Type of high school * Homeschooled, been to three high schools prior to 12th grade. Lots of mid year transfers
Gender/Race/Ethnicity (optional): White
Other special factors (first generation to college, legacy, athlete, etc.): Applying as homeschool student. Only homeschooled for 12th grade. Most 12th grade classes at community college. Will have over 30 college credits.
Intended Major(s)
Mathematics, physics or environmental science or resource management GPA, Rank, and Test Scores
Unweighted HS GPA: 3.97/4.0
Class Rank: N/A
ACT/SAT Scores: N/A
Coursework
Through level III in German and Latin.
Through Calculus II for math (including high school statistics)- possibly Linear Algebra
Will likely have:
Engineering Graphics, General Physics, Writing and Composition II, US History, Economics, Freshman Seminar, Introduction to Spreadsheets, Precalculus, Calculus I, Calculus II, Physics: Mechanics and Heat, Spanish I or an art class, General Biology or Chemistry I, Swimming II
(Some of these are 1 or 2 credit classes) Awards
Best Communicator from an employer Extracurriculars
Duck Raising
Meat Rabbit raising
Animal Hide Tanning
Math Circle
Involvement with local historical society - taking oral histories
Free clinic volunteering
Junior karate instructor (until pandemic)
Cost Constraints / Budget
Will be unlikely to get financial aid from most colleges (EFC $60,000)- looking for tuition to be under 30k, looking for merit scholarships to lower cost. Goal is no loans (family has high unpredictable medical costs - stuff like needing a new fancy wheelchair insurance doesn’t cover). Family can afford up to about 40k net without loans, parent’s employer pays half of tuition and fees (maximum amount is 30k). Prefer smaller schools with smaller class sizes. Schools
These are what I’m currently interested in but I’m not in love with a lot of them. I have vague interests in Stony Brook, Brockport and Memorial. Looking for schools that don’t have a cut throat environment, have smallish class sizes and don’t cost a fortune.
“US and Canadian Citizen”
“GPA: 3.97”
“can afford up to about 40k net without loans”
Anything in Canada will be very likely for admissions with a 3.97 GPA. Anything in Canada will cost a lot less than US$40,000 per year with Canadian citizenship. With a similar situation (dual citizenship, high GPA, live in the US) we have been paying closer to half this at a small university in Canada.
Also be aware that some Canadian schools might miss the fact that you are a Canadian citizen, and along with your acceptance send you information on how to apply for a visa and on cost for international students. If this happens a quick call to admissions along with a fax of your Canadian passport or Certificate of Canadian Citizenship will fix this quite quickly and easily.
“Prefer smaller schools”
You should also look at Mount Allison and Acadia, both of which are in eastern Canada. You might also want to consider Bishops and St Francis Xavier. (by the way, I think that CC automatically puts in the wrong link for St Francis Xavier).
Acadia is very good for environmental sciences. Note that this is a different program from environmental studies at Acadia (as it should be).
I have not looked at Math or Physics at any of these schools.
Your most economical choices are likely to be either in-state public universities in New York, or any university in Canada.
If you apply in the US, be sure the financial aid office is aware of your medical costs. At many places, that will change your EFC to account for it.
If you opt for math or physics, try an app at the University of Rochester. You sound like a great student for them, but you’d need to see if the costs worked out. Don’t assume it won’t. I’ve seen it go both ways with that school and you seem like an attractive enough applicant that it’s worth a shot IMO.
I am leaning heavily towards Canada - I want to work there after graduation. I still need to get my proof of citizenship sorted out (citizenship by decent). I like that Mount Allison has a GIS program. Saint Francis Xavier gives me some airs of academic elitism with their whole fancy ring thing. I like how their coop program allows math students (most don’t from what I’ve seen). They also have a cool aquatic resources program.
You should get this submitted if you have not already. For us it took a couple of weeks to get all the paperwork together (including photos taken with the official Canadian format, which we were able to get here in the US), then it took about 9 months from when we submitted the paperwork until the Certificate of Canadian Citizenship showed up, then it took perhaps 2 or 3 more weeks to get a Canadian passport. If you are starting 12th grade in September, then you have a bit of time but should get to this.
The only significantly annoying issue that we found is that it is very complicated to fill out US tax returns if you work in Canada. If you purchase a home in Canada, then when you sell it you will owe taxes to the US. Of course the pandemic has also been an issue due to the border being closed, but I think that I heard that it just opened up to fully vaccinated people. I am carefully holding on to my vaccination card.
I just have to bug my dad to do it. We have the photos (or used to). He just needs to send them in. I am fully vaccinated so hopefully will be able to visit colleges during winter break.