Low Income, Low Stats. Chance me please.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I want to go for computer science. GPA is little low. Need somewhere cheap with a great CS program.
Stats:
3.42 UW 4.0 W
SAT 1: 1380 (taking again)
ACT: 31 33E 30M 31R 31S
SAT 2: Haven’t taken yet, taking math II and physics soon
11 AP classes and 2 College Courses
ECs:
Founder of Chess Club
Various Volunteer Opportunities
Lot of stuff out of school: (programming, graphic design, etc, etc)

Can write good essays
Great Recommendations

Very tight money wise. My mom is a single mom and my family can contribute nothing. I will receive 100% of the FAFSA for reference. I don’t want to go somewhere where I will be in a lot of debt.

Schools I’m considering
I know these are all reaches but they provide great Financial Aid:
USC
MIT
CMU
Amherst
Cornell

I am a senior but I might take a gap year to raise my GPA by .1, raise my test scores, and to improve my ECs.

Suggestions are appreciated.

2

How would you improve your GPA in a gap year? If you are in high school, you are not on a gap year. If you enroll in community college, your status the following year would be transfer, not freshman. That could affect your financial aid.

What is your home state? You probably need to find the most affordable option in your state system that meets your needs and apply there. This may be a four year school or a community college with a strong transfer program.

College board Big Future lets you search for schools that meet 80% or more of financial aid. Look for schools where your test scores are in range.

3

My final transcript will show my senior year grades and will have a higher GPA than it does now.

4

But some schools don’t use your senior grades when admitting students.

5

Where are you from? There are a lot of universities with strong CS programs. Are you considering any schools that are easier to get into?

6

ohio. I forgot to mention that I am in the top 10% of my class as well if that helps.

7

State of residency?

8

These schools are pretty much out of reach.
USC
MIT
CMU
Amherst
Cornell

9

1)I would look in your state for the least expensive school that offers your major and hopefully a partial scholarship.

  1. Look at the schools in this thread

    http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/2006094-2017-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-p4.html
    If you can get your gpa up to 3.5 UA Huntsville might work by using your pell grant/student loan/work study to pay for room/board and the scholarship to pay for tuition. They might even consider your weighted gpa.

  2. Other suggestions are living at home and attending community college or your local 4-year college.

10

Try looking into university of Florida? Public university and your stats could work

11

Have you checked whether the public universities in your state of residency are affordable (in their net price calculators)?

12

If you are low income you should take advantage of instate tuition at Ohio public schools, plus maybe you can get an Ohio state grant, Pell grant, your federal student loan and work in the summer.

There are many more schools for computer science than those few you listed.

13

http://main.abet.org/aps/accreditedprogramsearch.aspx

you can search for ABET accredited computer science programs in Ohio in the above link.Then run the net price calculator in the school’s website.