Actually, scratch that. Quinnipiac is sixth, Rutgers is seventh.
BIG UPDATE #5:
After deliberating for about three weeks or so, I have decided to completely scratch Rutgers and CU-Boulder (was considering it for some time). The tenth and final school that I have decided to add to my list is University of Pittsburgh. Its excellent UG business school, beautiful campus + the Cathedral of Learning, great sports teams/school spirit, and vibrant city location are what attracted me to apply. My guess is that it’s somewhere between high match to mid reach, but since they have Rolling Admissions, I’d like to think that I have a decent shot at it if I send in my application by the end of the first full week of October. Pitt comes in at second choice.
The school year, which started on the 3rd (my 18th birthday) has started well. AP Euro hasn’t been too overwhelming, and I had my first quiz on Wednesday, which wasn’t too bad. I also had a test in Environmental Science today…checked the grade portal, and I got an 89, which is a B+. Not a bad way to start the year, but not overly impressed with myself either. I need to continue working hard.
I unfortunately will not be able to attend Seahawk Saturday at UNC Wilmington tomorrow. Money is still a bit tight at home, but I only truly feel it when I remember that I’ve made it to fall of my senior year without visiting a single college campus. On the bright side, reps from both Northeastern and Rider will be visiting on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, and a few other colleges will be visiting in the following weeks as well. As a result of missing Seahawk Saturday tomorrow, I’m at least able to watch my schoolmates play in a soccer game against our fiercest rival. It’s a home game for my school, and going to watch these heated matchups is always a treat. However, the last time we beat them at home was before my class even entered high school. It’s going to be a lot of fun, and I can’t wait! Not to mention that there’s only a three day school week ahead 
BIG UPDATE #6:
Clark University is back on after a few months off the list. They granted me a fee waiver, so I’ll easily be able to apply EA. No ifs, ands or buts; that is THE final change I am making to my list.
Both the Northeastern and Rider visits to my school went very well. I got a deeper sense of what each university is about, and I was very happy to see each rep talk about their school with such passion. I’ve sent thank-you emails to both schools’ reps, with happy replies about them being eager to see my application.
Unfortunately, my school’s team lost 1-0 on a golden goal at home to our fierce rivals last Saturday. It was a highly competitive game, and both sides gunned for it. After the game winner, the visitors went over to our side and clapped, which only dismayed us. Lots of trash talking was said by both sides as well.
Sorry for all the flip-flopping, but this is THE final list: UMass, Pitt, Northeastern, Syracuse, Bentley, UNC Wilmington, Quinnipiac, Clark, Hofstra, Stetson, and Rider.
I hope you can get into UMass. My son surprised me by coming home for my birthday yesterday. I asked him if he was enjoying UMass and he said its all he thought it would be and more. Keep us updated (which you clearly do). Good luck with all your applications.
@bucky0926 thank you for the good luck wishes!! Happy belated birthday, I hope you enjoyed it!! Great to hear that your son loves UMass; I hope he and I are schoolmates by this time next year!!
First of all, good luck with your college applications. Your family clearly cares very much about you, having a huge college fund set up, even through those hardships. I can’t wait to see your successes.
Secondly, a question: I’m only a Junior so I don’t know, but how do you send in applications one at a time? I was under the impression CommonApp was sent in all at once, or at most 3 times.
@Woandering you complete the application for the college that you’re applying to, then send it in. You can edit your essay as many times as you like, but you can only submit three different versions of your essay to different colleges. Thank you very much for the kind words!
A slight update: a Binghamton University rep is visiting my school on Wednesday. The director of admissions (who interestingly, is African-American) emailed me about the visit yesterday, which made me want to reinquire into the university. So, IF Binghamton is readded onto the list, it WILL be the FINAL change I make, I promise 
Also, I may FINALLY be able to visit a campus later this month…actually, maybe two! I have a campus tour at Quinnipiac scheduled for Saturday the 25th, and then attending UMass Amherst’s FHO the next morning. I really hope that it finally comes to fruition
Just wondering why you are visiting your fallback/match school (Quinnipiac) which you should only go to if you do not get into the 6 or so schools you more prefer and are more highly ranked?
@cttwinmom2015 my dad suggested that I visit two schools where I have a good chance of admission AND that I like. I like pretty much all schools on my list, but Quinnipiac is one of the schools where I have the best chance of admission.
OK then that makes sense (yes, you’ll get in )
@cttwinmom2015 thanks, I’m very confident of it!
BIG UPDATE #7: I am finished with the Common Application. I applied to both Clark and Hofstra on Wednesday night (with pre-approved fee waivers for each), Binghamton on Friday afternoon, and Northeastern, Bentley, and Syracuse yesterday. I also completed my Pitt application yesterday, but am waiting a few weeks to submit it. Out of all the applications, Syracuse’s took the longest, because I had to be VERY specific with their questions. I plan on sending College Board app fee waivers to UMass, Syracuse, Northeastern, and Bentley this week. My junior year PreCalc teacher has already sent her LOR to every school I am applying/have applied to except for Clark and Binghamton, which were late additions. My English teacher from last year told me she has completed hers, but is yet to send it out.
Binghamton’s director of admissions visited my school this past Wednesday. He sold the school’s finer points very well, and convinced me to apply. I sent him a thank-you email on Friday (the day I applied), to which no reply has been received. A UMass rep is visiting my school this Wednesday morning, and Syracuse is sending a representative on Thursday the 23rd.
Interim progress reports came out on Friday. I have at least a B in every class (well, a C+ in AP Euro, but it’s weighted as a B in my school), and I am on the borderline A range for both English and Environmental Science. Half a marking period is gone; now the challenge is to keep it going, get my grades up, and maintain the work rate for the rest of this marking period and beyond!
Pitt has now slipped to fourth place on the list due to the fact that I <em>probably</em> cannot obtain a fee waiver from them. I also realize that I will more than likely only be admitted to either UP-Johnstown or UP-Greensburg; in that case, I will decline the offer in no uncertain terms, and look at my other options. Syracuse is now my second choice. I really love its history and individuality with the color orange (which is my favorite color), high quality academics, prime social life, and great sports teams and school spirit. I applied RD so as to give them more time to review my application more thoroughly, as well as more time to show a great deal of interest. I’d love to visit their campus
I also forgot to mention that Binghamton’s DOA took a few jabs at Syracuse…apparently they must be academic rivals of some sort?
What about retirement savings for your parents? Were they able to put money away for that also? Are they going to want to continue living where they are now until you’re done with school? I can’t see spending more money for OOS if you could get an affordable education in NJ. At least for undergrad. Are your parents going to be expecting you to support them after you are done with school?
@mommdc I’ve yet to have a conversation with them on that topic.
Minor update: I currently have no intentions of taking the AP Euro exam in May.
BIG UPDATE #8: I HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED TO BOTH RIDER UNIVERSITY AND STETSON UNIVERSITY!!! Rider’s acceptance came with a $16k/year scholarship in the mail on Monday, and Stetson emailed me yesterday morning (I’m still waiting on potential scholarship news).
I called Rider to ask what interested them in me as an applicant. My admissions rep said that although my GPA was average, I had an excellent SAT score; an upward trend from sophomore to junior year; and two great letters of recommendation. Since applicant interest level is also important in any Rider decision, it was also noted that I attended my rep’s visit to my high school, and also sent her a thank-you email.
Also, perhaps crucially, I interviewed with my Stetson admissions recruiter over the phone this past Thursday. He highlighted everything: my major (international business), the size of the campus, the location, Greek life, general campus life, on-campus dining, etc. At the end, he said that he would take a look at my application that night before bringing it to the committee, and that I should expect a decision some time this week. I never expected it this early!
I really am grateful. I not only have a spot at university next year, but I can also leave NJ if I wanted to. And the best part is, even if I get no more acceptances, I have the choice of going to school in the Sunshine State
I am so happy for you @lbad96 that even throughout your circumstances you are still fighting and doing what you have to do to get into college. I’m also nigerian and I’m from Rhode Island!!! I applied to upenn ed
@rigal97 thank you so much!!! Best of luck with UPenn
That’s excellent!
Thank you so much for keeping us updated. This thread is going to be very useful to many students - I’ve already recommended it!