Match and safeties?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Here are some distinguishing features I am looking for in my future school.</p>

<p>1) High-rigor academics: An environment conducive to success, but without cutthroat competition.</p>

<p>2) Strong psychology and/or education departments: Knowledgeable and experienced professors, great academics, great post college-successes, etc.</p>

<p>3) Opportunities to explore other majors: I'm not completely sold on psych or education, and I want to be able to a) explore different majors and b) be able to switch fairly easily if I find something I love.</p>

<p>4) Good career services: In this economy, I'd like all the help I can get.</p>

<p>5) The social life: Where not being a drinker and/or a party-er is not looked down upon and does not affect your social life (little to no peer pressure).</p>

<p>6) The people: accepting of one another, generally happy, no cliquey feeling... everyone is there to succeed and experience college together.</p>

<p>7) The professors: a school focused on the undergraduate academic experience, with professors who are willing to meet with you outside of class, answer questions readily, want to help you, care about your success, are knowledgeable and experienced in their respective fields, etc.</p>

<p>8) The residential life: most students live on campus, great dorms, hopefully a substance-free dorm.</p>

<p>9) Size: a primarily undergraduate school with a small to medium-sized undergraduate population; excellent student to faculty ratio; very small class sizes.</p>

<p>10) Geography: I would like to stay on the west coast. I'm open to city/urban/suburban, anything but rural because I have lived in a small community for my entire life and would prefer to live near a larger population.</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>Female
White
I attend a public high school in northern California that sends few students to top schools. Most go to the local community college.
I will need a lot of financial aid.
I'm considering a major in psychology, education, or something for pre-law. I would honestly love to pursue pre-law, but I'm worried about the price of graduate school.</p>

<p>Scores:
ACT:
Composite 33
English 33
Math 30
Reading 35
Science 34
Combined English/Writing 30
Writing 8</p>

<p>SAT:
Composite 2140</p>

<p>GPA (9-12) W: 4.2667</p>

<p>Advanced Classes:
Freshman year: Honors English
Sophomore year: Honors Earth Science, Honors English, Honors Geometry.
Junior year: AP US History, Honors English (Academic Decathlon), Honors World Geography/Religions.
(Planned) senior year: AP Language, AP Statistics. (I know, not very challenging, but my school is small and this is all that will work with my schedule & grad requirements.)</p>

<p>A's or A+'s in all of these.
APUSH: 4
AP Lit (self studied): 4
Will take: AP Stats, Language, Govt, and maybe an Econ test.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>2013-2015 School Newspaper - Editor-in-Chief (2013 was the inaugural year. I helped to found the paper and was elected as editor by my peers.)
2013- Current Journalism Fundraising Club – President
2012-2013 Associated Student Body Member
2011-Current California Scholarship Federation (Hopefully president senior year, will definitely be in a leadership position.)
2014-Current Ecology Club (Hopefully president senior year, will definitely be in a leadership position.)</p>

<p>2011-Current Frosh, JV, Varsity Volleyball – Middle Blocker ("Most Inspirational Player" junior year, likely captain for senior year)
2011-2012 Frosh Swim Team
2012-2013 JV Soccer - Goalie - Most Valuable Player</p>

<p>2011-Current California Scholarship Federation – Community Volunteer
2011-Current Humane Society - Volunteer
2011-Current ATCAA Food Drive
2013-Current Bear Service Club
2011-2012 American Field Service</p>

<p>Academic Honors:</p>

<p>2014 Academic Decathlon Regional Competition
- Overall High Scorer, Honors Category
– Gold Medals: Social Science, Music, & Super Quiz.
– Silver Medal: Interview
– Bronze Medals: Essay & Art</p>

<p>2012 -2013 Student of the Year: World History, English II Honors
2013-2014 Student of the Year: Journalism
2013 Sophomore Scholar – Rotary International
2014 Junior Scholar – Rotary International
Honor Roll all through high school</p>

2

<p>You’ll likely apply to a few UCs. Check out the Claremont Colleges, Occidental College. </p>

<p>How important to you is staying on the west coast? That really limits your options as there are plenty of schools that meet full-need elsewhere.</p>

3

<p>@dunboyne It’s not super important, but my parents would prefer it (now if there were full-need colleges, they might consider). They’re mostly worried about travel costs, plus they’re protective so having me within about 8 hours would be comforting.</p>

4

<p>""“I will need a lot of financial aid.”""</p>

<p>why? because you are low income?</p>

<p>do you have a non-custodial parent?</p>

<p>Do your parents have a good income, but cant pay much for college? </p>

<p>All of this makes a difference.</p>

5

<p>Ah…OP, .you started another thread anyway. Same questions will be asked, and you can just go through it all again and end up in the same place. @Mom2collegekids, the OP’s parents were very low income ($30K-ish) until a couple of years ago. Sounds like they make more now, but have nothing put away for college and probably aren’t going to pay anything. Example of what she needs: one of the Claremont colleges gave her an EFC/COA of a little over $5,000 for her parent portion. She says no way can they pay that.</p>

6

<p>^^
Thanks. That is significant info.</p>

<p>Ok…so the UCs will work if accepted. apply to all…some may give merit on top of aid, and eliminate loans.</p>

<p>Try Santa Clara. It doesnt guarantee to meet need, but scores are merit worthy, so maybe merit, grant, Cal Grant, and other aid may be enough.</p>

<p>I dont think LMU or USF promise to meet need, but may come close with merit, grants, etc.</p>

<p>The problem with low EFCs and schools that dont meet need is that it is sometimes impossible for them not to gap…unless you are very merit worthy for the school. </p>

<p>The UCs are probably the best bet. </p>

7

<p>@‌mom2collegekids</p>

<p>This is my UCSD result on the NPC:
Expected Family Contribution</p>

<p>Student Contribution:$0.00
Parent Contribution:+$5,757.00
Expected Family Contribution:$5,757.00</p>

<p>Estimated Award
Grant Award: $16,068.00 - $16,468.00
Self Help Award (Work/Loan): $8,300.00 - $8,700.00
Family Help Award: $5,557.00 - $5,957.00</p>

<p>Estimated Total Price of Attendance
Tuition and Fees+$14,752.00
Room and Board+$11,978.00
Books and Supplies+$1,489.00
Other Expenses+$2,306.00</p>

<p>Total Cost of Attendance:$30,525.00</p>

<p>Grant Award:-$16,068.00</p>

<p>Estimated Net Cost:$14,457.00</p>

<p>So I could get merit on top of this?</p>

8

<p>When you have time @katiebug209, run the NPC for Vassar College:
<a href=“Net Price Calculator”>Net Price Calculator;

<p>Let’s see where you’re at for one of the wealthier full-need LACs outside CA.</p>

9

<p>@dunboyne
Vassar:
Estimated Total Cost of Attendance: $62,905</p>

<p>Estimated Grant/Gift Aid
Vassar Scholarship: $51,200</p>

<p>Estimated Net Price: $11,705</p>

<p>Estimated Self Help:
Student Loan: $3500 ($5500 unsubsidized according to @intparent )
Student Work: $2150
Estimated Total Self Help: $5750 (or $7750)</p>

<p>Estimated Remaining Cost: $6055 (or $4055)</p>

<p>Calculated Family Contribution:
Parent Contribution: $4300 ($2300 with increased loan)
Student Contribution: $1750</p>

<p>That’s better! </p>

10

<p>You should check if the total cost of attendance they are using includes travel costs.</p>

11

<p>That looks better, yes. It’s important to get your parents involved with those NPCs. I’ve seen students plug in approximations, and then end up being shocked when the official sticker price comes in. Are your parents helping you with those, with accurate numbers? </p>

12

<p>@intparent
The TCOA includes:
Tuition: $47890
Room & Board: $11,515
Books & Supplies: $900
Transportation: $1250
Personal Expenses: $1350</p>

13

<p>@dunboyne My parents provided me with our 2013 tax return, so the numbers are accurate. </p>

14

<p>The only thing that I’m not entirely sure of is my father’s small business. He is certified as a therapist and occasionally picks up a client or two. The NPC asks for a value if the business were to be sold, but we can’t really sell his knowledge… Should I even include this?</p>

15

<p>Which NPC asks this? Is that a CSS school? </p>

<p>I dont think the UCs will ask this.</p>

<p>=======</p>

<p>This is my UCSD result on the NPC:
Expected Family Contribution</p>

<p>Student Contribution:$0.00
Parent Contribution:+$5,757.00
Expected Family Contribution:$5,757.00</p>

<p>Estimated Award
Grant Award: $16,068.00 - $16,468.00
Self Help Award (Work/Loan): $8,300.00 - $8,700.00
Family Help Award: $5,557.00 - $5,957.00</p>

<p>Estimated Total Price of Attendance
Tuition and Fees+$14,752.00
Room and Board+$11,978.00
Books and Supplies+$1,489.00
Other Expenses+$2,306.00</p>

<p>Total Cost of Attendance:$30,525.00</p>

<p>Grant Award:-$16,068.00</p>

<p>Estimated Net Cost:$14,457.00</p>

<p>================</p>

<p>The above isnt right. It is saying 8300-8700 in self help, but then doesnt subtract it from net cost. </p>

<p>Your FA pkg would be 16k + about 8500…so about 24,500 in aid…so family would pay about 6000.</p>

<p>and…yes, there are some lower UCs that would likely give you merit on top of this…which would cover that gap. </p>

16

<p>^^^ This sounds like a question for @mom2collegekids. </p>

17

<p>The question re small business was for Vassar.</p>

18

<p>If your dad’s small business income flows through to his personal return and the company has pretty much no assets, then it shouldn’t make a difference. If the company has assets (building, bank account, equipment, etc.), some colleges assume that is something that could (somehow – via loans or something?) could be used for college expenses. To play it safe, when I ran NPCs I put the assets of my small business in as if they were my own assets. </p>

19

<p>So OP, you’ll have to ask your father if his therapy business has any assets. Then, what @intparent is suggesting is to lump those assets in with your father’s own assets, as this will provide a worst-case scenario. </p>

20

<p>Thank you for your help with the UC’s, that’s more plausible. I can actually consider them now! It should be easy enough to lump any assets from the business into his assets. </p>