<p>To preface I've been lurking CC for a little bit, seems to be a plethora of information on colleges.</p>
<p>I'm a senior in HS with a GPA I'm not too proud of 2.72 UW 3.20 W. Sure I can point fingers and such but it's too late to do that now. My mom pulled me out of my freshman school (which was terrible on all accounts) and I now go to a tippy-top-tier public school near Washington, D.C. I took the SAT last spring and got an abysmal 1690. I couldn't believe this, but I will be retaking it in October with better studying and preparation behind me. </p>
<p>However I've taken a very rigorous schedule with 8 total APs (3 this year. My scores are 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5), 1 IB course, and numerous honors courses. I have a 10 hour a week internship at a congressional lobbying firm having to do with foreign relations and very, very involved in my church. I consider myself to be an above average writer. Varsity year-round runner (XC, tracks). I want to major in economics with minor in Russian language. My dream job would be to work for UN or IMF/WB or something international of that nature.</p>
<p>I would truly like to go to a preppy-ish school in the NE/east coast, size doesn't matter. I haven't visited all these yet but here's a list of places I would have absolutely no problem attending
Georgetown (truly my dream school, unfortunately not getting in and I've come to accept this)
W&L
Maryland
Syracuse
NYU
Trinity CT
Villanova
Wake Forest
Sewanee
H-SC
American
Boston Col/U</p>
<p>I was raised by a single mother and I am first born in USA. I am white. My parents didn't attend university. I live with my mother and she is unemployed <$5k yr. Cost is a problem, and my only chance at getting into a top school is via ED (as it is a hook).</p>
<p>Given my "hooks," stats, classes, and school prestige where do I look? I feel completely lost in this search my mom isn't very useful</p>
<p>First of all, I think you have no hook. ED is for very strong candidates and you are not.</p>
<p>The most damaging thing is that you did not do well in SAT. Hard school low gpa college will understand, but that SAT will put you into a different class. Other than Sewanee and H-SC(what is that?) you should goto CC supermatch and build another list to let us comment.</p>
<p>Sorry to say but I don’t think the majority your schools are realistic given your stats (some I don’t know well enough to opine on). I agree that CC might be a good option to start especially if finances is a problem. And I agree, ED is not a hook. Make an appointment with your guidance counselor ASAP to get some direction/advice.</p>
<p>I think most of the colleges on your list are out of reach for you, given your stats. What about Quinnipiac, Rider, Drew, Stonehill, Juniata, Champlain, Franklin Pierce, UNH, UVM, Hofstra, Fairleigh-Dickinson . . . ?</p>
<p>Sewanee and Wake Forest are test optional, although not submitting test scores usually leads to greater reliance on grades. Have you taken the ACT? It’s a bit late to begin ACT prep, but it’s worth a shot. The problem you will encounter is that you need a school that meets full need, or nearly so, or a huge amount of merit. The latter will be difficult to come by with those stats. And the colleges that meet full need are few and have very competitive admissions. Sewanee comes pretty close to meeting full need @94%. Your grades and scores are below their entering class stats GPA 3.6-4.0 (25th/75th %) and avg. SAT 1870, but your rigor and ECs may appeal to them. They place a lot of importance on recommendations and essays, and consider demonstrated interest. </p>
<p>ED is not a hook. Being first gen is helpful. How good are you at XC? Being a recruited athlete is a hook. </p>
<p>You may want to consider starting at a CC, getting really good grades, and then transferring. Otherwise, you need to work on your list. Pay a lot of attention to cost and FA. Be sure to run the Net Price Calculator for each school you are considering. </p>
<p>How are you and your mother living on <$5k/year? That’s not credible unless you’re in a shelter and it certainly doesn’t sound like it. Unfortunately the colleges that can give you the most grants are also the hardest to get into, requiring a much better record (GPA and SAT). </p>
<p>If you can get SAT up a lot, Union, Ithaca, Hobart are much more accessible than the ones you have listed. Also, post #3 lists some schools that may be more forgiving if those AP scores are real. Those scores show some amazing potential for you!</p>
<p>If you’re from MD, you should reach out to your state legislator. The legislators have some educational funds that they can distribute at will. I don’t know if there’s a limit to what they can do, but you’ll have to get accepted at a MD public institution as one of the requirements of these scholarships. </p>
<p>There are some other programs for MD families at public institutions. This info is a couple years old, but you might find more recent stuff:</p>
<p>I’d call up this MD Higher Education office and see what they can recommend. If mom works for the feds, there are fed employee college funds, too.</p>
<p>Since no one has said it so far, I will: you can only borrow $5500 your first year, and 27K for all four years. So you cannot fund a 4-yr education that way. There is a tiny PELL grant.</p>
<p>I would suggest you look at 2 years of community college, but I don’t have a plan for how to pay for the second two years. Perhaps if your cc grades are high enough, MD publics would accept you and support you. I just don’t know. I would think your guidance counselor would know a lot more about these programs than people on CC, where the average income is pretty high, I’d guess.</p>
<p>Are you a URM? Yes, being first generation to go to college, and being in a low economic bracket are considerations., maybe hooks ED is not a hook for you at the most selective and generous schools, and is risky at those schools that are not so selective, as you might be turning down more generous aid packages that you really can’t afford to do. The reason I ask about whether you are of an Under Represented Minority is because at some of your schools, there has been a real push to get more students of color into the classes, and this could make a difference. </p>
<p>As Erin’s Dad brings up, you will have to explain how you and your mother are living on $5K a year in DC. Is there Non Custodial Parent (NCP) alive? Is that parent paying any child support? Are you living with friends, family who are picking up a lot of your living expenses? </p>
<p>If you are a DC resident, in addition to federal entitlements such as PELL and direct loans, you are also entitled to $10K a year of TAG funds towards any gap between in state and OOS costs at public universities. That gives you some additonal funds towards some DC and MD schools that may be within commuting distances, as well as a jump start on aid packages for other OOS publics. </p>
<p>You need to talk to your GC about what opportunities s/he can suggest for you, as there are likely local schools on her list that have been good to high need prospects from your high school with your stats.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to pry. I’m telling you that if you apply for aid and show that kind of income your info will be audited. If your mom is actually getting more money, from other family members or where ever, it needs to be declared.</p>