a “laid back student body” - I think its a more intense environment, partly because of academics and partly because NYC itself is pretty intense and fast-paced. Also the financial aid there would meet full need – but you probably would still be required to take out loans and NYC can be a pretty expensive place to be. So it still doesn’t sound like a particularly good fit for what you are looking for – I just wanted to clear up the potential misconception about the learning environment. </p>
<p>^^^ when I said I wanted a laid back student body, I meant more so towards the fact that the students aren’t in competition and they don’t throw parties every other day. It depends on what “intense” is, but i dont mind being challenged. I just dont like the pressure from others that might come with it. I only been to New York City once when I was little though, so I don’t know if a big city is exactly right for me like you said. </p>
<p>@tk I’m going to look into Tulane. Don’t like all the heat though. </p>
<p>^ There are not too many medium sized colleges that cover full need or close to full need and aren’t super selective. So you may need to relax some of your other criteria. </p>
<p>I love that you asked this very important question. Most students on here don’t seem to pay attention to the EFC until after all their acceptances are in. </p>
<p>Take a close look at the 20+ colleges that have a Bonner Scholar program. You have to apply to that scholarship program at each campus (usually around February) separately from your regular application to the college. I can PM you a whole lot more detailed info about this but here’s a starting point: </p>
<p>My student was a QuestBridge finalist two years ago but eventually chose a non-QB college. The Bonner Scholar program pays our entire EFC every year and all I pay for is textbooks, dorm supplies, and any travel expenses. It’s an incredible program for low-income students and is based on leadership development and service (you do not need to already have a history of community service, just a desire to participate in that in college as Bonner pays you for that in the work-study portion of the program). The maximum allowed EFC Is different for each participating Bonner campus but I don’t think I’ve seen one over 12000. Our family EFC is extremely low. There’s a similar Bonner Leader program on another 50 or so but I’ve found it difficult to learn of any income requirements for that program. </p>
<p>BeStillMyHeart, it’s great that you’re thinking this through now. And it’s a sucky position to be in, I know. We had a thread last year about this exact thing: because of our financial situation (our FAFSA EFC is <7,000) and my D’s stats, there were essentially no safeties that met both the financial and academic criteria. (Add to that the fact that my D’s low GPA due to extenuating circumstances and she really can’t see herself anywhere other than at a very intellectually challenging school, and her choices were severely limited!)</p>
<p>That said, given your stats and first-gen URM status, and your obvious thoughtfulness and articulateness, I think you have some options. I know you said you want co-ed, but I’d encourage you to look at some of the excellent women’s schools in the northeast. They tend to be very challenging and academic without loading on that social pressure you don’t want. Look at Wellesley, Smith, and Mount Holyoke. Smith and Holyoke are both in the same area, part of the 5-college consortium with Amherst College, Hampshire College, and U Mass Amherst, with a free bus and many students taking classes at other colleges… so there is definitely opportunity to mingle with guys. Wellesley has a close relationship with MIT in Boston. Smith and Holyoke meet a lot of your EFC, and Wellesley is both need-blind and meets 100% need. I wouldn’t rule them out :)</p>
<p>Another thing is that these schools have very holistic admissions processes. So you will be judged on much more than just your GPA and test scores. They take more time to “get to know” the applicants, I think, than the huge universities.</p>
<p>(PS You are lucky your in-state is affordable! My D’s wasn’t really… so if she doesn’t get into any of her chosen schools in the next week, she’ll need a plan B.)</p>
However, I understand why you wouldn’t want to go to college 5 minutes away from home.