So I’m going a bit crazy right now, I’m applying to five Ivies (Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth, UPenn, and Brown) as well as places like Stanford and Johns Hopkins. I have six other safety schools so that’s not really a problem, but I’m worried that I might not get into one of the Ivies? My family’s putting immense pressure on me getting in to one of them, and I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t get in, they’ll be so disappointed in me…
My GPA isn’t the best (a 4.38 on a 5 scale) but that was because I was out for half a month in the hospital junior year and never got to make up my work, I mentioned this in my application. I’m going to send only my ACT scores in since the colleges accept either of the standardized tests nowadays, I took the ACT once and got a 33 and my family doesn’t have the money for me to try again.
I’ve done a ton of extracurriculars including a few with leadership positions, but I think my most proud achievement would have to be the fact that I’ve organized three fundraisers for three different celebrity charities on their birthdays, and I raised over a thousand dollars for each fundraiser. That’s what I’m writing about for my Common App essay.
Also, I just moved two weeks before senior year started to a whole different state, do you think they will take all of that into consideration when looking at my file or will the admissions officers think all of these are excuses or something? I just need to know whether I have a chance at these schools or not, I’ll still apply but I need to prepare myself for rejection.
First of all, check if schools want all scores. Stanford is one of them and you have to send both SAT and ACT if you have taken both. Second, neither your GPA nor your ACT score is that impressive for those top schools on your list. Having a ton of EC may or may not help your application much unless they can demonstrate your passion on something. Think about what you may stand out from the crowd that most with the same or better academic achievement than you. Give these schools a try but do not put much hope on them. Your credential is around the average applicants and 90% of them got rejected from these schools.
When applying to highly selective schools, the right attitude is to assume you won’t get into any of them, especially if you are without a hook (which is your situation).
Your parents will have to get over their disappointment if that’s what happens. Part of being a parent is loving the kid you got, not the one you want. And part of becoming an adult is realizing that parents want lots of things for their kids that don’t always happen and that doesn’t make you a failure if you don’t deliver. What will you do if you don’t get in? You’ll feel bad for a bit, and then you (and they) will hopefully celebrate where you do get in and the wonderful opportunities that that represents.
So, time to look at schools that are just as good as the Ivies academically and are more realistic options given your situation: Have you looked at your state schools? Do they have honors programs for which you are eligible? That’s always a good place to start. What is your financial picture? How much can you afford? Once we know that, we can make other suggestions.
Lastly, admissions will notice that you changed schools and take it into account. You can still get your letters of recommendation from teachers at your previous school since they know you better. If your grades dropped in junior year due to illness, as your guidance counselor to mention it in his/her letter of recommendation so you can use your application to talk about the positive aspects of your application. At most, a brief mention in the ‘other info’ section to explain a one semester aberration in grades due to illness should cover it - but it would be best coming from the GC.
@N’s Mom I’m actually applying to some state/easier to get into schools as well. UMass Amherst and Lowell, Baylor, and Rensselear Polytech are basically guaranteed admission due to my ACT score, and I already have automatic admission to Texas A&M. My family already told me that they won’t contribute any money to my college funds, and they never saved up money in the first place anyways so my EFC is always going to be $0. My financial situation is a little difficult; my dad was employed this year in May after a year and a half of unemployment, so our 2014 taxes show that we’re in the lowest income group (because we had no income during that time), but when I go to apply for FAFSA in January, that won’t be true anymore.
Given the little information in your post, it seems highly likely that you won’t get into a single top college. But you should be able to get into schools like Wake Forest, which meets 100% financial need.
Run the net price calculators on those state and less selective schools. Keep in mind that your family’s lack of savings and unwillingness to pay for college doesn’t automatically mean that your EFC is 0. EFC is what the school expects your family to contribute based on their income for the relevant period. You need to resubmit and that amount is recalculated every year. You can negotiate if you’ve had a parent who was out of work for a while, but ultimately, the schools decide how much they think your family can pay, even if your family disagrees. This is true even for schools that are committed to meeting full financial need. They define the need here.
You have some major misconceptions about financial aid. Head over to the Financial Aid forum and read the stickies to learn. First, from what you wrote your EFC will NOT be $0. It will be based on your parents income, whether or not they want to/can afford to contribute. Run the Net Price Calculators for each school. Did you move from TX to MA or vice versa? MA schools have relatively low tuition but high surcharges which you have to pay. Here are some schools that may give you full tuition. http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/ You can see if your parents can pay a few thousand and you can earn money over the summer for the rest for the room and board.
@gearsstudio Oh sorry, should I give more info then? Okay so I’ve volunteered at the local hospital during three summers in the surgery and neonatal intensive care units, as well as places like Special Olympics, the local animal shelter and the local library. I’m in student council (was junior class historian), National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and HOSA, which is like a medical competition club (treasurer last year). I went to state twice for HOSA from winning 1st and 3rd at districts and have been competing since freshman year. Also I’ve taken 8 AP classes and tested on ten (I self-studied for Human Geography and Art History) and like I said, I’ve created multiple fundraisers for celebrity charities.
@N’s Mom and @Erin’s Dad Thank y’all for the links! Right now though I’m applying with 2014 tax information because that’s what the application is asking for, and I believe that if the gross income was under $24,000 then automatically your EFC is going to be regarded as $0? That’s what it says here on page 6, please correct me if I’m wrong. ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/090214EFCFormulaGuide1516.pdf
I’m sure I’ll have to re-update the information once the new FAFSA is available and completed, but for now I think this is what I have. Once again, if this is wrong please tell me so.
Also @Erin’s Dad I promise you that my parents won’t pay for anything, I’ve asked them many times and the answer is always no. And I can’t get a job any time soon, we only have one car and Dad takes that to work every day and my parents aren’t willing to buy another one. We had to actually sell our second car when we moved to MA from TX.
@captainrogers For financial aid of 2016-2017, they will use your 2015 tax information. As you are expecting a big difference in family income from last year, you should use the best estimated income from 2015 in the NPC calculation instead of 2014 tax return numbers. Otherwise, you are just fooling yourself and will be surprised with lower aid after they verified the numbers with 2015 numbers.
If your parents are set on zero financial aid for college, you might want to start talking to your local community college to find out what they have to offer you. If you do well academically, and perhaps work part-time, you can save enough to handle tuition at your in-state U for the final two years. That is the cheapest option available and one that many very smart and motivated low income students choose.
@billcsho Okay, thank you. I wasn’t sure which year’s numbers to put into the application itself.
@N’s Mom My parents want me to go to a state school…something about how community college won’t get me the proper experience and enough classes to be prepared for medical school.
@T26E4 No, if they’re using 2015’s numbers (which I’m pretty sure they are) then I’m not.
Are your safety schools 100% affordable? If you’re doing medical school, then you really need to start saving now as med school can be extremely expensive (Harvard med is like 80k a year) and I heard they do not give that much financial aid.
I think a lot of people don’t realize that until you turn 24, your parents’ information is required on the FAFSA whether your parents support you with one penny or not! Unless you are legally emancipated, you can’t get away from that.
How are you automatic admit to Texas A&M if you do not live in Texas?
You can get a fee waiver for SAT/ACT for low income so you could take it again. Your family not wanting to pay for it again because of cost should not hold you back from a retest.
You need financial safeties if your parents won’t or can’t contribute.
@rdeng2614 They’re not 100% free, but I’m getting aid from them. Medical school expenses are definitely in the back of my mind, but right now it’s one of the least of my worries.
@Erin’s Dad A 2000 flat, which is why I’m not sending them anywhere.
@goingnutsmom TAMU has a program where if you are in the top 25% of your class, get at least a 1300 in Math and Critical Reading combined on the SAT OR get at least a 30 on the ACT then you’re automatic. I asked admissions multiple times, they said it includes out-of-state applicants as well.
Also, I can’t get a waiver because my family’s not low income anymore, my dad’s job pays more than enough to take us out of fee waivers and food stamps (which we got last year).
Got it. But TAMU would be out of state tuition? You need financial safeties. Should you get into an Ivy then that might be a financial safety for you. I only say might be because your father now works and we don’t know the income. However that is a long shot. Look up threads of schools that give merit based on your stats.
I just wanted to comment on your common app essay idea - it’s a little concerning. Raising money is great, yes, but what would that essay show about you, beyond that you like celebrities and know how to do a fundraiser. I’m not sure it’s the best topic, but if you use it be sure to create a clear picture of who you are through that lens.
