Is applying to 4 colleges enough, with all my choices being out-of-state? Are they wise choices?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm a soon to be senior, living in the northeast corner of Iowa. Since I was little, I had always wanted to attend the private school that was just 40 minutes away while my friends wanted to go places like Florida. Now all of my peers seem to be applying only to in-state-schools (the only exception being those who want to go for sports, and the only other person besides me who is an atheist). I've now had enough of Iowa, and the midwest in general. It's not that I hate it, this corner of Iowa is very beautiful, I just feel as though I will not have any opportunity to pursue my interests or change my life at all even if I go to a school in a big city in my home state. I also feel as though I hold different beliefs than those in my home state. So in-state is out of the question, and I'd rather go west (my goal is to live and work in Washington state).
I knew from the get-go that going out of state would be more expensive, but I'd rather go somewhere I can experience more and meet new people than go somewhere I'd hate being at solely because it was affordable. I crossed out public out of state schools from the start, and decided private would be a better value and cost. I do come from a low income, single parent family so if I can get into my top choice money won't be a problem. And if I don't get in there, I'd still take on nearly the same amount of debt (or just a bit more) as my peers attending in-state public universities because I have more of a financial need than nearly all of them. If they went out of state, they're screwed unless mom and dad bail them out. I, however, would more likely be taken care of at an out of state private university.
Originally I wanted to major in film, and did my college search based on that. I've now decided to major in communications and minor in film, and all of the schools on my list offer both my major and minor.
I did the math, and a lot of it, including financial aid calculators and other online resources predicting my chances of getting in and how much I'd end up owing. I started with about 20 schools, both east and west. The closest one to home was in Chicago, but was crossed off because of the high price and low financial aid (plus the crime rates scare me). I crossed off those who didn't give great financial aid, then I crossed of the ones in which my predicted debt was too ridiculously high. Then I crossed out schools out east because I decided the cost of living there and the general environment wasn't what I wanted. I'm headed west. </p>

<p>Now my "final" list is down to 4 schools:
-University of Southern California (my top choice from the start, located in downtown LA)
-Seattle University (a Jesuit college, and the smallest of all, but my 2nd choice as it is in the city and state I'd like to live in the future and I love the rainy weather)
-Chapman University (Another generally nice university in Orange, CA. my 3rd choice)
-University of Denver (My safety school, and 4th choice as it is a little too midwest but does offer nice academics. I don't think I could choose it over any of the others though, as I'd live on my own after 1 year or 2 and want to bring my dog then but the city has a pit bull ban and my dog is a pit bull mix.)</p>

<p>USC is expensive, and hard to get into, but because they give such great financial aid I'd be covered if I get accepted. With both USC and Chapman, I'd like to experience California but the price of living is insane and plus it's way too hot. I'd go to school 4 years then move to Washington like planned. With the others, it's all a matter of where I get accepted to. I know if USC takes me I will go there for sure. If not, I think Seattle is my 2nd best. If neither take me then it's a tough choice. </p>

<p>Then I fear none of them may take me, as only Seattle is highly likely to take me. </p>

<p>I have a GPA of 3.75, and am ranked in the top 10 of 47 students in my class.
My ACT scores the first time around were a 33 in English, a 33 in Reading, a 25 in Science, and a 20 in Math (I despise math, and I am terrible at remembering formulas and all that). An overall 28. I took the writing portion a got a 10 out of 12 (my guidance counselor said it was the highest she'd seen). I plan to retake it though, and to study for 3 months ahead of time instead of one week ahead of time. I think I can get my math and maybe my science score up enough to get an overall 30.</p>

<p>So, is my list too short or just right? And am I making a mistake only going out-of-state or in going only west? And do I have a chance to make it into any of these schools, especially USC? </p>

<p>Any other comments or advice is welcomed! </p>

<p>And if you stuck it out and read the whole thing, then you are a god among men. </p>

2

<p>Hey, great job of thinking through your options and running the FA calculators. I’m not that familiar with colleges out west, but I will mention one item.</p>

<p>The private colleges with the best FA, are also the ones that are most selective. You really do need to put the time and effort into increaseing your ACT score, it will pay off for you in FA and increased college options.</p>

<p>Goode Luck!</p>

3

<p>Yes, your ACT score is key to your plan. You have done a lot of the right things (run net price calculators, etc.).</p>

<p>One question, you said you have a single parent. Where is the other parent? I ask because many colleges want financial information from both parents, and that can be hard to avoid.</p>

<p>Also… you might take a shot at the SAT. They give you the formulas you need (unlike the ACT). :)</p>

4

<p>First of all, I agree with Gator88NE, in saying great job about running the numbers, I am assuming, through the NPCs of each school. I am not doing the same for you, nor am I researching the provisions of the schools you have listed, but I want to make some points for you to check out.</p>

<p>First of all, if any of those schools also require PROFILE, they may also want a NCP financial statement of sorts. If there is a non custodial parent in the picture, that parent’s financials may also be required or a Waiver needs to be requested. Also if there is a family business in the picture, the numbers you got could be skewed. Finally, the NPCs are estimates only, and tend to be most accurate fro those schools that guarantee to meet full need, have few merit awards (or have them with guaranteed threshhold for which the NPC is calibrated) and for typical financial situations which exclude NCP and family businesses. Having said all of that, I know that three out of your 4 choices do not guarantee to meet full need and usually do not do so. </p>

<p>Which all comes to the most important thing of all, which is having a college or two on your list that you KNOW will take you and that you KNOW you can afford. it could be your local state school, your community college, a school that tends to give kids from your high school nice awards, schools with some guaranteed merit awards (some threads listed with them on this forum), low sticker price schools. I think your choices are great, and you have a reasonable shot at getting into some, if not all of them, but you also have a good chance of not getting sufficient financial/merit aid from any of them. </p>

<p>So add a sure thing to your list,maybe two and you’ll be fine. Again, you do have a good chance of not needing the safety choices, but better to have them and not need them, than the other way around. </p>

5

<p>Your post is very thoughtful, but I am concerned that your list is indeed a little short, especially since Denver is virtually ruled out because you want to bring your dog. It’s not a mistake to look exclusively out-of-state, and I wouldn’t worry at this point about cost-of-living in California/East Coast. Your main goal is to apply broadly enough to assure admission to a school you can afford with minimal debt (and that you would be happy to attend). </p>

<p>Up until quite recently (and for those who weren’t Ivy-bound), most applicants were advised to apply to two safeties, two matches, and two reaches. After the last few admission cycles, I think this is the bare minimum. You may also want to look harder at test-optional schools if your scores don’t come up. </p>

6

<p>My other parent is on their own, living off government income with no income of her own. I should of clarified with that!</p>

7

<p>oh and she has for a few years now and plans to for many more…sort of a disability thing I guess? </p>

8

<p>The University of Denver is expensive, and on average only covers ~83% of demonstrated need. It fully meets the demonstrated need of < 33% of students. So it may not be a true admission and financial safety school. </p>

9

<p>Okay, helpful info about your other parent. FYI, the colleges will want some kind of info. Even if she does not file a tax return (if not enough income or something), there is a form for that. Hopefully you are in contact enough to get that done if needed. </p>

10

<p>Other schools to consider that have good communications/film and generous FinAid on the West Coast would be Univ of Puget Sound, Willamette, Pacific Lutheran, LMU, USF, Univ of Portland, Western Washington Univ, Southern Oregon Univ., Evergreen and Lewis & Clark.</p>

<p>You’ve done a great job in thinking through the financial aspects of this, but since there are so many variables at the private schools, I would recommend adding some additional schools - particularly safe and match schools - to round out the list. You should also consider having one or two financial safety schools, as well as academic safeties.</p>

11

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<p>How is that a safety school when you dont know how much aid you’d get. As a low income student, I would expect that you will be gapped. What did the NPC say?</p>

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12

<p>You know, I don’t generally associate UChicago with poor fin aid and USC with great fin aid. You got your numbers from the NPCs of both school?</p>

13

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<p>will that parent fill out the NCP forms for the schools that give the best aid?</p>

14

<p>I don’t think the OP said U of Chicago, she said a school in Chicago (at least I didn’t read it that way). Maybe she is talking about Columbia College in Chicago? (That is what I thought of because of her film interest). </p>

15

<p>Yeah, I was talking about Columbia.</p>

16

<p>Yes, my mom is still in my life and still “my mom” I suppose. She just has a lot going on personally, it’s nothing to do with myself. So she’d of course fill out whatever I needed her to.</p>

17

<p>And I thought I should mention that I don’t expect a full ride, and my decision doesn’t ride on who will give me a full ride or not. I’m willing to have debt that I can pay off in the future, just not a crazy amount. (aka over 100,000) Less than 50,000 would be preferable.</p>

18

<p>We are. :slight_smile: She cares about my college education, although she wishes I’d stay in-state such as she did. My dad, who is supporting my younger brother and I by himself on a factory workers pension, only graduated highschool. Mom got a one year business certificate, but never did anything with it.</p>

19

<p>Okay… $50K of undergraduate debt is completely unacceptable for someone majoring in film or communications or related majors. That debt will hang over your head for years. @hop gave you some good suggestions in post #9, you should go run the NPCs on those to see what your cost might be.</p>

20

<p>I read that the average debt for a college graduate was about 33,000 or so? And I’m sure it will go up by the time I’m a graduate. But around 33,000 is very workable. 50,000 would put me on a tight budget for a long time, and is very ridiculous, and if I can avoid that situation I will. I guess I’m more concerned about the quality of the school than the price. Like, if one is going to cost a little more than the other and I happen to like it more then I’d probably pick it. The reason I know schools in my area, other than maybe the local private college which is still too close for my liking, aren’t for me is that I’ve had acquaintances who’ve gone to them. Even though there is no Greek life, most of the schools are filled with drinkers who eventually drop out. I know I’d likely be accepted basically anywhere in the state (maybe other than U of I or ISU, those being reachish). I don’t want a poor quality education, and I’d like to go to school in the area/region where I plan to live and work so that I am trained in the style that is used there and am used to it.</p>