Inexpensive New England/Middle-Eastern Universities?

College Search & Selection
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<p>I think an approach you could try is to first generate a list of schools that meet your requirements for majors and locations. If you use [College</a> Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics](<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/]College”>College Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics) to generate this list using the options on the left side of the screen, you can then export the list to a spreadsheet.
Then, since your GPA is better than your test scores, go through the list of colleges that are TEST-OPTIONAL at [SAT/ACT</a> Optional 4-Year Universities | FairTest](<a href=“http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional/]SAT/ACT”>ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest)
and find the ones that are also on your first list. Research those schools to see if you like them and to see how your GPA matches up against their typical applicants.
If you apply to a school where your GPA puts you at the top of the applicant pool, then perhaps you would qualify for merit-based aid if the school has merit aid. Not all schools do, but many schools use merit aid to attract good applicants.
I still don’t think you’ve gotten to the bottom line of what your family’s EFC is. Can your parents use the EFC calculator’s online to come up with a real number you can work with? Try [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator - Finaid) or the Quick EFC [FinAid</a> | Calculators | QuickEFC](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Quick EFC - Finaid). I think too many assumptions are being made without having all the facts. Having three kids in college will have a major impact on the EFC.</p>

<p>Also, what advice are you getting from your guidance counselor at school? Where are they telling you to apply?</p>

<p>Please try to not be so defensive about the advice people are trying to give you :slight_smile:
Nobody thinks you’re a buffoon. The fact of the matter is that applying to colleges is REALLY COMPLICATED!!! Why else would there be so many books, websites and private consultants out there? </p>

<p>The bottom line is that private schools of the caliber of B.U. and Bucknell are all expensive. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply to <em>any</em> dream schools, but try to maximize your chances at both admission and sufficient need-based aid and merit scholarships to be able to afford a private school. That might take some careful research on your part.</p>

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<p>Check out SUNY Geneseo - Very selective small public LAC in Western NY just south of Rochester. Some would argue the best undergraduate college within SUNY. </p>

<p>[SUNY</a> Geneseo | SUNY Geneseo](<a href=“http://www.geneseo.edu%5DSUNY”>http://www.geneseo.edu)</p>

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<p>My guidance counselor does absolutely nothing to assist students in where to apply.</p>

<p>My older sister was deciding between two colleges. One gave her almost a full ride & had a better program in the major she wanted to get, and the other was just a more reputable school that barely gave her any aid.
Want to know what his advice was?
He told her to go to the second school. Why, you may ask? He had a friend who worked at the school.
He also told my sister she could never get in to said school, which she did with ease.</p>

<p>So, I really can’t rely on him for any stellar advice.</p>