<p>Hey, I'm just starting to really delve into the application process. It's the end of my junior year, and I haven't yet compiled a list of colleges that I plan to apply to. Thus, this thread :)</p>
<p>This is a quick rundown of my profile:</p>
<p>Stats:
SAT - 2330 single sitting (780 CR / 770 M / 780 W)
SAT II - 790 chem, 740 literature, taking US History and Math II
GPA - 3.91 unweighted, 4.6 weighted, highest rigor
Rank - 2/545 at a subpar public school (got 2 B's freshman year)</p>
<p>EC's:
Mostly focused around writing, with a few awards
Cross Country varsity three years
Track for four years
LA Biomed internship
President of Chess Club</p>
<p>Other:
Very low income (below 30k)</p>
<hr>
<p>I plan to apply to Yale, Brown, Stanford, and Pomona. However, I need to find a few match and safety colleges. I'm mostly looking for a decent-sized college that's strong all around academically.It would be preferable if the colleges don't have a frat/party oriented environment. I'm pretty anti-social.</p>
<p>I'll probably major in a science, but I might end up switching to humanities. I'd like to find colleges that cover almost all financial need (housing, etc). Any help would be appreciated :)</p>
<p>If you like Pomona & LACs, then do a search for Keilexander’s posts. She did extensive research with similar data. </p>
<p>Biggest thing I’ve learned from these boards – consider the Honor’s Colleges at the big schools – example – Alabama which offers free automatic tuition to someone with your SAT, beautiful honors dorms from the website pictures and practically rolling admissions so that you have the acceptance in hand by October. They also have other scholarships that include housing.</p>
<p>Check at the CTCL (Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope) schools like Ursinus & Rhodes who give impressive merit aid.</p>
<p>Do you have geographic considerations? </p>
<p>If you are a female, would you consider an all-girls school?</p>
<p>Include some schools which you are in the top 25% of applicants.</p>
<p>Be sure your “low income” is inclusive of all that colleges consider for income – is that both bio. parents and all step parents? If not, then do some research into the CSS “Profile” financial aid which requires non-custodial parent income. The Profile schools include many private schools.</p>
<p>What state are you from? Don’t forget to consider your in-state schools that have honor’s colleges.</p>
<p>And finally, check out the financial aid portion of this site.</p>
<p>You MAY get some money from Emory if you apply into the Emory Scholars program. Your stats are in range… and many people who get into HYPS get full scholarships as Emory scholars. There are also 2/3 scholarships available I believe. However, you have to be nominated by your high school, which, with your stats, should not be a problem. Good luck!</p>
<p>Since you have a very high stats, but very low income, you have to have a good strategy.</p>
<p>Yes, apply to the top schools that give full aid with no or little loans.</p>
<p>However, as financial safeties, you’ll also need to apply to some schools that will give you assured BIG merit. You can also apply to some schools that have competitive merit, but you need to apply to a few schools that will give you assured big merit for your financial safeties.</p>
<p>Also, if you’re an instate resident for Calif, apply to some UCs. The UCs have been very generous to low income students in recent years.</p>
<p>The above isn’t true, with low income (if assets are also low) and his stats, his financial safeties should be schools that meet need, not merit aid schools. You can lose merit aid, but schools that meet need just keep meeting it.</p>
<p>*The above isn’t true, with low income (if assets are also low) and his stats, his financial safeties should be schools that meet need, not merit aid schools. You can lose merit aid, but schools that meet need just keep meeting it. *</p>
<p>Yes, my advice is correct. </p>
<p>I said that he should apply to schools that meet 100% with little to no loans. However, those schools aren’t usually safeties. Those tend to be match/reach schools.</p>
<p>I said to apply to UCs, because they meet need for low income students.</p>
<p>I said to apply to schools that give huge merit for financial safeties. What financial safeties meet full need with little or no loans?? </p>
<p>A student with these stats has little fear of losing his merit scholarship.</p>
<p>Oh, I forgot… Emory has the “Emory Advantage” program for students whose family income is below 50 k I believe. It is need-based and not merit-based. If you meet the standards, you get your loans erased, among other benefits. </p>
<p>I believe many of the southern schools offer tuition scholarships based off of numbers. I’m not sure exactly which ones, but I know Auburn and Alabama do for sure</p>
<p>oh wait, not frat party oriented, well UVa doesn’t exactly fit that bill, but just like every state school, if you don’t want to be a partier, you don’t have to</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses Yeah, I do plan to apply for Questbridge.</p>
<p>I’m interested in liberal arts colleges, because it seems like they would be a good fit for me socially and personality-wise. However, I’m a little worried about the science departments at small LAC’s. I believe Pomona has access to the other Claremont College campuses.</p>
<p>My biological parents, who live together, make a combined 30k/year. We don’t have significant assets. I live in California, so I’ll probably look at UC’s.</p>
<p>UMiami gives gauranteed scholarships for test scores. A lot of the mid-tier Southern LACs would give you full scholarships (Rhodes, Trinity, Richmond, Furman, Centre, Austin Collge, etc.) as well I believe. Clearly some of these schools have social scenes dictated by the greek life, but not all of them do.</p>
<p>What else are you looking for, outside of good aid, safety/match, and anti-social/studious atmosphere? Is there any location you would prefer? Specific Size? Athletics matter to you? Any extra curriculars you would like to continue?</p>
<p>I would probably prefer somewhere not in the South. Size and athletics don’t matter much. I would prefer an atmosphere that’s somewhat intellectual, at the very least. My main EC’s in high school are all pretty nerdy :)</p>
<p>The mid-atlantic region (VA thru CT) has TONS of small LACs. Target just about any of these schools and I think a kid from the West Coast would do well financially, but you will need to factor in travel.</p>
<p>LACs have strong science programs – here in PA many LAC kids go into med. schools.</p>
Yeah, I do plan to apply for Questbridge.</p>