Input on my college list

College Search & Selection
1

General Info:
White Male
Poor Public High School
Illinois
Income ~200k
Applying for financial aid

Statistics:

Weighted GPA: 4.67
Unweighted GPA: 3.90
APs: APUSH (4) English Lang (3) Physics 1 (3) Chemistry (3) All taken Junior Year
Senior Courses: AP Calc AB, AP Psych, AP Gov, AP English Lit, AP World History, AP Biology, Spanish 4
My major will either be cognitive science, neuroscience, or some type of behavioral science depending on the school.

ECs and Awards:

My main extracurricular was baseball. I played travel for 6 years and I have played on my school’s team for all four years. I played basketball freshman year. I am a freshman mentor, part of the student athlete leadership team, worked two summer jobs: 35 hrs a week a one and about 10 hours a week at the other. I played piano for 2 years.

My awards are high honor roll, Illinois state scholar, Grit Award, All-Conference Academic, and Student athlete academic award.

Essays/Recs:

AP Chem teacher: 7/10
AP Lang teacher: 8/10
Counselor: 7/10

My common app was about how the diversity at my school has influenced me as a person
I feel like my supplements were all decent.

Schools I have applied to/am applying to:

Northwestern ED: Rejected
Case Western Reserve EA: Deferred
Fordham EA: Accepted (awaiting financial aid)
Miami University (OH) EA: Awaiting decision

Schools I applied to RD:
Tulane University
Vanderbilt University
WashU
Rice University
Dartmouth College
Carleton College
Vassar College
Hamilton College
Colgate College
U of Rochester
U of Richmond
Carleton College

I know that it’s a lot of schools but I have worked hard on all the essays and I feel that having more options is better than having none. What are your guys thoughts on my list and maybe my chances at some of these schools. Thanks !

2

ACT/SAT? Your AP scores do not matter for admission purposes, just for placement. What is your school budget?

3

Sorry. Did not realize I did not put it. I got a 32 on my ACT. My budget is probably 40k and my EFC was around 30k i think so as much aid as possible is good.

4

I think your list is a bit reach-heavy. That said, i think 3.9/32 probably gives you a couple more matches with Rochester and Richmond. Case Western RD is probably also a match. I think the rest are high matches, low reaches or reaches.

You will probably get into at least one more school, but if you are happy with Fordham and Miami (OH) – you’re almost certainly getting into the latter as well – and can afford them, you’re already fine.

5

$200k, you might qualify for loans.
Were you looking for merit?

That’s different.

6

Obviously merit is nice but I know that some of the schools I am applying to do not offer merit aid. I have a sibling in college, we’re paying about 30k a year for him and we have very little savings (not including retirement/401k stuff). Will this help qualify for more aid

7

Yes, and no. You may get a sibling rate but it doesn’t significantly change the fact that you won’t get need based aid. Loans are probably in your package.

8

Loans are fine. It would only be a problem if the whole tuition was due right away

9

What year is your sibling currently? Are there other siblings coming up? You may get the sibling “rate” for first year, but if your sibling graduates and it’s just you in college be prepared to see those added savings evaporate. You’ll need to file FAFSA and CSS every year - and I know in our case both kids’ schools also asked for verification from the other school confirming that the student was still attending. It is a nice bonus though for families that, on paper, look well-off but in reality are not remotely rich. Usually the grants you receive will spell out whether they are performance based (maintaining a certain GPA and being a student in good-standing) or based on Financial Need (which with 2 in college you may be granted).

I agree with @prezbucky that your list is very reach-heavy and @auntbea is right that loans will be a piece of any package. You might consider adding one or two schools that would be closer to “match.” If you’ll share what you are interested in studying and what you are looking for in a school (size, urban vs. rural, etc.) folks might be able to make a few suggestions. Looking at your current list, for example, I might suggest Union College or Dickinson College.

Good luck and keep us posted.

10

The OP may qualify for need-based aid from some of the richer, more selective schools (if admitted).
I ran a few online net price calculations, assuming $200K income, $100K cash assets, $100K other financial assets, 1 sibling already in college, Illinois residency. Results:

Net Price … School
$58,212 … Rice
$40,056 … Dartmouth
$37,390 … URochester

These net prices have not been reduced by “self help” (student loans/work).
So the parents’ EFC might be ~$7K below these figures (after self help).
YMMV. Run the online NPCs on your own data.

If the family budget is $40K then Dartmouth or URochester might work. However, both are quite selective (esp. Dartmouth). The schools most likely for admission (or Fordham) won’t necessarily offer as much aid. So the OP may need to add a true admission+financial safety and perhaps 1 or 2 less selective, more affordable targets. Consider in-state public schools, or OOS public schools with under-budget sticker prices (such as UMinnesota, the SUNYs, Truman State …)

11

Union, Trinity College in CT, Denison, St Lawrence, Dickinson all more match schools. If you want bigger, Wisconsin is match for OOS from Illinois with a 32 and 3.9, though there won’t be any financial aid.

12

UW costs a bit more OOS than what the OP says the family can/will pay, but work/study would bring that under the limit. That would be a very solid match if the fit is good – big research U, big party and sports scene, big campus, weather, etc. They offer just about every major under the sun and the academic quality is strong, which is a plus.

13

Are you good enough for Ivy League or Patriot League baseball? What about DIII? IMHO, this is the surest way for an “admissible” student to become Admitted. Start letting coaches know of your interest ASAP. It’s very late in the process.

14

My brother is only a freshman in college so I would get the same price for at least the first 3 years. I’ll look into a few other schools that could be a match. Union and Dickinson look like nice schools

15

More match ideas: Macalester, Kenyon, Oberlin, Bucknell, Brandeis, Lehigh, Holy Cross, Skidmore, Lafayette, Franklin and Marshall, Connecticut College

16

Denison and St Olaf would be two other “match” schools. Contact the coaches right away.