I’m currently a high school junior from a Detroit suburb in Michigan. I’ve been looking at a lot of colleges lately, and K caught my eye.
I currently hold a 3.7 (UW) GPA, take mostly AP and Honors courses, am currently president of two clubs (Gay Straight Alliance and Model UN) and plan on forming a Diversity club during my senior year. I take the SAT in about a week, but my projected score is in the 1300’s.
I plan on being an international relations / politics major, so that particular program in a school is very important to me. A study abroad program, especially a good one, is also important.
Financially, I need a school that provides good merit aid. I come from a high income household, but my parents have informed me that they will not assist in my college payment, and so all of my tuition will be paid through loans and merit aid scholarships.
I want to go to a small or medium college, although I would not be against going to a large school. Having urban or suburban surroundings is also very important to me. Diversity on campus is also important.
If you have anything else that’s notable that you particularly enjoyed about Kzoo, please let me know! Thank you so much!
@ahicks18 Kalamazoo looks like it could be a very good fit for you: emphasis on study abroad, very welcoming of Diversity, small size, mid size city urban/suburban surroundings, and good merit aid. I don’t have personal experience as a student or parent, but I have researched the school quite a bit and really like what I have found.
That said, if your parents will NOT assist you in paying for college, you are going to have a VERY difficult time affording ANY school, even a very generous one. Any school that meets demonstrated need is going to base their financial aid package on your parents’ ABILITY to pay (not their willingness). Schools that award substantial merit aid will still often cost $20,000 or more per year to attend. Even a full tuition scholarship will leave you needing to cover $10,000 to $15,000 in housing, meals and other expenses per year. That is a lot of debt to take on and you are unlikely to qualify for such large loans on your own.
I obviously have no idea why your parents claim that they will not assist you financially, but that is not an approach that will likely enable you to earn an undergraduate degree at a four year university.