<p>Did you look at the 3.0 thread? It’s lots of pages to look through, but it’s got some good ideas.</p>
<p>I never know how to write the message that’s necessary here because kids typically react the way the OP here has. There is a wide spread misconception in this country that everyone can go to the college of their choice, or will have many choices that will meet their need. That there is aid for all. Many colleges help further this.</p>
<p>It’s sad, it’s unfortunate, but everyone here IS trying to be helpful and the sooner your friend understands the reality, the better position he’ll be in to make good choices and plan. </p>
<p>We can humor you/your friend, but it will just end up one of the sad stories in April of having acceptances with no funding. Search this site, read the financial aid board, get your feet wet. Then you can help your friend accept reality. he can look a state schools if not CCs and see which will best position him for a transfer in 2 years if that’s what he wants. He can begin to understand that his dream schools/cities will be very possile for grad schools if he works hard in even the most average CC.</p>
<p>Maybe Suffolk (Boston), Southern Maine University, Rider (NJ), Springfield (MA), Keene State (NH), Colby-Sawyer (NH), New England College (NH), Mt Saint Vincent (NY), Stevenson (MD) and Hartford (CT). Best of luck!</p>
<p>Thank you poi and nysmile, your suggestions help a lot. :)</p>
<p>I am familiar with how the college process works. Of course he’s not going to be able to pay for some schools. All i was asking for was a few suggestions of schools that take students with his scores</p>
<p>
I’m trying to figure out where the motivation is with a 2.7 weighted GPA.</p>
<p>Well, Erin’s Dad, GPA does not reflect one’s character. Some people are in situations that prevent them from putting all their focus on school, despite how much they would like to. Think before you judge.</p>
<p>what about ROTC schools? They will pay everything…</p>
<p>low grades does not mean anything. It could be that he is too busy taking care of the siblings or home chores. He is entitled to get a higher education. We just have to think of a way to fit him in.</p>
<p>ROTC scholarships are not just there for the taking; they are competitive. The average class rank for AFROTC recipients is top 12%, average GPA is 3.77 (and that is probably Unweighted). [U.S</a>. Air Force ROTC - Help Center - FAQs - Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.afrotc.com/help-center/faqs/scholarships/]U.S”>FAQ | Admissions & Academics | U.S. Air Force ROTC) </p>
<p>It’s nice the OP is trying to help his friend but the friend may have the same issues in trying to be successful in college.
I would recommend starting at a CC to get the hang of more difficult classes at a more affordable cost before laying out a bunch of money on a four year school.</p>
<p>Re:CC
I was in a somewhat similar situation… didn’t take school seriously, finished with a bad GPA/class rank. I felt I was too good for community college, so I ended up not attending college at all. 4 years later, I’m going to be a freshman at a CC.</p>
<p>I agree with veloci.
Community college is one way that this young man can prove himself. He could also begin working as an EMT part-time to save money for his college dreams on the East Coast. If he is going to finance his own education, then working as an EMT will bring in more money than most 18 year olds can make. Better to apply himself for a couple of years so that he has a better shot at graduating from a top institution. By the time that he gets out of CC, he may have a better idea toward a career, and can choose colleges based on his major as well.</p>
<p>forget community college…you can get in ASU - Arizona State U and get the full college experience
also University of Utah and Oregon State</p>
<p>The OP’s friend can get into lots of colleges, but isn’t likely to be able to afford anything but community colleges because the colleges that the student could be accepted to are colleges without much money for need-based scholarships. That includes places like ASU, which have wonderful merit aid for OOS high stat students, but aren’t likely to give anything to needy OOS students with mediocre stats.</p>
<p>If the OP wants to help their friend, the OP should steer the friend to a local community college and encourage the friend to get high grades there so as to be able to transfer to an in-state public university that may give the student some financial aid or merit aid (something that some publics have for in-state transfers from community colleges).</p>
<p>Actually, my friend just informed me that if he works as a fire fighter through college, they will pay for most of his tuition. And he’ll have his fire fighter certification at the end of this year.</p>
<p>I will talk to him about considering community college. But if there’s chances for him to get into other schools, then why not apply? If he doesn’t get in anywhere or can’t pay, then he’ll consider it. But I believe he’s capable of getting into a good school, and I don’t want him to just flat out not apply because people tell him it’s impossible.</p>
<p>And please, everyone, stop telling me what he can and can’t pay for. You don’t know everything about his financial situation…There are ways he can pay for college. And, there are many scholarships he qualifies for.</p>
<p>^ We are using the info you gave us:
If you know of scholarships he has in hand then why don’t you share them with us so we can work out what kind of gaps he will have to fill at different schools.</p>
<p>You can’t just put aside finances. Choosing a college is mostly a zero-sum game. You can get a good college with little aid, or you can get an average college with more aid; similarly, if he had to work through college, that will affect his academics, and it may be worthwhile to get into a lesser college with generous aid so that he doesn’t have to worry about finances while studying.</p>
<p>Also, do consider going to a community college. There are many community colleges out there that offer excellent teaching; if he gets good grades, the transfer process is also more convenient. I would say this is possibly the best choice, given the information you provided.</p>
<p>I understand the finance issue. Frankly, I don’t know everything about his economic situation, so it’s hard for me to give detailed information.
I’m sorry if I’ve been a little rude and sensitive about this. I just want to help him, and I get really defensive when people say that he’s not good enough for stuff because I know just how smart he really is. So I hope everyone understands. But, I will try to be more realistic.</p>
<p>As for scholarships, there are quite a few given out to fire fighters he can qualify for. He’s Hispanic, and I’ve looked at some scholarships he qualifies for based on his GPA and ethnicity. Those are the most significant ones. We still need to do more research though.</p>
<p>Does anyone know about Towson University? The tuition seems reasonable, once you subtract the average need based aid package from it, I think it’s within his reach. And their student’s stats seem to coincide with his. It also seems like a really great school. Do you think this could be a good fit for him?</p>
<p>I don’t know about Towson, but I may look it up. I am a frequent lurker, sometimes poster, on the 3.0 thread, but the “western division”. I could give you schools there.</p>
<p>Once again, I would like to draw your attention to the 3.0 thread. You will find dozens of stories of smart kids with low GPA’s, and often very good SAT’s or ACT’s to back that up. All of us are looking for “schools that would be a good match” , but it’s not easy (“reaches” are MUCH easier), and for most of us, finances are among the rate limiting factors. If not for your friend, great, but do us all a favor, and share how that works. Likewise the URM piece. We are on that thread as well</p>
<p>Shrinkrap: Yes, I am also looking at the 3.0 thread.</p>
<p>I think it all boils down to how much the family can afford for his college. For a family with 4 kids and mom is unemployeed, they may not be able to afford any thing. Even if a college like Towsend waived his tuition, the living cost is going to kill the deal. Books, Room and board now a days could cost upwards of 12K/year. If the family can afford that much, there will be a lot of doors open for him. OTOH, if his needs are a full ride, then the options are limited given his stats.</p>
<p>There are hundreds of 4-year colleges that your friend could be accepted to. The problem isn’t his being accepted. The problem is getting the substantial financial aid that he needs, and that’s what probably won’t be possible when it comes to 4-year colleges for his first 2 years. After he gets his associates, he should be able to transfer to a 4-year college and be able to cover the cost, even if its with a reasonable amount of loans.</p>