Thank you for the advice. It’s very practical, and I do appreciate it!
extenuating circumstances are common within the FGLI community – do not be discouraged that your numbers don’t look so sharp on paper! qbcps was a great eye-opener for me !! i can pm you the link of a community that really helped me through it all if you’re interested :]
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As I said earlier, I definitely think you shouldn’t give up hope on attending a 4-year residential college. Due to the financial constraints, you might not be able to tick off everything on your wishlist, but I definitely think you will be able to find and be admitted to schools that feel like the right fit, which includes the price.
With the exception of some EXTREMELY competitive schools which are both need blind and meet 100% of need, most colleges are going to fall into one of two buckets: 1) The school is need blind (it accepts students without looking at what they can pay) but it cannot meet 100% of the student’s need, or 2) The school is need aware (it looks at how much you can pay prior to admitting you), but if they let you in they will cover 100% of your need. There’s probably also a bucket of need aware & doesn’t meet full need (would they rather meet full need for 1 applicant or meet partial need for 3).
All of the colleges I list below have English as a major. Although you did not say you were interested in majoring in Japanese or Latin or drama, if they have a major in the field, they obviously have a fair amount of coursework in those areas. The lack of a major does not mean that the school doesn’t offer those subjects, only that they don’t offer sufficient coursework for a major. The percentage of need met (and the list of majors) is coming from the College Board. And there were so many Colleges That Change Lives schools that I just started putting CTCL by them.
Likely/Likelier
- Marietta (OH): Accepts the majority of applicants and your current test scores are well above its range, so although it’s likely need-aware, your test would likely make you very attractive to them. It has an 8:1 student/faculty ratio and has an array of majors that tie up to your interests (acting, broadcast journalism, directing and theatrical production, English, journalism, etc. while also having more vocational options like education, advertising, etc.) Meets 100% of financial need.
- Gustavus Adolphus (MN): Offers majors in drama, English ed, Japanese, etc. Meets 96% of need.
- Beloit (WI): Offers majors in creative writing, drama, Japanese, education, etc. Has a 10:1 student/faculty ratio and meets 96% of need. A CTCL.
- Hendrix (AR): No Greek life. Offers majors in classics, drama, education, etc. Meets 93% of need. A CTCL.
- Valparaiso (IN): Offers majors in classics, creative writing, drama, East Asian studies, education, etc. Has an 11:1 student/faculty ratio and meets 92% of need.
- Albion (MI): Offers majors in creative writing, drama, education, etc. Has a 12:1 student/faculty ratio and meets 91% of need.
- New College of FL (FL): Offers majors in classics, drama, etc. Offers Chinese as a major, so perhaps they offer some Japanese coursework? Meets 90% of need, but when combined with the Florida grants for qualified in-state students, this will probably be pretty close to free tuition. A CTCL.
- Monmouth (IL): Offers majors in classics, drama, education, rhetoric & composition, etc. Meets 90% of need.
- Walla Walla (WA): Offers majors in Asian studies, classics, drama. Meets 92% of need.
- Kalamazoo (MI): Offers majors in creative writing, classics, drama, etc. Has a 13:1 student/faculty ratio and meets 94% of need. A CTCL
- Emory & Henry (VA): Offers majors in creative writing, directing & theatrical production, East Asian studies, English ed, etc. Meets 93% of need. A CTCL.
Possible
- Reed (OR): Completely opposite coast in Portland, but it’s a progressive city. It has a strong creative writing program and I don’t know if it offers Japanese, but it does offer majors in Chinese and Russian, so it may. There is a 9:1 student/faculty ratio and this is definitely a liberal arts college. Meets 100% of financial need. Its common data set lists demonstrated interest as important, so show your interest early and often. A CTCL.
- Franklin & Marshall ¶: Offers majors in creative writing, classical studies, drama, etc. 9:1 student/faculty ratio and meets 100% of financial need.
- St. Olaf (MN): Offers majors in Japanese, creative writing, classics, etc. 12:1 student/faculty ratio, meets 100% of need, and is a CTCL.
- Trinity College (CT): 9:1 student/faculty ratio with majors in creative writing, Japanese, drama, etc. Meets 100% of financial need.
- Oberlin (OH): Great creative writing program and offers majors in classics, East Asian studies, drama, etc. 9:1 student/faculty ratio and meets 100% of financial need.
- Dickinson ¶: Offers major in classics, drama, and a number of languages (but no major in Japanese). Has a 9:1 student/faculty ratio and meets 99% of need.
- Gettysburg ¶: Offers majors in creative writing, drama, Japanese and in more practical areas like English teaching. Has a 10:1 student/faculty ratio and meets 90% of need.
- Rhodes (TN): Offers majors in classics and drama and is in Memphis. Has a 9:1 student/faculty ratio and meets 94% of need. A CTCL.
- Clark (MA): Offers majors in Classics, drama, English educ, etc. Has a 9:1 student/faculty ratio and meets 92% of need. A CTCL.
- Lawrence (WI): Offers majors in Classics, drama, Japanese, English ed, etc. Has an 8:1 student/faculty ratio and meets 94% of need. A CTCL.
Some other possibilities to consider that meet 100% need are:
- Denison (OH)
- Union (NY)
- Connecticut College
- Lafayette ¶
- Kenyon (OH)
Some other possibilities to consider that meet 90-99% of need are:
- Skidmore (NY), 99%
ETA: Forgot to label Hendrix and Clark as CTCL.
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Check and see if any of these employers are accessible for you. I’ve seen them listed online for providing reimbursement/scholarships for college tuition and/or books for part-time employees who attend accredited colleges (not just online colleges). Obviously, you’ll need to read the fine print. Some of these start receiving the benefits from day one while others provide it to employees after 90 days, six months, or one year. Research more and best of luck!
AT&T, Bank of America, Chipotle, Home Depot, UPS, T-Mobile, Target, McDonald’s, Publix, Amazon, UnitedHealth Group, Verizon, Chick-Fil-A.
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Oh my, thank you so much. I really, really appreciate this list, and I think need-blind is y best course of action as I will pursue grants and scholarships as well to cover as much as possible. I also will check out those employers. You’re the best!
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i would love that! thank you so much!!
You’re welcome!
When researching the schools, they will likely indicate on the financial aid sections if they’re need blind or not. Double check any information you see here, and if you can’t find it on their website, contact the university itself.
I highly recommend looking at the Common Data Sets for each college (a search using the college’s name and “common data set” should pull it up). It gives you information on the stats of students admitted, number receiving financial aid, graduation rates, etc.
As you’re researching schools, make sure to create a balanced list of schools that you plan to apply to. What this means is that there should be schools that are extremely likely for admittance and affordability, and then schools that are likely, possible, and then those that are less likely (if you really, really love them). Every school you add to your list should be one that you are happy to attend.
Refer to each university’s common data set when you’re judging your likelihood of admittance. Each college places different levels of importance on various factors (or whether it even considers a particular factor). If areas where you think you are strong compared to the university’s student body are not considered or not as important, then your chances are less likely than where the university gives great importance to qualities that you possess or are strong in compared to its enrolled students.
These are the factors listed in the CDS for admissions consideration:
Academic
- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Academic GPA
- Standardized test scores
- Applicant Essay
- Recommendation(s)
Nonacademic
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation
- Alumni-ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Racial/ethnic status
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant’s interest
When you find the colleges that you think you’d be happy to attend and have a balanced list, then make sure you do everything you can to meet the factors they consider. Make sure you keep your grades up (or improve on them), but most of the factors are already pretty set by now. The things you still can focus on (if the colleges you’re interested indicate they’re considered or important) are:
- Essays…start working on these over the summer
- Recommendations…prepare a resume for your teachers and ask them near the end of THIS school year if they would be willing to write you a recommendation for college (or certainly very early in the semester of your senior year…but teachers can get overwhelmed and some will only write a limited number of letters). Also, meet with your counselor THIS year and bring him/her up to date on your accomplishments and thoughts on the future and then have a meeting at the beginning of your senior year to give them any updates and a fresh resume so they can write a better letter of recommendation for you.
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant’s interest (get on mailing/email lists…preferably using a college-only email address, attend Zoom open houses, do the online college tours, ask questions whose answers can’t be found on the website, etc)
I look forward to seeing how your college search develops. I have a good feeling about how things will end up!
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I’m going to come back and read more thoroughly, but the issue I see here is not a problem with your grades or scores and you don’t need to go to Community College because of that. It’s your budget, or lack thereof. That is really your limiting factor.
Definitely look into QuestBridge and Bright Futures. Remember if you stay in-state in Florida you still may be able to do Study Abroad or Study Away or get some fun internships elsewhere to get some out of the state experiences.
My D22 is a Creative Writing kid and like you had perfect Reading and English scores on the ACT. Her ACT was 28. She has a weighted 3.78 GPA (only finished 1 AP course last year, in 2 this year, her school doesn’t offer many). There are TONS of schools with good Creative Writing programs where you can get accepted — the problem is just going to be paying for it. There are not a lot of them that give full rides like you are looking for. So you are going to need to nail down the budget part first and explore the Bright Futures in-state Florida schools and Quest Bridge options.
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I think AustenNut gave you great advice. I will give you a few more schools with good creative writing programs, but you will need to do the research to see if they are affordable.
I would also urge you to go ahead and get a summer job. Don’t wait until next fall. My D22 got a summer job and has carried it through to the fall. It has been really eye-opening and great for her. You should be able to balance those programs and working too. Figure out your transportation options. Can’t recommend a part time job this summer highly enough.
Also consider participating in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and YoungArts. They give scholarships, too.
Check out these colleges and see if they are affordable for you:
Agnes Scott (women’s college, ranked the most LGBTQ friendly in the country, just no CIS males, super diverse)
Berea
Cornell College (Iowa)
Earlham
Goucher College
Knox College
Oberlin
Warren Wilson
And definitely figure out which Florida schools you can apply to as safeties with Bright Futures.
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With cost being an overriding concern do not dismiss Florida Public schools.
With a 29 ACT and above a 3.5 GPA you get 100% Bright Futures Scholarship.
I would recommend you check out New College
Pell Eligible Students
Scholarship Value: Full coverage of tuition and fees, books and supplies, and on-campus shared room and board.
This scholarship will be funded through gift aid from all sources
(Pell plus any other grants, scholarships, waiver).
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Oh, thank you so much! I appreciate everything you have provided and said. It warms me that you would put so much care into helping me. Your kind words have made my day; I hope it truly does end up going well for me!
Thank you so so so much, I hope you have a lovely day.
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Thank you so much! These are fantastic schools and I will add them into my search/lists. Your help is greatly appreciated and I am very thankful for the care you have put into this response!
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New College is awesome, I will absolutely apply! Thank you!
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Great news about Bright Futures, what an amazing option
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For anyone who sees this and is willing to entertain this thought: What schools would I fit/be accepted to, budget and costs aside? I am curious, and if I could dig around those schools and see what their financial aid/scholarships look like, I might be pleasantly surprised.
I agree with @Sweetgum about the cost aspect/CC. I think I was thrown off by a previous reply that said I was an average student. I’m not the next President of the US, but I think I am more than average and will not diminish my worth due to insecurity. I am a hardworking, passionate student and my aim is a 4-year school. I will find a way to make that work, and I do not intend to go to CC. Upward Bound, which I am a part of, consistently gets us ready for a 4-year school, and encourages us to work towards scholarships and grants. When you apply, you literally have to check what you’re going to do after HS- I checked that I plan to attend a 4-year college/uni. Not dismissing community college, but I could find a way to pay for my education no matter what. Along with that, I know whatever I do will pay back. I don’t just want to write freelance- I fully intend to work in the publishing or editing world along with writing in my free time. I think I could make a wonderful living doing any of that, and most of all, I would be content and very secure.
I will not be discouraged. I think I am a great student with lots to offer, and I will do anything to get scholarships, grants, and aid. I am now more focused on finding the best fit colleges with cost not factored in- cost can come later after I do research on the individual institutions. I appreciate the advice regarding cost, but I think I know everything I need to regarding that now (I won’t dismiss more advice, though!). I will take everyone’s advice into account, and I am jotting down these schools being suggested so far! Thank you again everyone.
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Best of luck to you!! You have a great story, great mindset and determination. You’re going to do great!!
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Thank you so much! <3
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I don’t think anyone diminished you - and no one said you can’t go to a four year school.
The reality is - many students makes the mistake of not factoring in budget up front. You did - and you were given lots of colleges you’d get into - inside and outside of budget. It was smart that you provided budget - didn’t sound like, for example, you knew about Questbridge.
I can see potentially every college in Florida short of UF and FSU. USF will be tough but a maybe. Not sure how hard FAU Honors would be to get into but that could be a good fit or New College.
You can find lots of schools you can get into - lots - but it’s a question of - yes - budget.
If you, for example, went to us news top LACs - and let’s say start at 40, you’d likely get into some; at 60 and lower and there’s fantastic schools, you’d get into many.
You’d get into most public universities in the US.
But again - yes it comes back to - how will you afford.
UNC Asheville may be one to look at. Iowa for literature. Elon is strong and gay friendly and you can get in. Ithaca. Indiana. Umass. Oregon and Southern Oregon.
But again, to look at it from this angle…it’s a mistake.
No one is down on you- we’re trying to help.
Good luck.
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I actually felt very supported by everyone, aside from the person who kind of rudely said I was asking for too much and that I was average. You, however, have been very helpful and supportive. I appreciate it a lot!
I don’t think it’s rude, I think one has to understand that the large merit awards are going to the 34+ 3.9+ applicants. My sons were 30 act 3.4/3.7 UWGPA students, they stayed in state because their stats weren’t high enough for large merit awards (at least in the area they wanted to go). There are kids accepted into Ivy’s who choose pubic flagships to save money, they take to top awards.
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