Match Me

College Search & Selection
1

17 yrs old, white male, dallas tx, best public school in area (Small suburb east of dallas, 50% hispanic, 50% econ disad, t ain’t too hot of a district not gonna lie)

SAT: 2130
Reading: 710
Math: 760
Writing: 690 (10 Essay)

U/W GPA: 3.44
W GPA (out of 5.0): 4.1
Class Rank: 73 out of 625

AP Tests: 3 Lit, 4 Stats, 4 Physics, 5 APUSH (Taking 4 more AP tests and 1 IB test this year.)

Extracurriculars: I am currently active in a national political activism group and regularly participate in local meetings and with operations, I’m also looking to pursue a leadership position in the group. I have job experience under a summer internship at a small business (research innovation) and through self-employment (transcription). I am president of debate on my school’s very successful and nationally qualified debate team, as well as successful myself in debate as a 4x State qualifier in multiple events. I also plan to add an internship this summer at a law office or at a representative’s office.

Major Preferences: Polisci, Public Policy studies, Philosophy, I also want to join a pre-law program at the college.

Career goals: Law School >>> Public office = Professor

College Preferences: I would like to go to a small-medium/small college (Possibly a LAC?) that offers holistic education and would prefer a more liberal environment. I don’t want a college in completely rural environment, but anywhere else is fine. I would like it to be academically rigorous and challenging, but also socially fulfilling. I do not mind a mild party life either, that sounds fun. I would like to be far away from home (Texas) and that is not a problem for me, I want a new experience. I would enjoy it if the college was close to a large city. I would like diversity as I come from a title 1 school with a white minority population (I am white though.) A debate team would be awesome!

I already have a safe school, please suggest more challenging schools that I could apply to for a chance to be admitted.

Funding: I have a low efc (6500) and would like it very much if the college had high % need met. Funding is not a break, I just want college to be fulfilling. I don’t want to end up over 60K in debt if possible though.

2

Bump?

3

You are looking for match schools?

4

Yes.
A school I’m really looking at is Grinnell.

5

Haverford & Swarthmore are in the Philly suburbs, liberal with great FA- both are very selective though. Honestly, your unweighted GPA is probably going to be your issue. I would pick a meets full need LAC with 25-40% acceptance rate that you love & apply ED- that would be your best chance. Being male may help you a bit for the artsy LACs.
Oberlin, Kenyon, & Denison in Ohio are also options, as is Macalaster in the twin cities.

6

Update: Boston College, Oberlin both on list of “Considering”. Any others?

7

Thank you mountaingoats! Yes, I know my UW GPA is a significant issue with those schools, would those be reach options or are they quite out of reach?

I think Kenyon is a good option. Macalaster looks intriguing me and I think I’ll add that to one of my considerations.

8

I was going to suggest Kenyon too, @Foodoos. It’s a great choice.

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The scary part of Kenyon is the Greek life. However, it says only 25% of students rush, so that’s low enough to not be extremely impactful on my experience.

I don’t know how interested I am in that nor do I think I’d be able to afford the dues to be part of a frat. Partying is cool, an intense greek life isn’t. Just something I don’t think I’m comfortable with in college.

Running myself through a ton of college search sites keeps giving me the same places: Grinnell, Wesleyan, Bowdoin, Boston, Carleton, Davidson, Washington U… I’m scared that these are all too selective for me. Are any of these places possible?

10

Syracuse

11

I have a friend who’s in a fraternity at Kenyon, so I can speak to that a bit. All Greek life is non-residential, so Greek groups don’t have a lot of power. Most of the frats are pretty non-stereotypical, they like to chill & drink milkshakes & watch Disney movies. The most popular organization is a co-ed service frat called the Archons. Dues are extremely low for Greek organizations, only a couple hundred dollars a year.

12

How will you borrow/pay for more than your federal loans? $5500 freshman year, $6500 soph year, $7500 jr & senior year. You REALLY REALLY don’t want to borrow more than that, especially if you are thinking law school, which has a whole raft of additional loans involved with it. And YOU can’t take out more anyway, your parents would have to. So you probably don’t want to go beyond your federal loan limit.

Your problem with most of the schools listed is your GPA. How about Holy Cross or Brandeis? Both meet need and are need blind in admissions. Franklin & Marshall is need aware, but they do meet need.

13

Before we continue suggesting schools, a couple quick financial questions: do your parents own a business? Do they own more than just a primary residence? Are your parents divorced?
I only ask because these factors can skew your EFC even at schools that meet full financial need, making them unaffordable.

14

intparent, explain your post for me please?

My parents are divorced and do not own more than a primary residence and do not own a business. Thanks for your interest mountaingoats, would love to hear your input.

Finally, that’s very cheap for greek, still don’t think I’m extraordinarily interested in it.

15

Trinity U in San Antonio should offer good merit aid.

Grinnell is about as rural as it gets. If you don’t want rural, you better visit before you select Grinnell.

Good luck!

16

Thanks for your response.
I feel like Trinity U, because it lacks solid need-based financial aid, would probably be the same as these other schools that are more selective. Also, I’m looking to get out of state. I was considering Trinity U awhile ago though, so makes sense for you to suggest. Thanks!

I understand the Grinnell situation. I’ve heard about the rural nature, and I actually kinda like the isolation. I’ve heard the campus is as lively as any other LAC and has activities to do for sure, definitely still a college environment even if this environment is in isolation.

17

You say u don’t want rural, and want to be near big city, so why are u considering Kenyon & Grinnell?

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Again, I guess what I should rather say is I don’t want the college to feel dead. It’s definitely a turnoff about attending though, don’t get that wrong.
Also I’m asking for suggestions… If you think I shouldn’t consider those based on my interests, suggest something!

@intparent adding Brandeis to the list of considerations thank you! I’m also Roman Catholic, so Holy Cross I’m considering! Franklin and Marshall has its most popular major in govt… Awesome! Adding that too! You’ve been superb

19

Dickinson
American University
Connecticut college

20

You asked me to explain my post – what don’t you understand? Most students can only take out federal loans in their name. Limits are $5500 freshman year, $6500 soph year, and $7500 Jr. and sr year. You may be offered a few thousand more in Perkins loans if you are very low income. After that, you need an adult cosigner. Your parents may qualify for Parent Plus loans, but then they are on the hook for paying them off.

You probably can borrow for law school, but honestly… there is a huge glut of lawyers now, and it is not the comfortable living many hope it will be for current grads, especially those not attending top law schools. Your law school costs could run over $100K – so having a lot of undergrad debt would be dumb.

Also, if your parents are divorced, both Lawrence & Grinnell will expect your non-custodial parent to fill out the NCP financial aid form. Both parents (and any new spouses) income & assets will be considered as they calculate your FA package. Pretty much any “meets need” school that you look at if you take a gap year will expect this, too.