<p>It's my junior year and I have been searching around for colleges, but I don't really know where to start looking. I want to narrow my search to colleges that I'd have at least a somewhat reasonable shot at being accepted to, but I also am looking for universities that are STEM oriented with good programs. </p>
<p>Can you provide more information? The following would be helpful:
- Unweighted GPA
- SAT or ACT scores (including any SAT Subject Test scores)
- State of residency and any ideas of where in the country you would like to consider for colleges
- Idea of size of college (universities vs liberal arts colleges)
- When you say STEM, can you be more specific? Are you interested in engineering? Or some other specific STEM area(s)? Do you have an idea of a career goal?
- What is your financial situation? Do you know if you will qualify for need based aid? How much are your parents willing to pay?
- Do you have extra curricular activities you have been involved in? Any significant accomplishments in them? Any you want to continue in college for sure?</p>
<p>GPA: 3.45 UW 3.75 W
ACT: 32 (S 29 R 31 E 33 M 35)
Honors/AP/College courses: Honors Spanish III, Honors Precalc, AP Euro, AP Lang, AP Calc BC (all sophomore year), Linear Algebra + DE over summer, and taking AP Chem, AP Physics C (M + E&M), AP Lit, Calculus III, Partial Differential Equations, Intro to Higher Mathematics this year.
Activities/EC’s: Marching Band (10th grade-present), Pep Band (10th grade - present), Fencing (8th grade - present)(placed top 3 at multiple tournaments, placed 20th at 2013 North American Cup), Math Team (joined this year)
I’m planning on double majoring in math and physics.
I live in KY and I don’t have any specific areas in mind.
Size of college is irrelevant to me
My family is lower middle class (parents make ~40k a year, although my mother is losing her job this month, so that might throw us into a different financial position than I’m used to.)
There aren’t any activities that I know for sure that I want to continue in college for sure</p>
<p>Talk to your fencing coach. That sort of placement in the North American Cup will be of interest to many programs and will be your ticket to a good school. Our HS is one of the top in the state and all the top fencers get full rides to colleges. </p>
<p>Right now, you need to figure out a few things by taking tours (I know you say it doesn’t matter, but once you’re on a campus it may click):<br>
- size of school
- urban, rural, in-between
- LAC or tech school or state school w everything</p>
<p>In another thread you mentioned your fencing EC, but you didn’t state your level.</p>
<p>–Do you have any plans to continue fencing in college?
–Have you ever been a ranked USFA Junior?</p>
<p>I don’t have any plans to continue in college, although I’m still considering it… as it is right now I have had very little time to devote to fencing. And I was in div 3, and I primarily compete in local competitions, though. Also, I haven’t been ranked as of now</p>
<p>First, find a safety which you know you can get into and know that you can afford.</p>
<p><a href=“http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/”>http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/</a> may be of interest. Your stats, as long as you keep your GPA above 3.0, will give you a full ride to Louisiana Tech. If you get your GPA above 3.5, some additional opportunities may be available.</p>
<p>Will you be taking the PSAT to try for National Merit status, which can give you more scholarship opportunities?</p>
<p>Considering your math background, lower-income status, and geographic location, you could have lots of schools clamoring after you, providing you with a great financial package. (If your family makes under 65k, top schools will not expect any contribution from your parents and will not require loans - yes, and full ride and no loan).
Are you also first gen (= neither parent got a 4 year degree)?
As of now, look into HarveyMudd (where your math background would be appreciated and not totally uncommon), CalTech, UChicago, Northwestern, and in fact most top 25 universities. Fill out the “Request info” questionnaire and in the box where you can say things about yourself, mention your math classes and fencing awards. Then wait to be contacted.
The PSAT is next week I think. Prepare seriously, don’t blow it off, practice throughout the week - it takes practice to do well. If you score as high as it sounds you could, you should be able to reach National Semi Finalist Status, and since almost all NMSF make it to NMF, you’d have full rides at plenty of places.</p>
<p>I’m trying to get my GPA above a 3.5, and i have mostly A’s this trimester as of now.
I’m taking the PSAT next week</p>
<p>Stevens Tech would be a good Likely / Low Match. It would at least give you one option to continue fencing in college. </p>
<p>Do your utmost for that 3.5, but for the next couple days, FOCUS ON THE PSAT. There are thousands and thousands of dollars at stake. If you make the NMF cutoff for your state (210 this year) it’d mean a full ride at many different schools, in addition to being able to apply to all kinds of “famous” schools for math. You DO need 3.5+ for any scholarship so once the PSAT prep is done, focus on your grades.</p>
<p>Yes, a PSAT score that qualifies for National Merit, and a higher GPA (at least 3.5, the higher the better) will open up more opportunities for automatic big scholarships (for safeties) and competitiveness for highly selective schools (the ones with the best need-based financial aid) and competitive big scholarships.</p>
<p>To see estimates of need-based aid at each college, you can go to the web site and use the net price calculator. Each college is different, so do not rely on one college’s result to be similar to that of another college.</p>