<p>Hi everyone. I'm a 16-year-old black male who's going to be a senior in high school. I live in Compton, CA (which has a lot of poverty and violence), and my family makes a little over $30,000 a year. I have 2 little sisters, 12 and 9.
I'm a straight A student (3.88 GPA), but my high school is really bad. I took the SAT in the spring and got a 1600/2400. I've also taken two AP tests, Spanish and English Composition. I got a 4 on the first and a 3 on the second. I also skipped 4th grade, if that means anything.
I don't really know anything about the college process. My parents didn't go to college, and neither do most kids in my school (only about 55-60% even graduate high school.) My family can't afford tuition, so I would need a full scholarship. And I want to be able to work and support my family, so if college ends up not helping me out, I don't want to have wasted 4 years when I could have been working. Am I even a qualified student for college? Is it an option for me? Is it worth it even if I go to a college that's not that good? I like learning and I want to go, but it seems like it's not even possible.</p>
<p>Of course you’re qualified! What kind of question is that? You seem like a great student has much going for him. You should talk with your guidance counselor about which colleges are a good fit for you and what you can so to spice up your college application. Also, you shouldn’t worry about price tags. There are many schools that give 100% financial aid based on demonstrated need. Also, if you get you’re SAT score up you could possibly get into some top tier schools. Don’t give up on college! You have so much potential!</p>
<p>Thank you so much! That’s really good to hear. What do you think is a good SAT score to aim for?</p>
<p>You should look into the QuestBridge program! I have a couple of friends/acquaintances who go to top colleges (Pomona, Harvard) and have full scholarships from the program.</p>
<p>I agree, look into Questbridge. It’s a great program. As for the SAT, see if you can get some practice books/tests, especially the Collegeboard one. The SAT is one of those tests that you can really improve on from studying. Also, maybe look into the ACT? The format’s a little different, and some people do better on that. </p>
<p>As for what score to aim for, it really depends on the type of school you’re aiming to get in. You can look up the middle 50% of SAT/ACT scores for almost all schools, to kind of give you a clue as to typical scores that a college admits.</p>
<p>Yes u are very qualified. You have a bright future and best of luck</p>
<p>Yes, you can go to college. Colleges look for high performing minority kids and kids who are first in their family to go to college. You are a desirable candidate. Since your family is poor, you will qualify for a lot of “need based” financial aid. The trick is to find the schools that will pay for that need and get accepted to them.</p>
<p>Going to college can open up opportunities to have a career and make a better living. Living out of Compton in a place where people are ambitious and there are professors and mentors to help you will be a life changing plan. You should do it. </p>
<p>Apply to the Questbridge program. They can help you with your college process. Look at their website and there is also a forum here about it. You are supposed to apply when you are a Junior, but they have something for Seniors too.
[Questbridge</a> Programs - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/questbridge-programs/]Questbridge”>Questbridge Programs - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>Your SAT is only average. It isn’t high enough to get you into some of the programs that give full rides. It would pay off big time for you if you do a systematic study and increase that grade. You can take the exam again in October. Read the pinned threads here for study tips:
[SAT</a> Preparation - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/]SAT”>SAT Preparation - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>Also there is a video instruction for the math section on this excellent website. You need to buy the 1st Edition of the College Board book to use alongside:
<a href=“https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat-math[/url]”>https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat-math</a></p>
<p>To start the college process you should open up the Common Application and start filling it out. You don’t need to send it until you pick your schools and finish your essays.
<a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/Login[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/Login</a></p>
<p>You will also need to fill out financial aid forms.</p>
<p>You will likely qualify for at least one UC school. You will get need based aid, cal grants and loans to cover your tuition, room and board and costs. 6 years ago that would have meant about $5,000 in loans for you. It is likely a bit more now.</p>
<p>You family will likely have to supply your health insurance, about $1,500 a year and your transportation to school, maybe a plane ticket. Start planning for that now.</p>
<p>You can learn a lot from this board and people will be happy to help you. But it will be best for your if you have a helpful guidance counselor or teacher to assist. I sometimes read and comment on essays, so if you want feedback you can PM to me. My daughter had a full ride to her school. I also met a girl from South Central who went to her college fully paid. She had never met anyone who went to college except her teachers, who helped her.</p>
<p>Search 100 percent need based schools or close to them and if u get in they will cover almost everything. Good luck.</p>
<p>For SAT prep, see <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/68210-xiggis-sat-prep-advice.html</a> If you can find the prep books at your high school or at a public library, you won’t have to pay for them. Xiggi is still active here at CC. If you have any questions, when you have enough posts to send a PM you can get in touch with him directly.</p>
<p>You also should spend some time in the Financial Aid Forum. You will find lots of useful information about paying for college there.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>
<p>Thank you, everyone. This is really helpful. I’ll talk to my parents, and look into QuestBridge. I’ll try to get an SAT book to study, too.</p>
<p>If you do get an SAT book, get the Collegeboard Blue Book.</p>
<p>Malik
You seem like a bright articulate kid who would stand out in an outreach program where colleges could get to know you. Here’s some local options as well as links to financial aid. Get in contact with the colleges you are interested in and I think you will do well. Good luck!</p>
<p>UCLA outreach</p>
<p>[UCLA</a> Early Academic Outreach Program](<a href=“http://www.eaop.ucla.edu/aboutus/eaopoverview.htm]UCLA”>http://www.eaop.ucla.edu/aboutus/eaopoverview.htm)</p>
<p>Cal State LA outreach</p>
<p>[Office</a> of Outreach, Recruitment and Orientation](<a href=“http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/recruitment/]Office”>Recruitment | Cal State LA)</p>
<p>California Student Aid Commission</p>
<p>[California</a> Student Aid Commission - Contact Us](<a href=“http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?ID=543]California”>http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?ID=543)</p>
<p>Cal State Long Beach Financial Aid</p>
<p>Oops missed the last link. Sorry!</p>
<p>Cal State Long Beach Financial Aid</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.csulb.edu/divisions/students/uosr/Undergraduate_Admission/Planning_for_College/financialaid.htm[/url]”>https://www.csulb.edu/divisions/students/uosr/Undergraduate_Admission/Planning_for_College/financialaid.htm</a></p>
<p>Being in California, you are fortunate that the state universities give good financial aid to in-state students.</p>
<p>General UC and CSU admission web pages are here:
[University</a> of California - Admissions](<a href=“http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/]University”>http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/)
[CSUMentor</a> - Plan for College - High School Students - Freshman Admission Requirements Overview](<a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU)</p>
<p>For each of the UCs, go to its web site and put “net price calculator” or “financial aid calculator” in the search box. Then use it to get financial aid and net price estimates. For in-state students from low income families, the likely net price after grants tends to be between $8,500 and $10,000 per year, where students are expected to contribute work earnings and a $5,500 Direct/Stafford loan.</p>
<p>For CSUs, you can use [CSUMentor</a> - Financial Aid - PAIS](<a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU) to get financial aid and net price estimates. CSUs are likely to be cheaper than UCs if you attend a local one in commuting distance, but may be more expensive (after financial aid grants) for others.</p>
<p>California also has low cost community colleges that you can attend for the first two years, then transfer to a UC or CSU to complete your bachelor’s degree. [Welcome</a> to ASSIST](<a href=“http://www.assist.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.assist.org) gives course listings to take at each community college for a target UC or CSU and major.</p>
<p>There isn’t much more to add to what people have said, but you are a great candidate and I would be surprised if you didn’t make it to some prestigious school, such as most of the UCs.</p>
<p>Malik…</p>
<p>Definitely apply to all/most of the UC’s. With your GPA, you’d get accepted to many of them. </p>
<p>Do you know what your class rank is? Are you in the upper few percent of your class?</p>
<p>hopefully UCB will chime in and detail more on UC acceptances. I don’t know if being from Compton would be an edge for you, but I think it would since it’s an underprivileged area and you’re a good student. </p>
<p>The UCs highly value GPA over SAT just because of students like you…students who care about their education and grades, but may not have gotten the best K-12 education because their school district isn’t that great. These students’ test scores often aren’t high, but they are dedicated and the UC’s want them to have a fair opportunity for acceptance.</p>
<p>You will certainly get a very good FA pkg from the UC schools…Cal Grant, Pell grant, UC grant, etc. You may even be offered some merit money as an incentive for you to attend…UC’s do want more AA males.</p>
<p>Also…you need to get waivers from you GC so that you won’t have to pay for applications or tests.</p>
<p>Also take the ACT…you may do better on that.</p>
<p>Also apply to some of the “meets need” privates. There are some who probably would love to have a student like you.</p>
<p>What is your major and career goal?</p>
<p>You can do it! Just the fact that you are on this forum asking proves you have the desire and attitude to do it. Just follow the good advice already given.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, everyone. Your advice and support really means a lot to me. I’m gonna talk to my parents tonight.
My class rank is 2nd of about 275.
I’m not quite sure what I want to major in, but if I could be anything when I grow up, I’d want to be a lawyer or a policymaker, something where I can help people like me. That probably sounds kind of cheesy and naive, but that’s what I really want to do.</p>
<p>Malik, I’m pretty sure we all see the potential you have as a student and we don’t want to let that go to waste. You’ll definitely get into a great school as long as you continue working hard and take some of our advice! Your class rank is awesome and your GPA is great. That SAT score is the only thing that could hold you back - mom2collegekids mentioned this, but have you considered the ACT?</p>