I'm in a pickle, friends

Paying for College
1

Hey, all! I’ve spent the past few weeks filling out Questbridge and intended on moving onto Gates Millennium. After writing several essays, however, my sister informed me of its suspension. With that, I’m directionless as to which scholarships to try out for. Anyone wanna give me a diagnosis? Let’s commence by establishing a few things about me.


[QUOTE=""]

soon to be senior, class of 2017
mother is of full Hispanic heritage, father is Irish
maintains 4.0 unweighted GPA
unsure of weighted GPA, but it’s likely high. I take several AP classes and my lowest grade is a 98
commonly volunteers at non-profit community theater
two time state champion (speech/debate and theater)
28 on ACT, 1330 on SAT, 1310 on PSAT (up for national merit), 3 on AP Biology (the teacher was new)
part of National Hispanic Recognition program
ranked #1 out of entire grade
parents bring in less than $30,000/year
has held positions on student council

[/QUOTE]

What colleges should I apply for, and which scholarships would you recommend pursuing?

2

What major? Have you looked at the schools with large automatic merit for stats like yours?

3

I’m looking into pre-pharmacy. I talked to a representative from a local college, but she implied that it’s futile to expect reasonable compensation if your ACT is x<30. I’m hoping to stay in-state in order to utilize Oklahoma’s Promise.

4

PSAT 1310 is National Merit consideration?

What is your selection index?

5
  1. For Oklahoma, that might place me in the top %. I'd be surprised if I get anywhere near finalist though.
6

I’m sorry but I just read this as “I’m a pickle, friends” and was just curious to see what you may have written :)) But to actually respond, we would need to know your major. Do you have any other EC’s? I would talk to a financial aid officer (where are you located, because if its in SoCal I would recommend Hefar as they do free college finances consulting).

7

Pre-pharmacy is my major (I think). I don’t really have anybody to guide me, for I live in a rural community. The locales are more concerned with football than guiding the youth through their trek toward college.

8

This is a list of colleges that give scholarships for nhrp - most are full tuition or full ride.

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/hispanic-students/1805958-need-recent-info-for-national-hispanic-scholars-2016-graduates.html#latest

Is Oklahoma your home state? U Oklahoma is close to a full ride.

9

@nw2this Oh my. Forgive my ignorance, but I wasn’t aware of the benefit to being a National Hispanic Scholar. I was just tooting my horn in listing it. Thanks for the find, friend.

10

You also qualify for these based on your gpa and act score. Most of these are historically black schools.

Troy University
Application Deadline: March 1st
Award: Full Tuition
Requirements: 3.5 GPA, 28 ACT or 1260 SAT (CR+M)
http://www.troy.edu/scholarships/undergraduate/troy-scholarships.html

Tuskegee University
Application Deadline: Not published
Award: Full Ride (Tuition+Room+Board+Books)
Requirements: 3.7 GPA, 29 ACT or 1300 SAT (CR+M)
Award: Full Tuition + Books
Requirements: 3.5 GPA, 26 ACT or 1180 SAT (CR+M)
Freshman Scholarships | Tuskegee University

Alabama State University
Application Deadline: Not published
Award: Full Ride (Tuition/Room/Board/Books)
Requirements: 3.76 GPA, 26 ACT or 1170 SAT (CR+M)
Award: Full Tuition+ (Tuition/Fees/Books)
Requirements: 3.51 GPA, 22 ACT or 1090 SAT (CR+M)
Award: Full Tuition+ (Tuition + $500 for Books)
Requirements: 3.00 GPA, 20 ACT or 940 SAT (CR+M)
ASU Scholarships : Alabama State University

University of Arkansas at Monticello
Application Deadline: March 1stAward: Full Tuition+Room
Requirements: 3.0 GPA, 27 ACT
Award: Full Tuition
Requirements: 3.0 GPA, 24 ACT
http://www.uamont.edu/pages/admissions/institutional-scholarships/

Howard University
Application Deadline: Not publishedAward: Full Tuition+Room
Requirements: 3.25 GPA, 29 ACT or 1300 SAT (CR+M)
Award: Full Tuition
Requirements: 3.0 GPA, 26 ACT or 1170 SAT (CR+M)
Grants, Scholarships & Fellowships - Howard University
NOTE: First-come, first-served award

Florida A&M
Application Deadline: Not published
Award (OOS): Full Ride
Requirement: 3.5 GPA, 1900 SAT (CR+M+W) or 29 ACT
Award (In-State): Full Ride
Award (OOS): Full Tuition and Fees
Requirement: 3.5 GPA, 1800 SAT (CR+M+W) or 27 ACT
http://www.famu.edu/Scholarships/New_Scholarship%20Criteria%20Flyer_2015-2016%201.pdf
NOTE: Out-of-State Engineering students also receive $2,000/year room and board stipend
NOTE: “Scholarships are awarded until the funds are depleted.”

Prairie View A&M University
Application Deadline: Not published
Award: Full Ride (Tuition, Fees, Room, Books)
Requirements: 3.5 GPA, 1760 SAT (CR+M+W) or 26 ACT (including W)
Award: Full Tuition+ ($9,200/year + OOS Tuition Waiver)
Requirements: 3.25 GPA, 1650 SAT (CR+M+W) or 24 ACT (including W)
University Scholarships

11

If you are likely to be a National Hispanic Scholar, there are several schools out there that would give you scholarships.

http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/ Here’s a link, which includes the ones nw2this’s post. Many schools who offer scholarships to National Merit Finalists will also offer them to National Hispanic Recognition Scholars, but check with each school directly to be sure.

12

@albert69 Would you say that my credentials reflect favorably for getting National Hispanic?

13

I don’t know what the PSAT cutoff score will be in your state, and I’m not too familiar with the Hispanic program directly. I think it’s possible, but see this for more information: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/scholarships-and-recognition/national-hispanic-recognition-program

14

You would already know by now if you were NHRP eligible. Applications were sent out a couple of months ago. What was your PSATselection index (a 3 digit number)? It had to be 191 or higher to make NHRP.

15

@nw2this It was 200. I’ve already filled out the application, but whether or not I actually get labeled as a National Hispanic Scholar seems to be up in smoke until September.

16

OP, you will get the official nhrp certificate in September, but if your home state is Oklahoma and your gpa is at least 3.5 then you are NHRP. Be sure to list nhrp on your college applications.

More importantly, under “Specialty Admissions Topics” is a whole forum here on CC devoted to Hispanic students. Be sure to read the sticky threads at the top for very relevant info such as colleges with scholarships for diversity, NHRP scholars, other websites devoted to assisting Latinos, diversity fly-ins, Latino college recruiting, and private scholarships aimed at Latinos.

Especially look at the college partners listed under the “imfirst.org” website. Review each category listed under each partner college since it will list scholarships by each particular college for Latinos, pre-college support programs, diversity fly-ins or special visits, who at college is responsible for multi-cultural recruitment and support for a Latino student once on campus.

Right now you can apply for the youth awards from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. My DD won one and it lead to other opportunities. Look at the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarship, two of my high-achieving Latino students have won it and it really helped them attend college.

If you want to stay in-state, then seek out through the admissions office who is in charge of recruitment of Hispanics and ask if there are scholarships for Hispanic student. Also it is important to look and read your college-related emails and mailings. Colleges are now sending out their info on nhrp scholarships, Latino recruitment etc. Do not ignore it.

If you can’t get your test scores up then make sure you have some colleges on your list that are test optional. Find them at fair test.org. Pitzer has been very generous with my students. Run the NPC at each college to make sure affordable. At your income level your best money is from colleges themselves who are generous with financial aid. Read the book “The College Solution” and website by the same name to learn about finding the most generous colleges.

17

I thought the Gates had been discontinued…and they were going to be doing something new.

18

Since your family income is $30,000 per year you should focus on meet need school. Focus on studying and getting up your ACT or SAT scores up as meet need schools very competitive. If you do apply to schools for merit scholarships you would need a full ride unless your parents have some type of savings they plan to use for your college.

19

Are you planning to retake the ACT? A score in the 30’s would place you better for acceptance to those competitive and generous colleges that meet full need.

20

No Gates for the Class of 2017, but it looks like you know that already.
Have you looked at Hispanic Scholarship Foundation? My mentee was awarded money from them.